Duck death

[alexab]

This happened over a year ago, but it still haunts me and I think about it almost everyday.

I had a disabled pekin duck who lived for 4 years. When I adopted her, she was already 5-6 months old. She had an extreme waddle and put all her weight on one side. Despite this, she was still happy and active and normal until about a year before she died. Her last year of life, her mobility declined. Towards the end, she could no longer walk and tried to use her wings as crutches. I did everything for her and tried to make her as comfortable as possible. She had a wheelchair and a special bed, and she was on meloxicam for any pain and discomfort. She still loved to swim and eat and hangout with her flock mates. She adapted well to these changes and was very spoiled and loved.

The day before she passed, there were no signs. She was vocal and eating and drinking like normally. The day she died, I went outside to get the ducks out and opened the coop door to find her deceased. She was already stiff and cold; leading me to believe she might’ve died sometime overnight. She was lying on her back with her feet facing up. Her wing was slightly splayed out, and her head was tucked to her side. Her eyes were closed, and there wasn’t a single feather out of place. It didn’t look like she struggled. She honestly looked peaceful. Like she just simply flipped over onto her back and died.

I know there is no way of knowing, but what do you think happened? A heart attack? Simply just sudden death? I know she was not sick.

More importantly, do you think it was fast and painless? The thought of not knowing just kills me. Not knowing if her last moments were spent in pain and fear absolutely eats at me and I can’t fathom the thought of her suffering in her final moments. My gut tells me it was “sudden death syndrome” or a heart attack. So I want to know if anybody knows if either of those causes of death are quick and painless for the duck?

 

[sourland]

Very likely a heart attack and likely a rapid death.

 

[ruthhope]

I had a special needs pekin drake in a wheelchair. He had a "princess bed too, but I preferred the wheelchair as it held him above his poop that fell down the split at the back of the sling. He lived a rich and full life -- he was convinced he was boss duck He had the rest of the flock hanging around the outside of my rear porch screen, he was positioned inside upfront to the screen, most of the day and running back to his call when they strayed too far away. I was out of the country visiting my mother when he died suddenly and at the time unexpectedly. He was being cared for by my friend who is a wildlife rehabber, inside her house. She was with him when he passed away: he made a jerking movement with his neck so she ran over and picked him up. He died cradled in her arms.

Don't let your ducks passing haunt you. I know that, like me you were disappointed not to be there with her. But you noted all her feathers were in place, so she clearly didn't have a bad time when she died. From your description, she simply fell backwards. It was likely a cardiovascular sudden death, likely a heart attack. In her own coop with her friends. Sounds like a good way to go, to me!!!

But sending condolences and cyber hugs as I know how painful it is to lose a loved one, particularly our sweet ducks