Sick duck

[Amiga]

I was confused about the horse thrush medicine . . . that is a different disease.

Humans get thrush, it is a fungal throat and mouth infection. Just wondering if something to treat that might help if the infection is fungal. Trying to think of options since it is evening before a weekend and I don't know how soon you can get a vet for the duck.

Here is some more background on treating human thrush.

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/tc/thrush-medications

But I don't know if any of these medications are bad for ducks.

 

[Childwanderer]

Is aspergillosis transmittable to dogs, rabbits, cockatiels, or humans??

 

[duckmamma]

No, aspergillosis isn't transmissible even to other ducks, unless maybe another duck ate some of the asper duck's droppings. Basically, the asper fungal spores are in the soil, some foods, and in the air. Ducks are extremely susceptible to fungi. Most healthy ducks are able to withstand a normal fungal spore load, but if your yard has a high load and especially if a duck is a little weaker anyway for whatever reason, they can start to have the asper fungus grow inside them in different places. Nystatin is only helpful for fungus that grows in the intestinal tract as it is not absorbed into the bloodstream. Asper that causes labored breathing would mean that the fungus is probably in the bird's air sacs and trachea as well. It is not necessarily a fast illness, depending on when you catch it. You can order fluconazole and perhaps terbinifine from veterinary or pet med suppliers...don't know if you need a prescription for it from every supplier.

I had a duck that had very labored breathing from it, and I was able to cure it quite quickly. Have you ruled out gapeworm?

 

[Childwanderer]

That is a relief! No, in fact I hadn't thought of Gapeworm. Can you describe the symptoms?

 

[Childwanderer]

What does gapeworm look like? Is it contagious?

 

[Amiga]

What does gapeworm look like? Is it contagious?

http://www.petmd.com/bird/conditions/respiratory/c_bd_respiratory_parasites-gapeworms

My understanding is that gapeworm is found in their environment, so not directly from duck to duck, but if one has it, others may be at risk, it seems to me.

 

[Childwanderer]

Thank you, Amiga.
I'm thinking that what she has is Aspergillosis. I hope that she makes it through the night. We can try to get some medication tomorrow, but all I can do tonight is pray and hope.

 

[duckmamma]

Gapeworm is a worm that lives in the trachea, I think it's called (a bit rusty on my duck parts terminology). It gags the duck's breathing, depending on how bad the infestation. Supposedly ducks can get them from different places outside. Don't remember, have to Google it, but earthworms may carry the gapeworm eggs.
I think you could give your duck some nanosilver solution to try to keep the asper at bay for tonight. If you call the health food/supplement stores in your area, the better one(s) may carry a nanosilver solution called Silver Biotics. This solution is supposed to kill any virus, bacteria, or fungal infection. Give your duck a couple tablespoonsful, straight, in a little ramekin, on an empty stomach (an hour after it's eaten), and wait at least a half hour before letting it eat. I'd have the duck drink it all night if you can.

 

[duckmamma]

I'm thinking your duck may not have asper, but perhaps another type of fungal infex such as thrush (candidiasis), or a bacterial infection. It would not hurt to treat it for candida with the nystatin. Candida would cause your duck to have the smelly crop.

Mine stretched out its neck to breathe when it had asper, and didn't have the swollen throat/squishy crop.

Do you have any Nystatin on hand? You could even order it from amazon or other livestock places without a prescription.

 

[duckmamma]

This is where I go to troubleshoot my sick duck problems, to the wildpro website:

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/s/00ref/bookref36_fieldmanualofwildlifediseases/Contents.htm

I see from other websites that some people who have chickens with sour crop end up treating them with Baytril and Nystatin, per their vet. You can order both without an Rx from allbirdproducts.com (they call their Nystatin "Medistatin"). Meanwhile, you could give your bird two probiotic products--lactobacillus and bidifo powders--in some room temperature spring or distilled water, on an empty stomach, several times a day (use about 1/2 tsp per 1/2 cup of water). These probiotics are sold at health food stores in the fridge section (the best brand is Natren) and they naturally crowd out the bad bacteria that cause sour crop, but you'll still need to knock out the bad bacteria with the meds.