Very sick duck. Help and opinions please.

[casportpony]

Oh good, I am so happy for you! Hope your visit goes well. and

 

[Miss Lydia]

Aww bless!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Update please @pamelajean

 

[pamelajean]

So the vet did a bit of a physical exam and she is thin. Not emaciated, but her keel is sticking out some. She was panting while at the vet, I think due to stress. The vet thought it was due to a respiratory infection. She did not pant like that before or after going so I don't think its actually a symptom of her illness. At any rate, she gave Peggy a dose of antibiotics and a shot of vitamins and stressed that warmth and food were important. So, she is set up in the dog crate in our basement with food and water and bedding and a mirror for company. I made up a mash for her last night with her regular pellets, and she maybe ate some, but not any real amount. She is happily eating lettuce still, but I need to get something with some protein in her! I may go looking for the baby bird food today and consider tube feeding.

 

[casportpony]

Glad you were able to get her in and get some antibiotics!
Is the vet close by? If so, call them and ask if you can buy an 18 French catheter and a 60 ml catheter tipped syringe for tube feeding? I have a bunch of videos on tube feeding and can give you step-by-step instructions on how to do it if/when you want to.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I think if you start tube feeding her that may get her eating, I’ve read of others doing it for a couple days and the patient started eating. Thanks for updating sure hope you see her feeling better real soon.

 

[pamelajean]

Well, it's been 8 days and my girl is still struggling. She is happily eating treats (mealworms lettuce and tomatoes) and drinking plenty but won't touch her regular pellets. No improvement on her ability to walk though. I don't know how long to let this suffering go on! It's painful to watch her struggle so much to move then just sit in despair.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Well, it's been 8 days and my girl is still struggling. She is happily eating treats (mealworms lettuce and tomatoes) and drinking plenty but won't touch her regular pellets. No improvement on her ability to walk though. I don't know how long to let this suffering go on! It's painful to watch her struggle so much to move then just sit in despair.

sorry to hear this.
Could you call your vet and ask if there is anything else they could recommend? Perhaps some vitamins in case she has just gotten a deficiency from not eating?

 

[MissChick@dee]

Have you tried soaking her pellets? Maybe shred the lettuce and mix it with the soaked pellets. Dunno .....might work. Best wishes

 

[Miss Lydia]

Weren’t you going to tube feed her? I am sorry just so strange she’ll eat other foods but not her pellets. Wonder if you made a soup out of her pellets with nice warm water and just gave her that to drink?Dont take her water away for good but just see if she’ll drink the soup? @pamelajean