Sick Duck, Respiratory Distress, must wait all day for vet

[RebbyB80]

We have a 6 month old Cayuga that since earlier this morning is breathing open-mouth and sitting down. She normally lays an egg every morning, but today I don't believe she did. I checked to see if she was obviously egg bound but there is no sign of a stuck egg. She is drinking water and very interested in thawed peas, but still very labored full body breathing. The avian vet who is 1 hour away is not available until 6pm tonight. If anyone has any recommendations for what I can do for her in the meantime, I would greatly appreciate the advice!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry about your Duck.

I don't know much about them. You felt inside her vent for an egg?
Any chance she's been injured or has something stuck inside her throat?

Hopefully someone knowledgeable about Ducks will be able to chime in with a few suggestions.
@shawluvsbirds @Miss Lydia @Isaac 0

 

[Miss Lydia]

If you can get her to the vet this evening that would be best. In the meantime keep her comfortable inside if possible. Fresh water and peas if she'll eat them. Checking for a stuck egg by doing an internal examination would at least take that off the table. Use something like ky jelly or coconut oil grease your finger up and put into the vent carefully to feel for an egg. If it's respiratory an antibiotic will most likely be given. please let us know how she is doing. Is she having discharge from her eyes or nares? you could place her in your bathroom and turn on the hot water so there is steam that can help with breathing until you can get her to the vet.

 

[RebbyB80]

Thank you @Wyorp Rock and @Miss Lydia. We got the duck to the vet and she said one lung is not clear and she has a soft-shell egg stuck in her that she felt in exam. She prescribed tetracycline and an anti-inflammatory Carprofen and sent her home to pass the egg on her own. We soaked her in warm water for an hour last night and she seemed quite relaxed & happy, but still no egg. She was however able to poop (liquid, but albeit still poop).
According to her owner (I am just farm hand Mon-Fri.) as of right now, she has not passed the old egg and is soaking in Epsom salts. Call to vet said she needs to try to get egg out herself. I am not there to help as it is weekend and am upset that the vet did not attempt this at the office where there were many hands available to assist at the time. Am thinking of driving the 40 minutes to work to help right now. Any advice would be most welcome again!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Did the vet mention Calcium Gluconate usually once that is given in 24hrs or less the egg is passed. TSC carries it in liquid and we give it by mouth.
Info https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/calcium-gluconate-for-egg-bound-ducks-preliminary.959537/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/
@RebbyB80

I can't imagine trying to get a soft shell egg out without it busting inside of the bird.

 

[RebbyB80]

Thank you so much @Miss Lydia. The vet did not mention Calcium Gluconate as far as I know. Someone had advised to use liquid calcium, but did not specify the formula.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I hope you can get her some and get it into her ASAP please update when you can

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hoping she improves with the medications.

 

[RebbyB80]

She has laid her egg! It wasn't soft shelled, so when the vet felt it, it must have been just before shell formation process. Thank you again for your advice and support.

What is worse now is the duck's breathing. She has had access to the tetracycline in her drinking water for the past two days but instead of improving her breathing seems more labored. Her two flock mates do not show any signs of respiratory illness, so I am wondering if it is Aspergillosis since it doesn't seem to be spreading and not responding to the antibiotic.

Any thoughts or suggestions on treating her for a fungal infection instead of bacterial?

Thank you!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Glad she laid the egg.

@Miss Lydia knows much more about Ducks, but have you felt of her abdomen below the vent between her legs - any bloat or feeling of fluid?