Something strange out of my duck

[Miss Lydia]

Is she still on antibiotics?

I went and read up on it since I haven't ever seen a lash egg here.

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2014/12/salpingitis-lash-eggs-in-backyard/

 

[biophiliac]

That's a good one @Miss Lydia , thanks! found these two as well...

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/134/salpingitis/

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/disorders-of-the-reproductive-system/salpingitis-in-poultry

 

[rebrascora]

Hi

I don't have any experience with ducks but that is definitely a lash egg and the chances are that she is packed with similar material and in quite a bit of discomfort. Her change in temperament is an indication of that.
I think the problem with the oviduct and an infection like this in it, is that it is relatively remote from the blood supply and therefore hard for the antibiotics to get to work. Add to that, the cheesy nature of the lash egg material which blocks the oviduct and there is no way to reabsorb this material even if the infection can be wiped out, which if this lash egg was smelling, indicates that it hasn't or it is starting to rot inside her. Often there will be a mass the size of a grapefruit stuck in the oviduct, which of course is far to large to expel naturally and being lumpy instead of smooth like an egg, creates significant resistance to movement down the tract. More ova build up behind it and also become infected and sometimes the duct eventually gets backed up and yolks then start dropping into the abdominal cavity as well.
I am very aware that the OP has spent a huge amount of money already on this young duck but sadly this is not going to end well for her. If she was mine I would be preparing to euthanize her. The lash egg material in her oviduct may be constricting her gut which will back her up and cause her to not want to eat much (she may start to suffer slow or sour crop issues) as well as cause discomfort in it's own right.

The only possible option, in my opinion, would be very risky and expensive surgery to remove the oviduct and it's infected contents and then hormone implants every 3-6 months to prevent her from ever ovulating again. This would run towards a thousand dollars probably more with regular hormone implants running at about $100-$150 a go I believe and that is if you can find a vet to perform it and quite a high risk of fatality from the surgery alone, so unless you are a millionaire, probably not really justifiable and a lot of stress for the bird assuming she survives it, even if you can afford it.
I am basing the above explanation on my knowledge of chickens rather than ducks but their reproductive system is sufficiently similar to be reasonably confident that this is the situation.

I am very sorry I cannot be more optimistic.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Very good information.

 

[biophiliac]

Dan - I am so sorry the news is not what you would want to hear. You have done everything possible for her! To me her change in attitude is a sign her quality of life is declining. Bird are known to 'hide' symptoms until it is too late.