I added possibly too much information, or too much not helpful information, about what's going on with my girl, Bill, under another thread about this subject...but not sure that's the way to get answers so I'm trying again. Here's where I posted yesterday. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ut-duck-not-interested-in-food.1607285/page-5
She's about 4.5 yrs old, eats but not enough. Drinks well. Her energy level is down but I suspect that may be from not eating enough. I'm with her 24/7 and can't really see any other symptoms that would point me towards a guess of what's causing her to not eat well. I've felt her belly, chest and kind of felt her throat, and can't feel anything that seems abnormal.
After reading the tube feeding instructions posts, I'm sure she needs to be tube fed. I have a tube feeding kit and should have the Kaytee formula today. I don't have Pedialyte or Gatorade but do have a product called Pet-a-lyte that I bought for our very old dog when he stopped eating (he was extremely old, so I don't think Bill's issues are related just frustrating timing). I'm not sure if there's anything in Pet-a-lyte that would be harmful to a duck though. (Pictures of the Pet-a-lyte label are attached.)
I also bought this product (https://www.chewy.com/oxbow-critical-care-omnivore-small/dp/704718) that was recommended on another site about tube feeding. Does it look like this would be safe?
I also had a question from the tube feeding instructions. I haven't had to tube feed anyone before so I'm a little nervous having my first attempt be with my absolute favorite best buddy duck. I read a post somewhere else that gave a diagram kind of thing of what to look for inside the duck's mouth. It showed the breathing hole in the middle, kind of big, and the hole to their crop on the duck's right side. In the instructions posts here, it seems to be mentioning the left side. Since I haven't looked in my duck's mouth yet, I don't know for sure what everything looks like, but obviously I don't want to try to stick the feeding tube in the wrong spot. I don't want to hurt or traumatize her, and definitely don't want to push anything into her lungs.
Also, I only have one feeding tube kit and I'm wondering if it's really single use. The links in the tube feeding instructions posts, links to tubes, seem like they're not good anymore. Not sure if it's just my phone's browser or if those companies stopped selling them. I did see something online about the red rubber catheter tubes being discontinued in 2021 but...I don't know if that's the same product. Anyway. The tubes in those links said something about single-use. I guessed that's because they were catheter tubes and obviously you want sterile catheters. The one video I was able to play, with the vet and the super cute drake, the vet just plopped the tube on the office floor so I'm guessing sterile isn't important.
She's about 4.5 yrs old, eats but not enough. Drinks well. Her energy level is down but I suspect that may be from not eating enough. I'm with her 24/7 and can't really see any other symptoms that would point me towards a guess of what's causing her to not eat well. I've felt her belly, chest and kind of felt her throat, and can't feel anything that seems abnormal.
After reading the tube feeding instructions posts, I'm sure she needs to be tube fed. I have a tube feeding kit and should have the Kaytee formula today. I don't have Pedialyte or Gatorade but do have a product called Pet-a-lyte that I bought for our very old dog when he stopped eating (he was extremely old, so I don't think Bill's issues are related just frustrating timing). I'm not sure if there's anything in Pet-a-lyte that would be harmful to a duck though. (Pictures of the Pet-a-lyte label are attached.)
I also bought this product (https://www.chewy.com/oxbow-critical-care-omnivore-small/dp/704718) that was recommended on another site about tube feeding. Does it look like this would be safe?
I also had a question from the tube feeding instructions. I haven't had to tube feed anyone before so I'm a little nervous having my first attempt be with my absolute favorite best buddy duck. I read a post somewhere else that gave a diagram kind of thing of what to look for inside the duck's mouth. It showed the breathing hole in the middle, kind of big, and the hole to their crop on the duck's right side. In the instructions posts here, it seems to be mentioning the left side. Since I haven't looked in my duck's mouth yet, I don't know for sure what everything looks like, but obviously I don't want to try to stick the feeding tube in the wrong spot. I don't want to hurt or traumatize her, and definitely don't want to push anything into her lungs.
Also, I only have one feeding tube kit and I'm wondering if it's really single use. The links in the tube feeding instructions posts, links to tubes, seem like they're not good anymore. Not sure if it's just my phone's browser or if those companies stopped selling them. I did see something online about the red rubber catheter tubes being discontinued in 2021 but...I don't know if that's the same product. Anyway. The tubes in those links said something about single-use. I guessed that's because they were catheter tubes and obviously you want sterile catheters. The one video I was able to play, with the vet and the super cute drake, the vet just plopped the tube on the office floor so I'm guessing sterile isn't important.