Testicular Tumors in Ducks - Information to share.

[4Qwackers]

Hello all!
One of the reasons that i joined this forum was due to the vast information i've found available from people with tons of 1st hand knowledge and experience. Its a super great way to "share" that information gained thru many years of experience. Besides having Khaki ducks now for over 6 years, we are pretty good House Rabbit experts having had 11 total in the last 22 years. Although i really never have any extra time in a wildly busy life, i do find this a little relaxing "winddown" time at night as well as a bit of therapy. Seeking expert medical advice has never been something we have shied away from, so here is one of my shares.....
Photos and videos available when i get some more time.

Both 2 Males of our original "4 Quackers" we got in 2017 from Tractor Supply (on a whim... that changed our lives!) developed and eventually succumbed from complications of Testicular Tumors. It is speculated that being mass hatchery offspring, there is a lot of inbreeding which leads to some of these increased occurrences of certain medical issues.

First was Ritz. He developed a bit of a limp in the springtime (mating season) when he was 3 years old. It eventually resolved and we thought nothing of it. The following spring, actually end of January, his limp came back and got WAY worse eventually causing near paralysis where he couldn't walk. Working with Cornell University's Exotics department, it was determined to be a Testicular or Possibly Renal tumor who's growth was pinching off the spinal cord / nerve in that small tight area of the lower back. As it grew, symptoms became worse. This was also made even worse with the enlargement of the testicles for mating season where they get up to 1000 times their non breeding season size. Hormone therapy and anti-inflammatory treatment was attempted, but he eventually passed on May 14th that year from a suspected pulmonary embolism due to complications as we suspect it metastasized. He was only 4 years old. His bro (and flock leader) Cheez-it stayed by his side and protected him thru the whole ordeal. Yes, 2 mature drakes that actually got along with girls around!

Next was our beloved Cheez-it. Earlier this year, beginning of June, it kinda looked like his belly was a little bigger than normal and he was not just "Fat." We were in the process of scheduling an exam when on an extremely hot day it appeared that he was having difficulty breathing. Open mouth and labored. That is the day the duck's indoor area got air-conditioning! LOL Now, considering it more critical in nature, we got him to the local vet the next morning. X-rays showed a mass that was pushing his gizzard down and putting pressure on his belly air sac and up on his lungs. It was made worse when he was laying down applying more upward pressure on all his air system. Rather than just euthanizing him then (No f'in way!) more specialized medical advice was sought out. With multiple recommendations and referral from our friends at Cornell, we took him to a renown avian specialist in NY. No names, but you can figure out who, and she really was/IS incredible.
An ultrasound confirmed a significant large mass, and actually possibly two of them. Bloodwork confirmed he was otherwise healthy with no abnormal or elevated counts, so we opted to attempt surgery on Aug 1st. Daily anti-inflammatory treatment helped, but any other effects on the tumor were limited. The last 2 days prior, as well as the whole 4 hour ride, he stood up and would not lay down because it was getting tougher to breath. Not much real estate inside that little body! He was also starting to get visibly tired from standing all the time so we agreed that it was now THAT time. Attempting removal would be his only chance of survival and not suffering. This is such a difficult and risky surgery with a tough recovery, but saving our Big Cheeze was worth it because he was THAT special of a duck!!! Extremely smart drake and a fantastic social leader!

Well, unfortunately, he didn't make it. There was a complication during the difficult removal and he passed away while under anesthesia. What was found in his little body was absolutely unbelievable. His both testicals became tumors of incredible size. They were literally the size of a horse's! The smaller of the two was the size of a lemon, and the other, the same diameter, but longer in the shape of a kidney bean. In total they weighed over 1.75lbs. That was like 1/3 of his total body mass! He weighed in at 6 lbs total due to these masses. In all this, we have learned It is extremely difficult to neuter a bird (duck, or goose). That is why it is never really attempted as it is also rarely successful with any desired behavioral modification. I guess the only and safest option for that would best be hormonal suppression with an implant.

I hope this may provide some interesting info and our Big Cheeze's experience, and life, will serve for more than just the wonderful boy he was to us. We are still incredibly sad, but at peace with our decision. He was 6 and 1/2 years old. RIP Cheez-it. Here is him watching over his flock ...the "4 Qwackers!" - Ritz, Cheez-it, Saltine, and Triscuit.

