Runner duck vent discoloration, yellow scabs *graphic pics*

[quack_mac]

Hi everybody,

this is my first post and I hope I am in the right place. To be honest I am desperate. I am close to tears so please bear with me. WARNING nasty photos enclosed.

My 4 yo indian runner duck has had a vent small prolaps over easter, which we managed to get back in over the course of 3 days (Sugar, honey, baths you name it -knowledge it got here ;-) )
However the duck's vent had whith/yellow sticky discharge scab on it we could hardy manage to get rid of.
After about 2 weeks we thought we were out of the woods but unfortunatly in the morning she would come out with a micro prolaps and the scabs were back.
Once a good proportion of the scabs were cleaned (warm babysoap baths) they vent closed.
After the baths we would apply betadine cream in the vent. Or spray her with vetericyn. However the scabs never seem to come off fully. But the worst part is the skin of the vent is cloaca discoloured. Not pinkish but greyish.
I was desperate so I gave her some baytrill antibiotics i had left @10mg/kg over a course of 6 days.

In the last few days we werent able to get them of despite all our best efforts.

Currently the vent is closed she acts normal, keeps feathers clean, normal food intake, lays eggs (sometimes skips a day), is chatty, walks around.....
She is getting probiotics. AVC in her drinking water.


1. Pic of prolaps in april after first cleaning round.

2. Today at cleaning time ( no prolaps, she opened it up because it touched it)

I really am desperate and would appreciate ANY advice. Unfortunalty I do not have a avian vet anywhere remotely close. The only vet that i sometimes turn to is on vacation. Tomorrow I`ll send in a vecal sample to a lab and have it tested for parasites.

Thank you in advance for any advice.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I wonder if Hydrocortisone ointment would help with swelling It's rec to use when a drake has a prolapse to help bring down swelling. It would be worth trying if you have some or can get some. Ointment than cream is suppose to be better since it will stay on longer if wet.

 

[quack_mac]

I wonder if Hydrocortisone ointment would help with swelling It's rec to use when a drake has a prolapse to help bring down swelling. It would be worth trying if you have some or can get some. Ointment than cream is suppose to be better since it will stay on longer if wet.

Thanks you so much for your advice. As a matter of fact I just bought a Hydrocortison cream. I was affraid if it is some sort of fungus this might Hurt It is Just 0,5%, but a give it a shoot.
You don't happen to have any Idea how to get rid of the scab?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Have you been soaking her bottom in Epsom salt water(warm water) that may help loosen them. You don’t want her drinking the water though because it’s also a laxative. Soaking in ES water is how we get bumble scabs to loosen

 

[quack_mac]

Have you been soaking her bottom in Epsom salt water(warm water) that may help loosen them. You don’t want her drinking the water though because it’s also a laxative. Soaking in ES water is how we get bumble scabs to loosen

I used epsom salt successfully with bumble foot too (other ducks) in the past.
And although you literally can hold her like an hour, she panicked in the es water. So i figured i messed up the the dosage or the es hurt her vent :-(.
Maybe you have an idea about the right dosage. Another thing: once the vent closes, how do i get the water to the scab. I been using my pinky - but i don't think that ist the right way. Thx a lot Lydia for taking the time

 

[Miss Lydia]

Go by direction on the package I usually just dump some in the warm water but I haven't had to treat a bottom yet. Just bumbles.

Do you think eventually the scabs will just drop off on their own? so the scabs are on the inside of her vent? Maybe use the Hydrocortisone cream on the scabs?

I am going to tag @Quatie and see what she thinks since she was the one who rec Hydrocortisone ointment for prolapses in Drakes.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Maybe @New duck mommy 2021 can advise since she has had a problem with her ducks vent area.

 

[quack_mac]

Go by direction on the package I usually just dump some in the warm water but I haven't had to treat a bottom yet. Just bumbles.

Do you think eventually the scabs will just drop off on their own? so the scabs are on the inside of her vent? Maybe use the Hydrocortisone cream on the scabs?

I am going to tag @Quatie and see what she thinks since she was the one who rec Hydrocortisone ointment for prolapses in Drakes.

Yes the scabe are on the inside of her vent. No, unfortunaltely the scabs won't come of on their own. Tried it and the come back/slowly built up. After about 4 days without cleaning/soapy baths the cloaca/vent won't close properly due to the build up .

I was thinking vent gleet, but what i have been reading is that it smeels like a mile away.

Applied the Hydrocortisone today and yesterday and i am about to be in my was to check on her. And treat her to a nice es bath ;-)

I really appriciate the imput.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I just sent @New duck mommy 2021 this so hopefully she'll reply soon.

 

[Quatie]

Looking at the pictures, the tissue looks unhealthy. It should be pink, moist and supple. I can tell you how I treat my girls prolapses.

I would provide my ducks a clean lukewarm bath 2 times a day. In minor cases, this bath has been enough to reverse the prolapse. They also help moisten and clean the prolapsed tissue.

I bring my girl inside to make it easier to keep her in a clean area. This also makes it easier to keep them from drakes and help stop them from laying eggs. You want to give their vent a break. I had to make mine broody in order for her to stop laying. I never found the light to make that big of a difference. You can also provide moistened feed to make it easier to pass.

When they have the prolapse, I coat it with hydrocortisone ointment and bacitracin. I then gently push it back in. The ointment is important because this will help seal in moisture and be a more effective drug. The cream also washes away easily, which is why it is less effective. You need to treat them 3-4 times a day for the drug to fully work.

My runner had necrotic tissue on her vent. I was able to remove it, but it did take several times of removing bits here and there. It was not a pleasant experience for my runner, but it was necessary. She had what looked like a calcium cyst. I thought we were not going to be able to fix it, but eventually her vent stopped prolapsing and I found the cyst tissue mass in the tub one day. I was fortunate it fell off on its own. I am not certain, but the yellow tissue you have reminds me of necrotic tissue.

You also want to provide them with extra calcium during this time. The calcium helps with the proper contraction of the vent muscles.

You can also provide her an anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen or aspirin.

And lastly, if you suspect and infection, you can treat them with antibiotic. Looking at the yellow tissue, I would personally treat with an antibiotic. That color to me suggests a possible infection. I treated my runner with a couple antibiotics because I didn't know the cyst was filled with calcification at first. It was clearly a mass filled with something, where an cut had likely been.