Update: Sick duckling, flopping on back, looks like Pasteurella

[maralynn28]

I'm so glad to hear she's doing better.
My ducklings were also born midApril (19th) and seem like they are on the exact same diet yours are on, also we live in NW (Washington) and I know what you mean about them loving to dig in the mud! I found a hole drilled about 3 inches deep (as long as their bills can go!) in my backyard...they do love the mud, but it's been so cold lately too.
I don't know what is causing your ducky problems but I have been following the thread and just wanted to say great job for getting her this far and I wish you all the luck in getting her healthy.

Hang in there Bella!!

 

[Kim65]

Last night she went into another round of hard seizures, and they stopped for about four hours and came back this morning. So I took her to an avian vet this morning and they did an xray and took blood. She doesn't have hardware disease thank GOD. Her urates are greenish, so the vet thought a liver panel was in order. She was very kind and instead of the very expensive huge liver test, we selected certain important tests and saved me a lot of money. BTW don't ask how much this all cost me, but it was worth it.

It could also be a congenital problem, or a protozoa infection, or a virus or bacteria. She wants me to continue with the Durapen and gave me ducky Diazepam (Valium) in banana flavored syrup. She's had no more seizures since that's kicked in

I feel like a very over cooked noodle right now. Watching those seizures was pure hell.

So she'll call tomorrow with the results. Otherwise, the vet said she is well hydrated, her body conditioning is good, and she's older than I thought lol. I need to keep her environment at about 85 degrees as sick birds can lose 10% of their body weight every day, and cannot keep their body temp up when their intake is poor.

I so appreciate that you all don't mind that I've pummelled you with all my posts, I HAD to talk to someone!!!! I felt like I was going nuts googling everything and obsessing over the seizures and of course the helplessness of watching them and feeling so bad for her

 

[Funky Feathers]

Please let us know what the diagnosis turns out to be. I lost a duckling recently to very similar symptoms.

 

[Damummis]

Quote:
Isn't that why we are all here? For support.
Hope the little guy is OK

 

[nettie]

You are a most excellent owner for caring for her so well! I applaud you and your continued efforts to help your duck! I know how expensive vet bills can be! But when you care, it's worth it!

 

[maralynn28]

It's so nice to hear when there are ppl in the world who actually care about animals that much. Best wishes to you and your ducky friend Bella, I hope the results come back soon and are a relief. For now, rest easy knowing that you have done everything you can for her. That is one lucky ducky to have you.

 

[Kim65]

Well, she had NO seizures all day yesterday. She had two brief ones this morning, I think the Valium was low in her system (the vet had given her two or three doses before I took her home), and I just need to give it to her more often to keep the serum levels up.

I knew she was feeling better last night when she tried to take a bath in the coffee cup

She groomed and preened and oiled herself for the first time in days.

I still have the slurry in with her, and she's sifting it for solids more than just sipping.

If she has no seizures for a while, I'm going to give her a dose of Valium and let it sink it a bit and then let her bathe in the tub in shallow water.

I have to keep my room pretty warm, the vet said sick birds can lose 10% of their body heat per day if not kept in about 85 degrees environment. Makes sense, she's still not eating as much and is "burning" up her reserves to cope with the stresses.

I'll hear from the vet later today with the blood results, I'll let you all know what she says

I so appreciate the well wishes. I love this little duck.

 

[Kim65]

The vet called and Bella's liver functions and blood counts were all normal. An enzyme to do with muscle breakdown was a little high, but she said that having seizures like she was will cause that to be.

So her liver is just fine. She could still have a virus, or heavy metal poisoning (even though she could only see grit in her gizzard in the xray) or sustained a blunt head injury.

She ate about ten meal worms (first eating solids since Friday) and took a bubble baff in shallow water just in case. She vigorously preened and bathed and wore herself out lol.'

The vet said it was very encouraging that the Valium is controlling the seizures. And that she is eating for the first time.

I will give her supportive care, antibiotics and valium, keep her warm in the house for the next week, and talk to the vet again next week. I'll have the heavy metal blood panel drawn if she doesn't improve much. The other possibility is a protozoan disease from ingesting oppossum poo. It is a lot like the disease gotten from eating raw pork, there are cysts that grow in the muscles and central nervous system (brain) that could cause seizures. It involves getting a muscle biopsy that actually HAS a cyst in it (very difficult, according to the vet). She said these birds usually die as the treatment is not effective.

So there's where it stands. I'll have a duck in my bedroom for the next week. I'm worried her ducky friends will forget her . . . and then be mean to her once she's well enough to go outside. If it's warm I may take her out for a short spin very soon. It might perk her up too.

 

[JosieR]

Poor thing, I hope whatever it is you can figure out a fix. Please post an update, good luck!

 

[Kim65]

I'm so glad you don't mind all my updates

Bella had a much better than ever evening. I bought her and the injured chicken jumbo meal worms yesterday and Bella just stared at them until I put them in the water. Then she gobbled them. Later that evening, all I had to do was hold them in my fingers (she'd always been a little reluctant to even eat peas out of my hand). She must have eated ten, and quickly thank God, just touching those things makes me shiver.

She had a brief seizure this morning around five am. Again, when all that Valium gets low in her system. I am going to work today, will be gone ten hours, so I'm gonna dope her up a little before I go, and teach my daughter how to give her the Valium while I'm gone.

So, improvements in just the last day: She is eating dry (unmedicated) chick starter and mealworms and greens floating in her water. She is bathing in her water and even playing in it a little. No more slurry. No more rumpled dirty duck. She is getting much harder to wrestle to give her meds and penicillin shot.

In my convo with the vet, when I am off again this weekend, I'm going to back off on the Valium and see how her seizure activity is. I'll give it to her if she has seizures. This may go on a while. The fact that she is improving just on what we're doing is a good sign that whatever happened to her, infection, injury or WHATEVER, it is improving and hopefully will not be a long term problem.

Thanks again for all your emotional and practical support!!!