Duck - egg bound or water belly?

[My15Ducks]

I have a sick duck and I would appreciate any thoughts.

She is an almost 2 year old Cayuga mix. Several months ago her egg pouch/abdomen area became enlarged and almost touched the ground, but has always acted healthy until this morning. She is now walking slowly, tripping, breathing a bit fast, and getting left behind the other ducks. Her pouch looks bigger but when I felt it it feels soft and squishy and I do not feel any eggs. I don’t know if she’s laying but I think she is, and I think she didn’t lay this morning (because of egg color). She is eating and drinking.

I think it might be a stuck egg but I am not sure.
I bought calcium gluconate today and gave her 2 ml orally.

Tonight it looks like she has diarrhea

When she was about 4 weeks old, she developed a saggy crop and has had it ever since. I read that can be a symptom of a heart defect, but until now she has always acted fine.

Other info:
16% protein, Dumor lay crumbles, fermented. Plus 24/7 access to pasture.
Water tubs refilled and rinsed twice a day.
No eye/nasal discharge

The rest of the flock is acting normal

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi,

I'm sorry about your duck.

That does sound like ascites (water belly). Her abdomen should feel firm, like a balloon is in there.

There's a way to drain that to give her some relief, and she'd start breathing better. It's temporary though as there is no cure for it.

Read post #20 of this post for an explanation of how to do this.

 

[My15Ducks]

Hi,

I'm sorry about your duck.

That does sound like ascites (water belly). Her abdomen should feel firm, like a balloon is in there.

There's a way to drain that to give her some relief, and she'd start breathing better. It's temporary though as there is no cure for it.

Read post #20 of this post for an explanation of how to do this.

Thank you for the reply! I will look at the link. I was really hoping it wasn’t water belly. I’m concerned that if I keep draining it will cause her pain..

She does seem a bit better this morning. I guess it won’t hurt to keep giving the calcium for awhile?

 

[Debbie292d]

Thank you for the reply! I will look at the link. I was really hoping it wasn’t water belly. I’m concerned that if I keep draining it will cause her pain..

She does seem a bit better this morning. I guess it won’t hurt to keep giving the calcium for awhile?

Nope, that won't hurt. But since you said she's laid eggs since having this condition, I'm thinking she already had ascites for a while.

Here is a good read about a gal treating her duck for this. It might help you.

If she does indeed lay an egg today, but still has a full abdomen and still breathing heavy, then you'll definitely have your answer, and I'm sorry.

 

[My15Ducks]

Nope, that won't hurt. But since you said she's laid eggs since having this condition, I'm thinking she already had ascites for a while.

Here is a good read about a gal treating her duck for this. It might help you.

If she does indeed lay an egg today, but still has a full abdomen and still breathing heavy, then you'll definitely have your answer, and I'm sorry.

Thank you this is very helpful.

I just wonder if she has had a heart condition since she’s a duckling and now she’s in heart failure. If that’s the case, I wonder why? Genetic? I have some unrelated drakes so I will do only outcrosses this year

 

[Debbie292d]

Thank you this is very helpful.

I just wonder if she has had a heart condition since she’s a duckling and now she’s in heart failure. If that’s the case, I wonder why? Genetic? I have some unrelated drakes so I will do only outcrosses this year

That article explained a few causes of it, genetics being one of them. You could get a necropsy done when the time comes to find out if there was a heart issue or something else.

 

[My15Ducks]

Strange but good news, she’s acting pretty normal tonight- eating, running around with the rest of the ducks. I will monitor her and try draining the fluid if she shows signs of distress again