Saxony Duck Gasping for Air **Update 8-26-12**

[azhenhouse]

My Saxony duck is well over a year old, and was doing fine this morning. Now, she is struggling to breath. I am thinking she has gape worm. It has been really wet here, and worms have been popping up out of the muddy ground non-stop. Her only symptoms are labored, wet, gargled breathing. That and being very stressed. I can't think of anything else it could be. I opened her mouth and didn't see any sign of gape worm or any other obstruction. At first, I thought she was hot because she was panting, so I brought her in a put her in the tub where she relaxed and calmed down. When I took her out she panicked, and that is when the gurgling, with mouth open started. What could it be? I have searched and just don't know.

I treated her with some IVERMECTIN POUR ON. I administered five drop, I hope. it was hard to tell if any got on her or if I did too much. She has tons of feathers. If it is gape worm will this help, and how fast?

Thx
UPDATED INFO: She is still the same but at least I got her to a vet, but he wasn't too familiar with ducks He couldn't answer my questions about Ivermectin, how long it takes to work and how soon after the first treatment can I administrator it to her again. He didn't do any testing to see if it was respiratory or gape worms, so I still don't know. He didn't give her a shot of antibiotics but did give her an oral dose of baytril, and sent me home with a seven day supply. None of the other 16 ducks show any symptoms. I hope between the worming and Baytril we see improvement, soon. UPDATE 8-26-12: After being on antibiotics and fluconazole, Cafe recovered. Thanks to duckmamma for recommending the fluconazole, and for a area vet (next town over) who gave me a bottle of it at 11:30 at night, without even seeing my duck. She will be on the fluconazole for a while longer, but I don't mind having to treat her every night. I don't know for sure what was wrong with her, and the original vet didn't do any testing to help with a diagnosis. My gut thinks it was a mold infection, and the fluconazole helped with that. Thanks everyone.

 

[Amiga]

For what it's worth, Wikipedia mentions that Ivermectin is used for gapeworm.

See if this helps.

http://jackshenhouse.com/VSChickHealth.htm

 

[azhenhouse]

Thanks, I will check it out.

 

[azhenhouse]

It's a new day, and Cafe is still with us but with labored breathing. Anymore advise on Ivermectin would be helpful.

 

[Amiga]

Did you give it orally or just topically? Did you see the method of putting a tiny bit on the skin under the wings?

 

[duckmamma]

Here are the treatments for ducks listed for gapeworm (but you shone a light and looked and didn't see any worms in the trachea, right?):

• Levamisole hydrochloride, 1ml/kg of 7.5% solution, repeated every ten days in growing goslings (B10.26.w11).
• Levamisole hydrochloride (Nilverm, ICI), 1ml/kg of 1.5% solution (J8.17.w1)
• Levamisole 25-50mg/kg orally (B13.46.w1); 30mg/kg given (P7.1.w2). 20mg/kg for three days (B49)
• Ivermectin 1% solution, 200µg/kg body weight, subcutaneous or oral (P7.1.w2, B13.46.w1).
• Mebendazole 5-15 mg/kg orally for two days (B13.46.w1, B16.19.w1).
• Fenbendazole 20mg/kg orally (B11.39.w7); given for five days (P7.1.w2).
• Mebendazole in feed at 1.2g/tonne for 14 days (B11.39.w7).
• Flubendazole in feed at 2.4g/tonne for seven days (B11.39.w7).
• Ivermectin, fenbendazole, albendazole, (P4.1992.w1)
• Tetramisole 25-50mg/kg (B16.19.w1)

N.B. clinical signs may continue after treatment due to effects of dead worms and debris in the respiratory tract (B11.39.w7).

On liveducks.com, it lists other possibilities for labored breathing (respiratory infex, aspergillosis, or pneumonia):

http://www.liveducks.com/health.html

Tylan for respiratory infex can be ordered online, and aspergillosis can be treated with fluconazole and terbinafine together.

 

[duckmamma]

You can treat your duck with something that will cover any type of infection: Sovereign Silver solution (buy at The Vitamin Shoppe) or a nanosilver solution (Silver Biotics, available at better supplement stores), a tblspoonful on an empty stomach then wait a half hour before letting duck have any food or water. Do this every few hours for a few days and see if it improves. If it improves, gradually decrease to a tsp of silver solution in morning, afternoon, and at bedtime. I would still look into the cause and order the meds online as a backup, but this could get you thru till they arrive.

 

[azhenhouse]

Amiga, I tried under the wing but couldn't find skin. I was able to find a spot on her neck but she was squirming so that I don't know if I made contact.

Duckmamma, I didn't use a light, except for what was in the kitchen or did I. Honestly, I don't remember. I think I had a headlamp on, but I could have missed something.

I am actually trying to get her into the vets today. She is an amazing duck and deserves a chance. I will keep you posted.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Amiga, I tried under the wing but couldn't find skin. I was able to find a spot on her neck but she was squirming so that I don't know if I made contact.
Duckmamma, I didn't use a light, except for what was in the kitchen or did I. Honestly, I don't remember. I think I had a headlamp on, but I could have missed something.
I am actually trying to get her into the vets today. She is an amazing duck and deserves a chance. I will keep you posted.

Just saw this, I sure hope he can help her.

 

[azhenhouse]

Would a duck struggle to eat if she had a respiratory problem? Cafe hasn't been able to eat much because every time she does she gags. She is basically only drinking water with nutri-drench in it. She is still very gargly sounding even after two treatments of Ivermectin and two rounds of antibiotics. Even when we give her her antibiotics she gags????

Yes, I went ahead and re-treated for gape worms last night, with a half dose of pour-on Ivermectin. After ready how she would probably die if it were gape worms I didn't see the harm in it.

I don't know what else to do but pray. This one is hard because we love Cafe so much. I am just at a loss as to what to do.

P.S. The good news is she talks to us now, her tail wags when she sees us, and she bobs her head up and down. It's not much but at least there is hope.