Trying to diagnose my duck

[Ravynscroft]

No I haven't dewormed them. I wasn't aware that would be an issue. I'll talk to the vet about that too then.

It *can be* an issue if you have a high worm count in hour area... not all areas are the same, but that's why fecals are an important diagnostic tool...

A worm overloaded duck might stop preening, be quieter, and slower than the rest... that's why I brought it up as a possibility too... hope the vet can help...

 

[Kartay]

It *can be* an issue if you have a high worm count in hour area... not all areas are the same, but that's why fecals are an important diagnostic tool...

A worm overloaded duck might stop preening, be quieter, and slower than the rest... that's why I brought it up as a possibility too... hope the vet can help...

How does a duck ingest them? Are they in the dirt or straw? My cats never seem to get worms but I'd imagine they would come from different sources? I would have thought the cold would kill most parasites, -40 is usually their limit before they actually die.

 

[chickens really]

Do the cats go outside?

Cats that hunt carry worms...If the cat poops in the same dirt a Duck noodles in the worms transfer........Worm your Cats also if outdoor Cats....

Cheers!

 

[Ravynscroft]

How does a duck ingest them? Are they in the dirt or straw? My cats never seem to get worms but I'd imagine they would come from different sources? I would have thought the cold would kill most parasites, -40 is usually their limit before they actually die.

Most worms are species specific, worms that affect dogs and cats don't affect poultry and waterfowl, and vice versa... some worms are in the dirt, some are carried by earthworms, snails, slugs, etc... all things ducks usually love to eat... she could have been carrying worms in her system where they multiply prior to the weather change and now the drop in temps bring out the symptoms all with the possibility of the worms reaching a count higher than her system can handle... they can handle some worms, but if they aren't cleared out periodically they *can* reproduce past the safe amount of wormload they can deal with...

Make sense? And this is just a possibility, not saying it is certain... but a fecal will tell you if worms are an issue... we have a high wormload issue here, so mine are on a regular deworming schedule...

Edited for typos

 

[Kartay]

My cats are dewormed every 3-6 months. They are indoor/outdoor cats. But honestly, I've never even found worms in their stool. I realize this doesn't mean anything, but you'd think after 5 years I would have found one. I usually just deworm them as a precaution rather than because I've found anything.
And my ducks had the run of the acreage this summer. They took care of a lot of pests in the garden so it would make sense that they'd picked some pests of the own along the way.
I hope it's not to difficult to deworm them, my cats are bad enough even when using the gel haha.

 

[Kartay]

A farmer friend of mine suggested that my duck has coccidiosis. It is a common issue around here and the symptoms match.
However, while I can find information on symptoms and care, I can't find anything specific.
My duck responded well to treatment. But within the last 2 days she has relapsed and looks just about as bad as she did in the beginning. Can anyone give me more information on this? Is this normal, or does it mean there is another issue?

 

[Ravynscroft]

*Usually* a slight recovery followed by relapse indicates more than one issue going on... meaning she may have been cocci overloaded and has something else, you fixed one but not the other...

Also, there are several types of cocci... possibly the treatment used got rid of one kind while she may have another...

Did you consult the vet? Get a fecal done? Fecals will also show cocci count as well... did you try deworming her?

 

[Kartay]

I am unable to take her to the vet right now. I understand that is the surest way to diagnose her, but I'd feel more comfortable learning what I can.
I could not find deworm medication either. I will have to go to the city to find that. But the vet agreed that it was likely coccidiosis. She didn't tell me there were multiple medications and they only had the one kind anyway,it's kind of a blanket kind for cattle, poultry and goats.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Oops, sorry.... this is the dewormer type, not for cocci...

Corid (Amprolium) is used for cocci and so is Baycox (Toltrazuril)

If it's Safeguard 10% liquid for goats, that's exactly what I use and it works well... and is very safe for ducks... if you can get that and a 1mL syringe I can give you the dosage...

At this point, I think it's worth a try and it won't harm her if worms aren't an issue...

 

[Kartay]

I got sodium sulfamethazine and have been following the instructions on the label. I have already been treating her with it for 9 days.