Wow, I just wanted to step back and agree that Nicole has quite a load on her shoulders. I am grateful to everyone for sharing the very good technical information - it will help many people, I am sure (already has me thinking about having gavage equipment on hand).
Quackers is eating worms, anyway.I think the idea of being able to closely monitor her weight is a good one. At this point, I wonder if a smoothy of corn might be worth a try. Nicole, does she like corn? I am not big on feeding that, but it is calories. And keep up with the worms, at least she is eating those.
And then some vitamins in her water to help round out her nutrients. Silly duck. I suspect she is feeling awful and just wants comfort food. When my beloved had Lyme, all he could eat was a little brown rice with a little cheese and a duck egg, in olive oil. This reminds me of that - recovering from a serious illness, his doctor said "feed him whatever he will eat."
A chat with the vet, perhaps making sure you have a syringe (I got some from the baby aisle in the drugstore), and finding some very nutritious stuff you can get into her either in her water, or as a slurry, plus the worms . . . weekend will be here before you know it.
Any word on Dr. Whittington?
And, Nicole, listen to your inner wisdom on this. There are several people here who care about you two. I value their opinions and their instincts. And this is between you and Quackers. I feel that at this point, you have been provided with a wide range of information and ideas to sort through.
I can identify with the feeling of not wanting to put a pet through any more uncomfortable, even scary treatments. Have a chat with Quackers and see where you might want to say to yourself, "at such and such a point, I will need to consider tube feeding." I think I also understand how you feel about your feathered friend.
Quackers is eating worms, anyway.I think the idea of being able to closely monitor her weight is a good one. At this point, I wonder if a smoothy of corn might be worth a try. Nicole, does she like corn? I am not big on feeding that, but it is calories. And keep up with the worms, at least she is eating those.
And then some vitamins in her water to help round out her nutrients. Silly duck. I suspect she is feeling awful and just wants comfort food. When my beloved had Lyme, all he could eat was a little brown rice with a little cheese and a duck egg, in olive oil. This reminds me of that - recovering from a serious illness, his doctor said "feed him whatever he will eat."
A chat with the vet, perhaps making sure you have a syringe (I got some from the baby aisle in the drugstore), and finding some very nutritious stuff you can get into her either in her water, or as a slurry, plus the worms . . . weekend will be here before you know it.
Any word on Dr. Whittington?
And, Nicole, listen to your inner wisdom on this. There are several people here who care about you two. I value their opinions and their instincts. And this is between you and Quackers. I feel that at this point, you have been provided with a wide range of information and ideas to sort through.
I can identify with the feeling of not wanting to put a pet through any more uncomfortable, even scary treatments. Have a chat with Quackers and see where you might want to say to yourself, "at such and such a point, I will need to consider tube feeding." I think I also understand how you feel about your feathered friend.
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