Runner Duck labored/heavy breathing

[Goosebaby]

Thank you! Will absolutely update with what they say.

I’m with you on that, I just kept crying and apologizing to her.

If you can get a bag of 30% game bird start or any 30% feed, dry cat food also works in a pinch, start feeding her that as well as a B vitamin mix. It will help get her weight back up.

30% feed isn’t good for waterfowl long term but it’s excellent as a recovery formula for underweight birds.

 

[Beanfox]

@Goosebaby @Jenbirdee

Just left the vet, I don’t have a ton of answers but she did a throat swab and said it was clear as day a bacterial infection once she looked at it under a microscope. Unknown exactly what type without doing more testing. And unknown what exactly caused it.
Have 8 doses of Baytril, but she thinks it should only take around 5 doses. And if not she said to call back and she will give us more. She is also the on call vet this weekend so I’m feeling a little reassured that if something happens, she will be available.

She will need to be kept inside until better but is allowed to have a friend with her.

Would putting VetRX under the wings still be beneficial for her? Or is it useless with this? I completely blanked on asking questions, my brain is so scattered.

 

[Jenbirdee]

@Goosebaby @Jenbirdee

Just left the vet, I don’t have a ton of answers but she did a throat swab and said it was clear as day a bacterial infection once she looked at it under a microscope. Unknown exactly what type without doing more testing. And unknown what exactly caused it.
Have 8 doses of Baytril, but she thinks it should only take around 5 doses. And if not she said to call back and she will give us more. She is also the on call vet this weekend so I’m feeling a little reassured that if something happens, she will be available.

She will need to be kept inside until better but is allowed to have a friend with her.

Would putting VetRX under the wings still be beneficial for her? Or is it useless with this? I completely blanked on asking questions, my brain is so scattered.

The VRX cannot hurt. It’s like Vicks vapor rub for people. It’s comforting.
Does this Vet have a lot of experience with avian? I really hope she’s right and it clears up with the Baytril.
If she does get worse instead of better than you have to look into aspergillosis as a possibility. I hope she took another swab to have it tested for that too.?

 

[Beanfox]

The VRX cannot hurt. It’s like Vicks vapor rub for people. It’s comforting.
Does this Vet have a lot of experience with avian? I really hope she’s right and it clears up with the Baytril.
If she does get worse instead of better than you have to look into aspergillosis as a possibility. I hope she took another swab to have it tested for that too.?

Honestly I don’t know her background. Will have to look into that. It’s a regular vet clinic with multiple vets, but she in particular specializes in aviary. I didn’t ask for further testing, which in hindsight I probably should have. But with her saying it was a clear bacterial infection, I just assumed that meant aspergillosis was ruled out. I did think about that on the way home and am slightly nervous. I wish I didn’t completely draw blanks in situations like that. Always think of a million things as soon as it’s over

 

[Jenbirdee]

If you can get a bag of 30% game bird start or any 30% feed, dry cat food also works in a pinch, start feeding her that as well as a B vitamin mix. It will help get her weight back up.

30% feed isn’t good for waterfowl long term but it’s excellent as a recovery formula for underweight birds.

Great idea @Goosebaby
I was tube feeding up until yesterday and using the Kaytee baby bird food I think that’s a higher protein than regular Waterfowl feed but not as good as gamers

 

[Jenbirdee]

Oh boy, I just had a thought and I looked it up. I used Perplexity AI so take it with a grain of salt, but I asked if a throat swab taken from a duck can look like a bacterial infection when it’s really a fungal infection such as aspergillosis and unfortunately, it says it can. I just wanted to share this with you
Yes, a throat swab from a strep test (rapid antigen detection) can initially suggest a bacterial infection due to visible white patches or pus-like exudates, but these may actually stem from a fungal infection like aspergillosis, which requires culture confirmation to differentiate.[cham +1]
Visual Similarities
White patches on the throat can appear in both bacterial (e.g., strep throat with pus streaks) and fungal infections (e.g., thrush from Candida or pseudomembranes in aspergillosis). Rapid tests detect only group A strep bacteria and miss fungi entirely, leading to potential misinterpretation without culturing. Aspergillosis in the larynx or throat often mimics bacterial edema or plaques visually.[fasttrackurgentcare +3]
Diagnostic Confirmation
Throat cultures grow bacteria in 1-2 days and fungi in up to 7 days, clearly distinguishing them—bacterial growth indicates strep or similar, while fungal elements like Aspergillus hyphae confirm mycosis. Histology or PCR provides further specificity for rare cases like invasive aspergillosis. Sputum or biopsy cultures similarly identify Aspergillus over bacteria.[drlogy +4]

 

[cheezenkwackers]

Oh boy, I just had a thought and I looked it up. I used Perplexity AI so take it with a grain of salt, but I asked if a throat swab taken from a duck can look like a bacterial infection when it’s really a fungal infection such as aspergillosis and unfortunately, it says it can. I just wanted to share this with you
Yes, a throat swab from a strep test (rapid antigen detection) can initially suggest a bacterial infection due to visible white patches or pus-like exudates, but these may actually stem from a fungal infection like aspergillosis, which requires culture confirmation to differentiate.[cham +1]
Visual Similarities
White patches on the throat can appear in both bacterial (e.g., strep throat with pus streaks) and fungal infections (e.g., thrush from Candida or pseudomembranes in aspergillosis). Rapid tests detect only group A strep bacteria and miss fungi entirely, leading to potential misinterpretation without culturing. Aspergillosis in the larynx or throat often mimics bacterial edema or plaques visually.[fasttrackurgentcare +3]
Diagnostic Confirmation
Throat cultures grow bacteria in 1-2 days and fungi in up to 7 days, clearly distinguishing them—bacterial growth indicates strep or similar, while fungal elements like Aspergillus hyphae confirm mycosis. Histology or PCR provides further specificity for rare cases like invasive aspergillosis. Sputum or biopsy cultures similarly identify Aspergillus over bacteria.[drlogy +4]

The vet said she “looked under the microscope” at the swab. Bacteria and Fungus do NOT look alike under the microscope (my degree is in Biology). AI is describing what you might see when just looking in the throat of a mammal, not a bird. Be careful believing AI!

 

[Beanfox]

The vet said she “looked under the microscope” at the swab. Bacteria and Fungus do NOT look alike under the microscope (my degree is in Biology). AI is describing what you might see when just looking in the throat of a mammal, not a bird. Be careful believing AI!

Phew okay I feel better. Was overthinking my choices for a minute. She swiped the throat swab onto 3 glass plates and took them back to look at. When she came back she was describing the cells she seen, I’m no scientist so I’m not going to try to recall what she said because it will most likely be inaccurate. So I’m hoping it’s all good

As for the throat itself: when she opened her mouth to do the swab & to show me how to give the tablets, she didn’t mention seeing anything abnormal. Idk if you would from that. I didn’t see anything either but idk what I’m looking for

 

[Jenbirdee]

The vet said she “looked under the microscope” at the swab. Bacteria and Fungus do NOT look alike under the microscope (my degree is in Biology). AI is describing what you might see when just looking in the throat of a mammal, not a bird. Be careful believing AI!

Oh good thanks God then the duck should respond well to the Baytril , let’s hope ! I’m just so wary of it after giving Baytril to a duck with aspergillosis twice making it worse each time. please God help our little birds

 

[Beanfox]

Oh good thanks God then the duck should respond well to the Baytril , let’s hope ! I’m just so wary of it after giving Baytril to a duck with aspergillosis twice making it worse each time. please God help our little birds

Totally understand! Either way, I appreciate the info on Asper. I’ve never even heard of it until today.