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

Hello all!
One of the reasons that i joined this forum was due to the vast information i've found available from people with tons of 1st hand knowledge and experience. Its a super great way to "share" that information gained thru many years of experience. Besides having Khaki ducks now for over 6 years, we are pretty good House Rabbit experts having had 11 total in the last 22 years. Although i really never have any extra time in a wildly busy life, i do find this a little relaxing "winddown" time at night as well as a bit of therapy. Seeking expert medical advice has never been something we have shied away from, so here is one of my shares.....
Photos and videos available when i get some more time.

Both 2 Males of our original "4 Quackers" we got in 2017 from Tractor Supply (on a whim... that changed our lives!) developed and eventually succumbed from complications of Testicular Tumors. It is speculated that being mass hatchery offspring, there is a lot of inbreeding which leads to some of these increased occurrences of certain medical issues.

First was Ritz. He developed a bit of a limp in the springtime (mating season) when he was 3 years old. It eventually resolved and we thought nothing of it. The following spring, actually end of January, his limp came back and got WAY worse eventually causing near paralysis where he couldn't walk. Working with Cornell University's Exotics department, it was determined to be a Testicular or Possibly Renal tumor who's growth was pinching off the spinal cord / nerve in that small tight area of the lower back. As it grew, symptoms became worse. This was also made even worse with the enlargement of the testicles for mating season where they get up to 1000 times their non breeding season size. Hormone therapy and anti-inflammatory treatment was attempted, but he eventually passed on May 14th that year from a suspected pulmonary embolism due to complications as we suspect it metastasized. He was only 4 years old. His bro (and flock leader) Cheez-it stayed by his side and protected him thru the whole ordeal. Yes, 2 mature drakes that actually got along with girls around!

Next was our beloved Cheez-it. Earlier this year, beginning of June, it kinda looked like his belly was a little bigger than normal and he was not just "Fat." We were in the process of scheduling an exam when on an extremely hot day it appeared that he was having difficulty breathing. Open mouth and labored. That is the day the duck's indoor area got air-conditioning! LOL Now, considering it more critical in nature, we got him to the local vet the next morning. X-rays showed a mass that was pushing his gizzard down and putting pressure on his belly air sac and up on his lungs. It was made worse when he was laying down applying more upward pressure on all his air system. Rather than just euthanizing him then (No f'in way!) more specialized medical advice was sought out. With multiple recommendations and referral from our friends at Cornell, we took him to a renown avian specialist in NY. No names, but you can figure out who, and she really was/IS incredible.
An ultrasound confirmed a significant large mass, and actually possibly two of them. Bloodwork confirmed he was otherwise healthy with no abnormal or elevated counts, so we opted to attempt surgery on Aug 1st. Daily anti-inflammatory treatment helped, but any other effects on the tumor were limited. The last 2 days prior, as well as the whole 4 hour ride, he stood up and would not lay down because it was getting tougher to breath. Not much real estate inside that little body! He was also starting to get visibly tired from standing all the time so we agreed that it was now THAT time. Attempting removal would be his only chance of survival and not suffering. This is such a difficult and risky surgery with a tough recovery, but saving our Big Cheeze was worth it because he was THAT special of a duck!!! Extremely smart drake and a fantastic social leader!

Well, unfortunately, he didn't make it. There was a complication during the difficult removal and he passed away while under anesthesia. What was found in his little body was absolutely unbelievable. His both testicals became tumors of incredible size. They were literally the size of a horse's! The smaller of the two was the size of a lemon, and the other, the same diameter, but longer in the shape of a kidney bean. In total they weighed over 1.75lbs. That was like 1/3 of his total body mass! He weighed in at 6 lbs total due to these masses. In all this, we have learned It is extremely difficult to neuter a bird (duck, or goose). That is why it is never really attempted as it is also rarely successful with any desired behavioral modification. I guess the only and safest option for that would best be hormonal suppression with an implant.

