What is this bulge sticking out of my duck's chest?!?! HELP!

[farrah3]

How would you feel about cutting into it?

I'm willing to try anything to save her! I have been googling all day.....I found some great info on cutting into infected areas here on BYC. I have a shopping list all ready to go & am ready to head to TSC to pick up "surgery" supplies.

Oddly enough, my 17 year old daughter is applying to pre-vet programs to hopefully become an avian vet in the future. She saved one of our chickens a few weeks ago when he had an impacted crop.

 

[casportpony]

Please take pictures! Might be a good idea to get a bottle of penicillin.

 

[Debs Flock]

I have questions...
(I have a lot to learn!)

by cutting it, do you mean removing?
would it need to be sutured?
would it be a problem if just left there?

 

[Herdcutter]

It looks like a strangled piece of tissue. Like it was a hernia of some sort. Cutting it might not lead to anything good. (possibly an infection after-the-fact) I wouldn't cut into it just yet. I would feel for a soft middle area. Then stick a needle into that to see if you can get anything out. If she's sitting, what is the harm of letting her finish her job. Is this bugging her or just you? I know it something odd. But at this stage of the game, weigh the investigative part until after her ducklings hatch.

 

[rookhomestead]

If it doesn't hurt when you probe it, see if you can feel an opening like a hernia and work it back in. If you do cut into it, be prepared for whatever is inside.....organs, infection, plain 'ol tissue. I'd be cautious either way because if it were something like intestines and they rupture or you cut into them, then you have a huge problem, same as if you did nothing and the circulation was cut off. I would hope a local vet would take a look at it and atleast give you advice even if they don't specialize in avian medicine. The ones here will. Just my opinion, leave her with the eggs, less activity is good to keep her from rubbing it and causing more damage, and Its a win-win to let her hatch the eggs too

 

[farrah3]

I'm back from Tractor Supply & Walmart. I think I am prepared for the worst & still hoping for the best.

At this point, I am going to leave her sit on her eggs until they hatch. She doesn't seem bothered by the protrusion. She came out and got some food & water a couple of times today, and she seems happy. I think I am going to clean it well with betadine or Vetericyn Plus & put some more triple antibiotic ointment on it, just in case I missed an open wound-type area when I looked at her.

I bought some syringes & penicillin in case I need them. Maybe I will try probing it with a needle in a few days if it appears to get worse. I am going to see if there is a soft middle area we might be able to work it back into tonight when I clean her up again.

I'll take more pictures if we decide to do anything more with it or if it gets worse.

This duck is very dear to our hearts, so I thank all of you for your advice and help.

 

[Debs Flock]

Hope all goes well.

 

[Amiga]

If you want to trim feathers I would not pluck, just clip feathers to half an inch long around the edge.

I she is otherwise acting fine, I would proceed slowly. If there is a vet school or even med school anywhere near, you may be able to get them interested in a biopsy.

You might try dabbing it with a little H2O2 to see if it fizzes(bacterial). Could be fungal, I have heard of feather tumors before.

 

[farrah3]

If you want to trim feathers I would not pluck, just clip feathers to half an inch long around the edge.

I she is otherwise acting fine, I would proceed slowly. If there is a vet school or even med school anywhere near, you may be able to get them interested in a biopsy.

You might try dabbing it with a little H2O2 to see if it fizzes(bacterial). Could be fungal, I have heard of feather tumors before.

Thanks for the advice on the feathers. No fizzing with the H2O2 yesterday. I sprayed it with Vetercyn Poultry Wound Care & put some more Neosporin on it tonight. She had some water before bed and is happily sitting on her nest.

 

[Amiga]

How is she?