URGENT~ SOFT SHELLED EGGS AND A LETHARGIC DUCK!!!

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PetDuck said:
My reply

So you want the vet in Jacksons number (Dr. Whittington)? Or the vet here that has been giving her the antibiotic shots?


Her reply

Neither, it is inappropriate for me to call them. If they want me to help them, you can pass my phone number along to them. I can give you general information, and could discuss options with them, but it is not legal for me to make a treatment plan for you. I do care that your duck gets the best care possible so I am willing to talk with your vet if they are in need of further ideas. I am so sorry that I can't help more.

~~~~~~~~~

So she basically just said that she can't help me. And no one else either. So pretty much I don't have anywhere to go.
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Wait a minute. What I read is that the way for her to help you is to ask your vet to call her. I think that will open the door.
 
But this vet here has NO knowledge of ducks. Dr. Tana said she would talk about the options but this vet here would have no idea which one was best. None of these vet seem to think that it is the Baytril upsetting her stomach but everyone thinks the infection is back.

I just wish I could speak to Dr. Whittington...
 
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I would ask the less knowledgeable vet to please call Dr. Tana and pray that Dr. Tana could provide the nearby vet with enough information to develop an appropriate treatment plan. And Dr. Whittington's mom is apparently the stroke victim, so perhaps he will be able to weigh in before long.

I feel it is worth a try.
 
veronicasmom said:
I know I don't have a lot of the knowledge that many others have, but I really am going to push the syringe feeding. You can make a slurry of something very nutritional and just basically stick the syringe in her mouth and let the food dribble down her throat. I am sure you can google syringe feeding a bird. It is done a lot. Tubing is a much bigger deal and a lot harder. I mentioned the syringe feeding a while ago, and if she is losing weight, you HAVE to get food in her soon. If she is unhappy with it, so be it, you don't seem to have an alternative at this point.
Personally, I would be hesitant to tube feed one of my animals, but I would syringe feed any time. Yes you do have to worry about them aspirating, but it is less of a risk than improperly tube feeding.

I am probably going to be VERY unpopular for this, but here goes. Is she suffering? I love my animals more than my own life, but I feel very strongly that when an animal is unhappy, uncomfortable or just not enjoying life, it is time to consider your other alternatives. This relates to your comment on not wanting to upset her by force feeding. I commend you on how much love and care you are giving Quackers, but if she is miserable, then please think about maybe not putting her through a lot more misery. Believe I have been in this position more times that you could ever imagine since I have had so many pets of so many species. It is a hard thing to think about, but we need to realize they require us to make the decisions they cannot.

I really feel bad for you. I think you are wonderful for doing all you are for Quackers and I know this is not a nice thing to think about, but truly if she is just existing, then maybe you need to do some hard thinking.

I am pulling for you both, I think she is a very lucky duck to have you on her side.
hugs.gif
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Please don't think I'm picking on you, 'cause that's not my intention...

Tubing is *not* a much bigger deal and it is not harder plus it takes way less time to feed the proper amount which is way less stressful to the bird. The key is getting the right sized tube for the bird, one that is too big to go into the trachea. It's dead easy with the correct items:
  • Prepare food to give in syringe
  • Grab and restrain bird
  • Gently stretch head and neck up
  • Open beak
  • Insert tube
  • Check tube placement
  • Depress plunger
  • Pinch tube for removal
  • Remove
It takes me less than three minutes to make to do *all* of the above, and only 30-60 seconds of that is the actual feeding part. I'm pretty sure that it would take a lot longer than that to do it with just a syringe.

If one follows the above steps and the advice from the tube feeding threads the *only* risk in tube feeding if over filling the crop. Like I said before, I am willing to coach anyone through this over the phone and I will *guarantee* you that you will never choose to syringe feed again, lol, it really is that much easier, safer, quicker and less stressful to both bird and human. And as sick as this bird is, the risk of stressing her out just might do her in.

To quote my avian vet "it's not usually the disease that kills them, it's dehydration and starvation". She's also the one that said that if they aren't eating and they're losing weight that they need to be tubed.

-Kathy
 
Amiga said:
I would ask the less knowledgeable vet to please call Dr. Tana and pray that Dr. Tana could provide the nearby vet with enough information to develop an appropriate treatment plan.  And Dr. Whittington's mom is apparently the stroke victim, so perhaps he will be able to weigh in before long.

I feel it is worth a try.
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I am going to. Its worth a try and right now, anything is better than nothing. I'll be right back, I going to go weigh her.
 
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PetDuck said:
But this vet here has NO knowledge of ducks. Dr. Tana said she would talk about the options but this vet here would have no idea which one was best. None of these vet seem to think that it is the Baytril upsetting her stomach but everyone thinks the infection is back.

I just wish I could speak to Dr. Whittington...
Click to expand...

She's not getting Baytril now, so it's not upsetting her stomach. Did she get the Baytril twice a day for 4 or 5 days? Not that it matters, just curious. Maybe there is another antibiotic that you could give her for a longer period, something like Clavamox? My vets don't advise on giving Baytril for longer than 5 days, but they have had me give Clavamox for 14, so that's why I mention it.

Send these links to the vet you've been emailing:

-Kathy
 
Okay, I'm back. She weighs 1807 grams. 8 grams less than yesterday. It's better than the 30 or so she lost the last time I weighed her. But it is still early I'm the day though and both of the last times I weighed her were later, so I will just have to wait.
 
casportpony said:
She's not getting Baytril now, so it's not upsetting her stomach. Did she get the Baytril twice a day for 4 or 5 days? Not that it matters, just curious. Maybe there is another antibiotic that you could give her for a longer period, something like Clavamox? My vets don't advise on giving Baytril for longer than 5 days, but they have had me give Clavamox for 14, so that's why I mention it.

Send these links to the vet you've been emailing:

-Kathy
Click to expand...


Sorry, I posted that last one before I saw this.
I will ask about Clavamox. She got 8 shots of Baytril over 5 days (she just didn't get the shots on Monday morning or Friday night, so 8)
 
The point I'm trying to get across is that the local vet can tell her the symptoms and ask for her help. The consulting doctor can ask her to look for certain signs or get information that she know would be correct from her then help her come up with a treatment plan. Just like a doctor at the hospital consulting with another doctor for advice the other doctor may never see you but relies on the information given to him/her to be correct. A Doctor can not just take your word which is why they have to physically see you. Yes the history helps them move in the right direction but they cant just go by what you say to them verbally. Basically if the local vet is willing to consult than she can bee the eyes and ears. The consulting doctor is not going to call because she dose not want to step on anybody's toes. She has no idea of the other persons knowledge. If you don't talk to them and just assume that they don't know anything you wont get possible help. Yes they referred you because their was somebody else that could possibly help more. I'm pretty sure since the specialist you seen is not available and you can't transport her long distance that they would try other options.
 
Thanks, Nicole, for keeping us updated. Hugs to you and Quackers! I will need to step away from the forum for a while this morning. I plan to check back this afternoon. I continue praying for you.
 

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