Sickly duck at local produce store...

[subhanalah]

Won't it take some time for the cultures to come back. Hopefully it's something treatable with IM or IV injections.
Praying for our favorite little rescue duck!

 

[SampyArctica]

They were dense enough to show up on the x-rays, he's got these little lines going through his air sacs that shouldn't be there. It's just a minor surgery because the vet says he only makes about a 5mm incision but it's an incision nonetheless. My poor baby boy...oh, I also brought up the issue with Whistles' unwillingness to walk and the fact that he has a wide stance and he agreed that it wasn't normal and that it was most likely because Whistles didn't move very much at the produce store. He did say that we've had him long enough for him to be walking around much more than he has been, so I think he's going to look into that as well since Whistles has still been having some problems with it. He has his good days where he stands up tall and follows me around the house, but he also has his days where he seems to just want to sit down the entire day without moving far and apparently that shouldn't be happening...?

Btw, I got to measure him the other day - he's at roughly 53cm now (or 20.86 inches). He's definitely grown a fair bit since we've had him! Three weeks tomorrow...

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Looks like a different duck now!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Vet found something growing in his air sacs, he's performing a minor surgery to enter the air sacs in order to find out if it's fungal or bacterial. Whistles is spending the night in the animal hospital for a morning procedure and hopefully I'll know more by lunch time tomorrow.

Gosh I hope it's easily treatable.

Praying.

 

[SampyArctica]

After falling asleep in the car on the way back, Whistles is now safely home after his hospitalization and we've been given the best news that we could have hoped for - the growth in his air sacs is a bacterial infection.

This means instead of the six month course of medication he would have been on if it had been fungal, he only needs meds for the next two weeks. Whoop!

Upon asking the vet of possible causes of the infection, he said without a doubt that it was brought on by Whistles having a 'rough start' - extremely poor husbandry, with stress from food blocking his sinus and being unable to clean himself, also stress from pecking and possible bullying, incorrect feed that did not provide the nutrients a growing duckling needs (the vet also believes this is what may have led to Whistles' legs being underdeveloped in regard to not being quite able to carry his weight very well) and cramped and unsanitary conditions all contributing to lowering his immune system and allowing the dust that had been inhaled from these unsanitary conditions to cause bacteria to spread through his air sacs.

I now believe that when we first stumbled upon Whistles, it had been too late to prevent it from occurring as I strongly believe he'd already had the infection then. But the entire situation could have been easily avoided much earlier if a little thing like proper care had actually been provided. Instead - $800 vet bills aside (once you factor in the follow-up consultation needed when he finishes his two week course of meds) - Whistles had to endure multiple vet visits, x-rays, blood work, surgery and now two weeks of medication...all of which should never have been needed in the first place. I'm so angry at that store. He should never have had to go through all of this extra stress. He should never have had to have gone through any stress at all. So disgusted by that place.

We've obviously kept all receipts as well, including the original one they gave us when we paid for Whistles, so we have evidence that it was indeed the store in question and there was actually something wrong with him because of them in case they ever try to say otherwise. Not to mention the pictures we took of him in the first place. I just...I can't believe it. I can't believe their negligence has led to this. My poor, poor baby boy (the vet checked to be double-ly sure, definitely a boy!).

Oh - does anybody know why a duck yawns? Not just a tired yawn - Whistles will 'yawn' (or at least make a yawning movement) repeatedly if you rub a certain spot behind his head and move his head from side to side while pushing back into your hand as if he were trying to clean himself. Any idea why? Is it out of pleasure or is he telling us in his own way to stop and that he doesn't like to be touched there?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am so happy for you all that this was not fungal, sad it was anything but to have so much love and devotion now there's no way he can't pull through and be a wonderful part of your lives. just sorry he had to go through so much in his young life before you rescued him. And very sorry it has cost you so much money to find this all out, not many would be able to even begin vet care so I commend you both. Please keep up with us so we can know how he is doing. Such Awesome news!!!

 

[subhanalah]

Good news for Whistles! I'm sorry it's been so expensive, but it speaks highly of you that you believe this small animal is worth it!

Hopefully the antibiotics do their job, and he won't have to suffer any permanent damage.
Will you follow up with the RSPCA with the vet report so they have proof of the negligence on the part of the store?

You can PM me if you don't want to talk about it here on the thread.

 

[SampyArctica]

Sorry to not have been on a little bit! Not too much to update with Whistles, it's only his first week of medication but his whistling has quietened down a little. We're considering if it'll be worth taking legal action against the produce store in order to cover the vet bills that were incurred as the result of their mistreatment...what do you guys think? The legal fees are pricey though, just a phone consult for 20 minutes is $165, but we think that we might be able to claim for them to also cover our legal fees *IF* we win. But then, if we lose - that's extra money on top of everything...so we're not too sure at the moment...

Whistles still sleeps inside at the moment (but is outside during the day), we've reached our limit with poultry (we live in a residential area) so we can't get anymore right now, although one of our 'pullets' has turned out to be a roo, so when we rehome him and the friend that he grew up with, we'll get Whistles some company!

My parents have put their holiday house on the market as well, and when it sells (very soon, fingers crossed), they're going to buy acreage so Whistles will be able to go out there and we'll get him even more friends. They've already started looking at properties, hopefully we come across one soon with a dam or a small lake.

Anyway, here's a new video! Whistles has taught himself to bring his food/water bowl closer by pulling on his towel underneath it. Smart ducky, but uh...did you have to make so much mess...?

 

[subhanalah]

Thank you for the update!
I'm not a lawyer, but I don't think you have any legal basis for a claim, unless they consider it selling a faulty item? Perhaps if the RSPCA were to find them criminally responsible? I really don't know.

It sure is good to see whistles again!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Whistles looks great and just so precious to see how happy he is. as far as compensation from this store I have no idea, They sure deserve to have to take care of it all that's for sure. Great news about property though look forward to hearing all that's going on in Whistles life, appreciate so much the updates.