I hope this may provide some interesting info and our Big Cheeze's experience, and life, will serve for more than just the wonderful boy he was to us. We are still incredibly sad, but at peace with our decision. He was 6 and 1/2 years old. RIP Cheez-it. Here is him watching over his flock ...the "4 Qwackers!" - Ritz, Cheez-it, Saltine, and Triscuit.

So sorry for your looses
RIP cheese-it and Ritz
They were well loved and cared for in their time
Thank you for sharing the info
How are the last 2 handling loosing the leader

I have a khaki drake who treats his pekin wife like gold.
I love how dedicated he is to her and how she can say no and he will respect it and leave her be

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

I’m so very sorry for your losses! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. I’d always hoped that the drakes were spared some of the horrible reproductive issues that appear to run rampant through the generally poorly bred duck population. I’m sad to see that that is not the case. It’s so hard when you are willing to do anything to help your precious feathered friends, but their genetics are stacked against them.

At any rate, you are a welcome addition to BYC, and I look forward to reading more from you!

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

As a follow-up, do they use the implants in drakes too? One of my Muscovy girls is on her second implant of the year in an attempt to save her life as she was internally laying, leading to suspected EYP. In a drake, do the implants just take the hormones down a notch in the hopes of slowing the growth of reproductive tumors?

 

[4Qwackers]

From what was explained to us, the implants are sometimes used in aggressive drakes or ganders in attempt to suppress testosterone and curb aggression In our case with Ritz, we tried it to attempt to shrink the testicals to give some relief and "reduce the pinch" of the nerve. Unfortunately, it had minimal effect but he WAS very sweet in his final days. Not sure it had anything to do with the implant. I am by no means an expert on this subject matter and I am unaware if they have any effect on tumor growth rate. That might be a better question for a veterinary professional.

I'm not sure it would have been worth it with Cheeze since he was very sweet and not at all aggressive. We suspect he went sterle about a year or so prior since when we did try to incubate in attempt to get baby Cheezes, all three batches turned out to be duds. We also speculate that he had his tumors start to develop about the same time as Ritz, but his grew into his abdomen rather than into the spinal area. It is also possible that Ritz's were more Renal in nature. The sizes of these testicle tumors were truly crazy and if stomachs are OK with it, i can post photos. They aren't TOO graphic, but just a warning. Still, what are the chances of 2 unrelated drakes having testicular related tumors??? We sometime wonder if they might actually would have been brothers. Ritz sure was the "Pretty guy'."

 

[ruthhope]

From what was explained to us, the implants are sometimes used in aggressive drakes or ganders in attempt to suppress testosterone and curb aggression In our case with Ritz, we tried it to attempt to shrink the testicals to give some relief and "reduce the pinch" of the nerve. Unfortunately, it had minimal effect but he WAS very sweet in his final days. Not sure it had anything to do with the implant. I am by no means an expert on this subject matter and I am unaware if they have any effect on tumor growth rate. That might be a better question for a veterinary professional.

I'm not sure it would have been worth it with Cheeze since he was very sweet and not at all aggressive. We suspect he went sterle about a year or so prior since when we did try to incubate in attempt to get baby Cheezes, all three batches turned out to be duds. We also speculate that he had his tumors start to develop about the same time as Ritz, but his grew into his abdomen rather than into the spinal area. It is also possible that Ritz's were more Renal in nature. The sizes of these testicle tumors were truly crazy and if stomachs are OK with it, i can post photos. They aren't TOO graphic, but just a warning. Still, what are the chances of 2 unrelated drakes having testicular related tumors??? We sometime wonder if they might actually would have been brothers. Ritz sure was the "Pretty guy'."

I had never heard of testicular tumors in ducks until yesterday, and now you have written about two drakes with them, the very next day! I have a two and a half year old pekin drake that stopped walking at the end of May -- rapid onset, limping one evening and by the third day not walking. Long story that I will not detail, but here we are nearly 4 months later and I have a boy that can't walk, his left leg seems to be affected more than his right; his joints move fully, no sign of fractures in his long bones and no known history of trauma, He's full of himself, eats like a horse, sits in a wheelchair facing the screening in my rear porch and interacts with the rest of the flock -- summoning them to come to him when he feels like it.

