Sudden Death [Update] - Coughing and Heavy Breathing

[3bird]

I am so sorry for your loss

Thank you.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@3bird I am so sorry to read this about Piglet. So fast. I hope your vet can help you figure out what it was.
Knowing how much ya'll love your ducks I know you are devastated and the flock will miss him. Sad they can be sick for quite a while before we even notice anything is wrong and most of the time it's too late to do anything about it.

 

[chickens really]

Sorry that happened..How many Drakes do you have?
Do they have access to a Kiddie pool?.
Almost sounds like he got attacked and aspirated water into his lungs?.Injured his leg being chased?
Again sorry that happened.

 

[casportpony]

Unfortunately we froze before I saw this. :-(

That's okay, call that and ask if they can still do it.

 

[3bird]

@3bird I am so sorry to read this about Piglet. So fast. I hope your vet can help you figure out what it was.
Knowing how much ya'll love your ducks I know you are devastated and the flock will miss him. Sad they can be sick for quite a while before we even notice anything is wrong and most of the time it's too late to do anything about it.

Thank you so much, @Miss Lydia . You have been such a wonderful support for our little flock. You can't possibly know how much it means to us.

I worry about the part "Sad they can be sick for quite a while before we even notice anything is wrong and most of the time it's too late to do anything about it," and hoping the others are not also harboring some unknown illness. Everyone seemed okay this morning, but we'll keep a close eye on them. Thanks again.

 

[3bird]

Sorry that happened..How many Drakes do you have?
Do they have access to a Kiddie pool?.
Almost sounds like he got attacked and aspirated water into his lungs?.Injured his leg being chased?
Again sorry that happened.

Thank you, @chickens really. We've always appreciated your advice. They do not have a kiddie pool yet this year, as their little "ponds" (couple inches deep) around the property are full. They don't swim in the "real" pond at all. We had the two drakes, Piglet and Angus, but they don't fight at all anymore. Aspirating water does sound plausible, but I just don't know how that could have happened. I carried him yesterday morning (when I soaked him), and there was no unusual breathing at all.

 

[3bird]

 

[3bird]

That's okay, call that and ask if they can still do it.

We have a call in. There is no way to get him there today in time.

 

[chickens really]

Thank you, @chickens really. We've always appreciated your advice. They do not have a kiddie pool yet this year, as their little "ponds" (couple inches deep) around the property are full. They don't swim in the "real" pond at all. We had the two drakes, Piglet and Angus, but they don't fight at all anymore. Aspirating water does sound plausible, but I just don't know how that could have happened. I carried him yesterday morning (when I soaked him), and there was no unusual breathing at all.

Sinus infection or aspirate is my thoughts. Pneumonia?

 

[3bird]

Sinus infection or aspirate is my thoughts. Pneumonia?

These are our first ducks (well since I was a kid), so I don't know what that might look like. Is rapid onset normal for pneumonia or sinus infection? This all transpired in less than 24 hours. Aspiration seems more plausible, but I don't know how it would have happened. Someone had mentioned worms--is that a possibility?