Sudden Death [Update] - Coughing and Heavy Breathing

[Jpat]

Piglet died.

Awe. Sorry to hear.

Hard to beleive it happened so fast

 

[3bird]

Awe. Sorry to hear.

Hard to beleive it happened so fast

We are devastated. I could go on and on about what an incredible duck Piglet was. He was the one who looked out for everyone else...always. This is going to be tough to get over, but right now we need to focus on next steps and the rest of the flock.

What killed him?

Is it contagious?

What can we do proactively for the rest of the flock?

To reiterate, he was limping last night. We decided to start him on epsom salt baths today. This morning he was slow to come out of the run (unusual), but he came out. It seemed his foot was bothering him. We gave him a good soak, and then I carried him over to where the rest of the flock was. He swam and preened, but wasn't as mobile as usual. Again, I didn't think much of it beyond his foot--we've had ducks with foot issues, and the epsom salt soaks seem to work. There was no open wound, but maybe a little swelling.

It was a nice day, and we were working in the garden, so the duck run was open all day. Everyone came out except for Piglet. He stayed in the straw underneath the duckhouse. It was very unlike him, but we again didn't think much of it. We gave him some water in a bowl, and the other ducks came and went.

This evening, when we were getting ready to put the rest of the flock back in, I noticed he was breathing kind of hard. I went and prepared his epsom salt bath and when I went to get him, I knew something was very wrong. He was breathing heavily and I could here a little gurgle on inhalation. When I went to pick him up, he coughed and shook his head, and liquid (clear) came out. He was lethargic and one eye (left) appeared to have some discharge. I sat with him for a while, which is when I made my first post.

Eventually we decided to move him up to the duckhouse, which we closed off from the rest of the flock. We offered him water with ACV, but he would not drink. He had two feces, both of which were runny and white in color (and small). I held him in my lap and he settled down, appearing to fall asleep. His breathing remained labored. Then all at once he sat up, appeared to have a sort of spasm, spread his wings and arched his head back and then settled into my arms and died.

Again, we are devastated. This time last night he was limping a little, but other than that he appeared a very healthy duck.

Any thoughts anyone has would be very welcome.

Thank you to everyone who offered assistance tonight. We really appreciate it.

Here's how we'll remember our handsome, good boy:

 

[CayugaJana]

Oh no that’s so heartbreaking. I’m so sorry.

It sounds like maybe his lungs filled up with fluid? With how rapid the onset was, I’d say it was something internal and not contagious. But I’m just guessing. Does your vet do necropsies? That would be the only way to know for certain.

 

[CrystaBub]

I was reading this thread hoping for a happy ending. I’m so very sorry for your loss. Others may have suggestion on cause and what to do to ensure it doesn’t impact the rest of your flock. Since it started suddenly and with a leg issue, I’m wondering if it’s possible that it was a snake bite or other puncture injury? I know that can lead to heart problems in other animals, which also causes heavy breathing before the heart gives out. Not sure about ducks. You may never know but at least you were able to enjoy Piglet while he was with you and sounds like he was surely loved.

 

[3bird]

Oh no that’s so heartbreaking. I’m so sorry.

It sounds like maybe his lungs filled up with fluid? With how rapid the onset was, I’d say it was something internal and not contagious. But I’m just guessing. Does your vet do necropsies? That would be the only way to know for certain.

Thank you. I'm going to ask her first thing in the morning.

 

[3bird]

I was reading this thread hoping for a happy ending. I’m so very sorry for your loss. Others may have suggestion on cause and what to do to ensure it doesn’t impact the rest of your flock. Since it started suddenly and with a leg issue, I’m wondering if it’s possible that it was a snake bite or other puncture injury? I know that can lead to heart problems in other animals, which also causes heavy breathing before the heart gives out. Not sure about ducks. You may never know but at least you were able to enjoy Piglet while he was with you and sounds like he was surely loved.

He was very loved indeed...and he was such a remarkably caring fellow. He was the one who would watch out for everyone else when they were out, and he would do his little call to round everyone up. His poor little girlfriend Mouse is going to be heartbroken. :-(

In Maine, we have no poisonous snakes. We looked closely at his foot last night and again this morning, and there was no open puncture. I was holding him yesterday (just regular snuggles), and there was no sound of gurgling or labored breathing.

 

[CayugaJana]

I was reading this thread hoping for a happy ending. I’m so very sorry for your loss. Others may have suggestion on cause and what to do to ensure it doesn’t impact the rest of your flock. Since it started suddenly and with a leg issue, I’m wondering if it’s possible that it was a snake bite or other puncture injury? I know that can lead to heart problems in other animals, which also causes heavy breathing before the heart gives out. Not sure about ducks. You may never know but at least you were able to enjoy Piglet while he was with you and sounds like he was surely loved.

That’s a great point. Especially since she said he takes care of all the other ducks.......

 

[casportpony]

Very sorry for your loss. If you want to find out what he died from you should contact the diagnostic lab and arrange to have him necropsied:
https://extension.umaine.edu/veterinarylab/
It's only $25.

If you aren't close enough to drive there you can ship overnight. Refrigerate, do not freeze.

 

[3bird]

Very sorry for your loss. If you want to find out what he died from you should contact the diagnostic lab and arrange to have him necropsied:
https://extension.umaine.edu/veterinarylab/
It's only $25.

If you aren't close enough to drive there you can ship overnight. Refrigerate, do not freeze.

Unfortunately we froze before I saw this. :-(

 

[Trish1974]

I am so sorry for your loss