I took him to an avian vet yesterday and having excluded infection -- he has had a 28 day course of Baytril with no change in his condition -- the vet suggests that my boy could have a pelvic tumor.

I have decided I am not going down the route of operations [I am not going for last ditch therapies for myself either -- already set out in my advance directive!] and so he is having "deep pain killers" to see if they are more effective than the ibuprofen I have had him on. If he is not any different in a week I will just put him back on Ibuprofen, and tender loving care. Ibuprofen concentrated pediatric drops is far easier to give than a Tramadol tablet. His tender loving care includes swim therapy every day and flying therapy -- holding him up so that he flaps his wings, until he and I both get tired. Wing flapping uses so many muscles all along his trunk that I am using it to counter him losing minerals from his bones from lack of movement. Not that he is immobile. He can and does occasionally get out of his wheelchair; he gets out of the wading pool several times a swim therapy session -- I pick him up and put him straight back in! And he often turns round in his tote overnight -- for no obvious reason as he is turning away from his food and water and towards his pile of poo!!

 

[4Qwackers]

I had never heard of testicular tumors in ducks until yesterday, and now you have written about two drakes with them, the very next day! I have a two and a half year old pekin drake that stopped walking at the end of May -- rapid onset, limping one evening and by the third day not walking. Long story that I will not detail, but here we are nearly 4 months later and I have a boy that can't walk, his left leg seems to be affected more than his right; his joints move fully, no sign of fractures in his long bones and no known history of trauma, He's full of himself, eats like a horse, sits in a wheelchair facing the screening in my rear porch and interacts with the rest of the flock -- summoning them to come to him when he feels like it.

I took him to an avian vet yesterday and having excluded infection -- he has had a 28 day course of Baytril with no change in his condition -- the vet suggests that my boy could have a pelvic tumor.

I have decided I am not going down the route of operations [I am not going for last ditch therapies for myself either -- already set out in my advance directive!] and so he is having "deep pain killers" to see if they are more effective than the ibuprofen I have had him on. If he is not any different in a week I will just put him back on Ibuprofen, and tender loving care. Ibuprofen concentrated pediatric drops is far easier to give than a Tramadol tablet. His tender loving care includes swim therapy every day and flying therapy -- holding him up so that he flaps his wings, until he and I both get tired. Wing flapping uses so many muscles all along his trunk that I am using it to counter him losing minerals from his bones from lack of movement. Not that he is immobile. He can and does occasionally get out of his wheelchair; he gets out of the wading pool several times a swim therapy session -- I pick him up and put him straight back in! And he often turns round in his tote overnight -- for no obvious reason as he is turning away from his food and water and towards his pile of poo!!

I am sorry to hear about your boy. It really sucks when we can't "fix" or pets. It sounds like you are doing your best at making his days as happy as possible. Ducks sure seem happy and know when you are trying to help them. My wife and i dedicated our time to do the same as you. The protocol you are going with is pretty much the standard that we were using with Ritz.

I'm glad i was able to unfortunately provide some validation to vet's "less than favorable" diagnosis. I will try and post a video or 2 of Ritz and how it presented for him as i describe in the originating post. For Cheez-it, it presented TOTALLY different and much later in his life.

 

[Canadian Wind]

The sizes of these testicle tumors were truly crazy and if stomachs are OK with it, i can post photos. They aren't TOO graphic, but just a warning. Still, what are the chances of 2 unrelated drakes having testicular related tumors??? We sometime wonder if they might actually would have been brothers. Ritz sure was the "Pretty guy'."

Thank you for this information, I'd never heard of this before. I'm sorry you lost your two special guys.

I would definitely like to see the pictures. You can put them under a 'spoiler' (the eye with a bar through it in the More Options on the reply bar) like so:

Spoiler

This is a test. If this had been a real spoiler, it would have contained some really gross pics!

 

[4Qwackers]

Thank you for the tip!

Here is a pic of him and his girls Ethel & Lucy 3 days prior. You can see his big belly.
Lucy LOOOOOVED her Big Cheeze!

That was also one of his favorite spots, so that is where he now is.

Spoiler: Tumors - viewer discretion

 

[Canadian Wind]

OMG! The poor fella was carrying those around inside?!?