Vent issue with a duckling

[Knighstar679]

I have a duckling that has developed an issue with her vent over this weekend. I am not sure what has caused this issue and I know every one is going to jump to say vet but almost all vet appointments are going to be two weeks out for ducks or other birds at vets around me unless it is critical.

The duckling is eating and pooping and I am making sure the area around the vent stays clean as after a while it seems as if gunk builds up around this swollen vent.

Any suggestions I can try to help this duckling with?

 

[Quatie]

The pictures are a bit hard to see what is going on. I would try taking another picture and see if you can get it to focus. I know phones don't always like to focus on the correct area, but I would give it another shot.

From what I can see that looks a lot like a vent prolapse, but I am a bit surprised it would be happening in such a young duckling. I have treated an adult duck with a prolapse. With a prolapse you treat the tissue with hydrocortisone ointment 3-4 times a day and gently push the prolapse in. Also give them a bath a couple times a day. Usually you treat with calcium, but that would be bad for a duckling. But I am not confident if anything like this should be done to a duckling. The bath and hydrocortisone ointment would be the only things I would try. Ointment works better than creme.

@Miss Lydia @HollowOfWisps @Isaac 0

 

[Miss Lydia]

I agree with @Quatie a few better pics, it is really hard to tell what it could be . I also agree to treat with hydrocortisone ointment .

 

[Knighstar679]

These are the best pictures I could get. It also wasn’t as inflamed this morning as last night.

This is before the bath


This is after the bath. But I will be looking at getting the ointment when I go out this morning


I am not sure what caused it at all. She isn’t getting picked on and is an active and playful duckling. Eats, poops and in general makes a mess like any other duckling.

 

[Miss Lydia]

She doesn't seem to be having trouble pooping? straining etc?
Hopefully, the Hydrocortisone will help shrink the tissue. Give it a few days and let us know.

 

[Knighstar679]

She doesn't seem to be having trouble pooping? straining etc?
Hopefully, the Hydrocortisone will help shrink the tissue. Give it a few days and let us know.

So three to four times a day for her then?

 

[Quatie]

So three to four times a day for her then?

Yes. The duck needs to to help reduce the swelling and inflammation. To give you a good idea. It took a month for my girl to keep it inside. Sometimes when she took a bath, her prolapse would go back in.

I didn't find the prolapse to effect the ability of mine to poop. I really just wonder what could cause it at such a young age. You can maybe try pushing it back in gently with your pinky finger. If it is a prolapse you will need to do this multiple times a day. It tends to come right back when they poop.

 

[RosemaryDuck]

Prolapses tend to be a recurring issue and can be pretty painful. Even if this resolves I would highly recommend taking her to a vet in the future in case it needs to be stitched to hold it in.

If this duckling does turn out to be female she will likely have future issues laying if it isn't addressed now. I hope she recovers well, please keep us updated!

 

[Knighstar679]

I cleaned this little one up tonight with a long bath. It was very irritated. I applied the cream and got everything back in after the bath. Then a few hours later cleaned and reapplied. It looked ton’s better than it did just a few hours before.

I am hoping that as this little one grows muscles will get more developed and that might help with it in the future.

Should I be adding anything to the baths though?

 

[Quatie]

I cleaned this little one up tonight with a long bath. It was very irritated. I applied the cream and got everything back in after the bath. Then a few hours later cleaned and reapplied. It looked ton’s better than it did just a few hours before.

I am hoping that as this little one grows muscles will get more developed and that might help with it in the future.

Should I be adding anything to the baths though?

You don't need to add anything to the bath. The bath helps keep the tissue moist and helps clean the tissue as well. I am not exactly sure how the water does this, but it stimulates contraction on the vent. You put a duck in water and they nearly automatically poop. It also helps when them with contractions when they are egg bound or have soft shelled eggs. I am not sure exactly how the water plays a role in this, just that it does. As my duck got better from her prolapse, often she would have a prolapse and we put her in the water. When we took her out, it would be back inside her all by itself.

That is great that is already looking better!