Duck Suddenly Panting and Whimpering

[Duckstruck]

Hello...
I swear, just after recovering a chick, dealing with syringe-medicating a duck two times a day, and having a different duck suddenly limp, I have to add to the list of my stresses. I have a 2-year-old Pekin duck who's been through a lot; an abusive drake has left her with a permanent limp and a deformed wing. She's handled things pretty well until recently. Now, whenever I hold her or allow her to fully submerge and swim in water, she pants profusely. The longer I hold her/she swims, she quickly begins panting. After stopping the activity triggering the panting, it slopes off. Sometimes, she'll lurch her neck while sitting down. And that brings me to my next point...
She sits a lot. Not just occasionally, but she'd rather remain sitting than get treats. It's been this way longer than the panting, but it could possibly draw into this. Sometimes she'll break into minor panting, and more often her breathing seems more forced than a smooth breath.
I'm getting worried about her. It's winter here in East Tennessee, so there's nothing heat-related to her panting. Thanks for reading!​

 

[venymae]

@Ravynscroft (you're my go to duck person, sorry! )

 

[Ravynscroft]

Being in TN as well, have you dewormed her with a good dewormer? We have an overabundance of gapeworm and overload causes panting, sitting a lot and additional respiratory difficulties...

 

[CayugaJana]

Being in TN as well, have you dewormed her with a good dewormer? We have an overabundance of gapeworm and overload causes panting, sitting a lot and additional respiratory difficulties...

That’s the first thing that came to my mind also.

 

[Duckstruck]

Being in TN as well, have you dewormed her with a good dewormer? We have an overabundance of gapeworm and overload causes panting, sitting a lot and additional respiratory difficulties...

It must be that! It is literally all of that! So, now that we have found the issue, how can I deal with this? Would Co-op have dewormer? Does she need to be separated? Thank you so much!

 

[Duckstruck]

My local co-op has dewormer, but they're for roundworms. Any suggestions for brands/products?

 

[CayugaJana]

I think there is Safeguard, Valbazen, or Ivermectin that would work. @Ravynscroft @casportpony do you guys suggest one over the other or is there something else that is better?

 

[chickens really]

Could be a heart condition if it happens during exercise ?...Is it over weight?

 

[Duckstruck]

Could be a heart condition if it happens during exercise ?...Is it over weight?

It's hard to say if she's overweight... she's a Pekin, so she'll already hefty. I can say that she's less heavy than my other Pekin, but that's it. She doesn't pant when she walks, and she'll pant when I pick her up, which requires no efforts from her.

 

[chickens really]

I bet anything she is huffing and not panting?....Does she shake a bit too?...Possibly stressed being held.