UPDATE on rescue ducklings Smeagol & Gollum + new questions!

[bsides2007]

Hello everyone!

Well, Smeagol and Gollum are now about 5 or 6 weeks old approximately. The last I left off, Smeagol had some pretty labored breathing which was not getting better so I decided to give them oregano oil every day as a natural antibiotic. I did this for about 5 days with no improvement and actually thought I would lose Smeagol, so I decided to try antibiotics as a last resort. When Smeagol would breathe hard, I could hear a clicking noise (which I read could be pneumonia/water in lungs) so I gently held her upside down (some water come out, but not a lot) and started antibiotics and refrained from giving her baths for a little while. I decided to give them both a dose twice daily just in case, and am still finishing out their course (I'm on day 6). I plan on giving them two more days. I have noticed Smeagol's breathing getting better and rarely hear the clicking sound now (although I still do if she is really gasping) but her breathing is still labored at times and I am at a loss. I wonder if it could be an air sac problem? The breathing seems to be worse when she is on her left side. Gollum seems unaffected by labored breathing so I'm wondering if it is an infection at all. Both of them also seem to have some swelling/redness of their nictitating membrane and I am not sure why. They dunk their heads. They get baths, fresh bedding and water often, etc. I have sprayed with veterycin which seems to help but the swelling and redness keep coming back. I have also noticed both have leaking eyes? It's not foamy eye or sticky eye, it's just straight up water droplets that come out of the corners of their eyes. No matted feathers around the eyes or anything. Is this normal for a duck? Any ideas anyone? THANK YOU!

Otherwise both ducklings (teenagers?) are acting like normal ducks, cuddling and preening and splashing in their water dish, despite their limitations. I don't think either of them will ever walk, unfortunately, but they do still enjoy themselves and love to be held/pet. They are definitely "lap" ducks

 

[Miss Lydia]

I don't believe I have seen water coming from my ducks eyes, but that isn't to say it hasn't happened I am not with them 24/7 like you are. I don't believe I'd worry about it though as long as it's clear and not much.

I am sorry there hasn't been significant improvement but I don't think they could have made it anywhere but with you. You have taken such good care of them.

Maybe the labored breathing has to do with the constant pressure on her air sacs from laying down so much, of course only a guess though.

 

[bsides2007]

I don't believe I have seen water coming from my ducks eyes, but that isn't to say it hasn't happened I am not with them 24/7 like you are. I don't believe I'd worry about it though as long as it's clear and not much.

I am sorry there hasn't been significant improvement but I don't think they could have made it anywhere but with you. You have taken such good care of them.

Maybe the labored breathing has to do with the constant pressure on her air sacs from laying down so much, of course only a guess though.

Thanks @Miss Lydia ! They are my little dumpster birds (I call them that in the most affectionate way haha). I thought about the pressure thing too, but I notice the labored breathing most when she's up and about and especially after she's been splashing in her water or preening, or when startled. Sometimes she really gasps and then seems to get really sleepy, but then she just pops right back up like nothing ever happened and continues playing or preening. I only hear the clicking if she is breathing really hard while lying down, but her breathing settles down very quickly. The antibiotics seem to have helped somehow. I wouldn't be so worried about the eyes either if they weren't red. I only see the redness sometimes (like when the membrane shows more). It seems to kind of come and go. Maybe their eyes are just irritated by dust/bedding? Maybe they are allergic to cats!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Allergic to cats that's a good one and indoor heat can do it too plus dusty bedding and feed. Maybe try some saline eye wash and see if that helps. There's also Terramycin eye ointment

 

[bsides2007]

I will try the saline and try to pick up some Terramycin when I can. Thank you @Miss Lydia!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks for the update, keep us posted. you can make your own by using 1/8th teas of salt to 1 cup of warm water.