Sick duck - what to do?

[BigBlock]

I have a female runner mix that is about 7 months old. This morning when she was let out of her house she was acting very lethargic, and didn't make a bunch of noise like she normally does. She just kinda walked around slowly, and wouldn't eat any treats.

I put her back in her house for a little while while I looked for a vet, about an hour later when I was going to take her in she seemed a lot better so I decided to hold off. She was making some noise, cleaning herself, and eating a few peas. Definately not as normal though.

Anybody have any idea what might have been wrong or what I should do? I don't think she needs to go to the vet at this point, but we'll see how she is in the morning. Her buddy the magpie duck is acting normal.

 

[Amiga]

Not an easy call. If you can get a vet's help, it would be good.

In the meantime and in any case, I always suggest vitamins, electrolytes and probiotics to boost their little systems.

Seven months. That's about time to start laying if she has not yet.

Is she laying? Did she start and stop? Can you gently feel her lower belly to see if there is anything extra firm (thinking egg bound)?

A lukewarm bath deep enough to float in is good, too, and you can observe how she moves, if she seems to be having fun, or just sits there. And it can relax muscles and stimulate blood flow.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Any update?

 

[BigBlock]

Thanks for the info. I think she has an egg stuck, I do feel a hard round spot on her bottom. She was acting well this morning but she's not looking good now. I'm waiting for an emergency vet to call me back right now, apparently duck vets are not easy to find...especially on friday night.

I brought her inside where it is warm, although the vet said not to do anything else yet.

Not sure who, but one of my 2 ducks has been laying 2 eggs a day, as I have been finding 2-3 total in the morning. Is that normal? There was only 1 egg this morning.

 

[Amiga]

I would get her into a lukewarm tub deep enough to float in, (handle her extra carefully), and see if she can relax enough to let the egg go. Give her as much time in the tub as possible.

 

[BigBlock]

I've got her in the tub now...she pooped a couple times, she wasnt earlier. Vet never called me back, and all the emergeny vets open dont do ducks.

 

[Amiga]

There is an online call duck web site that mentions putting oil around and a little bit into the vent, to lubricate the passageway.

Would you consider editing your title to add "probably egg-bound" and see if anyone with experience here can check in?

It's getting late in my time zone, but we have people around the world who watch the forum.

Also, there is an Emergencies forum. Duck people have mixed results there. I admit I don't often look over there.

I need to turn in. I hope she passes it tonight. Keep her warm, think about lubricating the vent, maybe add some oyster shell to her water tonight to see if a little extra calcium helps, too.

 

[BigBlock]

I might try to put some oil on her, though I don't know what I'm doing and I don't want to hurt her. Right now I'm just keeping her in a dog crate in the house to keep warm, she seems calm and is laying down. My poor other duck doesn't know what to do without her buddy.

Thanks for the help. I don't think it will let me change the title now.

 

[Amiga]

I might try to put some oil on her, though I don't know what I'm doing and I don't want to hurt her. Right now I'm just keeping her in a dog crate in the house to keep warm, she seems calm and is laying down. My poor other duck doesn't know what to do without her buddy.

Thanks for the help. I don't think it will let me change the title now.

If there is room in the crate, you could bring the other duck in. I have a buddy system for ill ducks. It reduces stress.

And you don't have to, and perhaps it has changed, but I recall that if you click on the edit icon for the first message you posted, you can edit the title.

 

[BigBlock]

Well, we got her to the vet this morning. Xray showed no eggs, they think maybe she has some kind of infection. They gave us some antibiotics and said to keep her warm for about a week. I've got a little pen set up for both of them in the garage. She's already acting a lot better today.


Thanks for all the help!!