Discovering Maggots

Finding maggots anywhere on your precious duck or goose can mean any of these things:

1)       There is too much poop on the ground, drawing in excess flies.

2)       Your duck or goose is not cleaning themselves properly.

3)      Your duck or goose has a hidden wound somewhere that needs attending.

In any case, bring your pet to the vet for an immediate examination. Your vet will likely advise three courses of action:

• Clean bath

Place your bird into a fresh, clean water source (kiddy pool or tub) and encourage them to clean frequently with frequent water changes. You can use a very, very diluted Betadine® (diluted with water to the color of weak tea) in a syringe to flush out the affected area over and over again.

• Tweezers

All maggots must be removed using tweezers and flushing. If any maggots are in the vent further vet care will be required.

• Medication

Your vet will likely prescribe a small dose of Ivermectin® to your duck or goose orally via syringe to help eradicate any missed maggots and eggs. Have your vet help you with this because it is easy to overdose and this kind of error can be very dangerous and even fatal.

• Fly Predators

Preventative care can include reducing your number of flies. Fly predators are a great way to do exactly this. These tiny wasps predate on maggots and dramatically reduce fly populations. We have them sent every month from May through August. We sprinkle 5000 around our pens each month and house flies are no longer an issue. For more information you can visit their website:  www.spalding-labs.com.

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Euthanasia

Although no one likes to think about it, families sometimes need to make a choice when it comes to the care of their fading duck or goose, especially if pain or suffering (that has no hope of relief) is involved. My husband and I rely on each other’s and our vet’s opinion when it comes to making the decision to euthanize a sick animal. We only proceed if the decision is clearly hopeless and all three of us are in absolute agreement.

If you’re anything like us, you won’t be in the proper state of mind to ask your vet questions in the midst of easing your pet over to the other side. Although it may be uncomfortable to read this now, it may make things a little less stressful for you if you are ever faced with this decision later.

Most vets will use a two injection procedure when putting your duck or goose to sleep. Some vets will give both injections in front of you while others will administer the first in a back room and then bring your pet to you before giving them the second injection. For the emotional sake of our birds, we prefer to be present for both injections, so that they are always with someone familiar. We just can’t have any of our once-abandoned animals feeling any kind of abandonment again at the end of their life. One of us stays with them and talks to them and tries to comfort them while they slip away.

When you and your pet are ready, your vet will administer the first injection, which is an intramuscular sedative that induces euphoria, commonly Telazol. This is a mixture of tiletamine (dissociative anesthetic) and zolazepam (sedative). Together these two drugs induce an extremely effective sedation that approximates complete anesthesia where no pain is felt by your pet. Some ducks and geese will flap their wings during this state and try to fly. They are not in pain or uncomfortable, they are just in a euphoric state. I sometimes wonder where they are trying to fly to…

The second injection is commonly administered intravenously. It is usually some kind of barbituate injection that causes rapid cardiac arrest. Your vet will commonly leave you alone with your feathered friend after administering the final injection and give you all the time you need to say good-bye.

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Smuckers

Smuckers is an Ancona/Buff mix who was rescued by our friends and devoted volunteers, the Garey family. He was removed from a wildlife preserve where he was abandoned and living with wild mallards.

Smuckers is currently residing with the Gareys in Arlington, TN while he waits for his new and forever home. His new family should be prepared to pick him up there.

If you have a predator proof pen and a loving home and are interested in adopting Smuckers, please Email Us and we will put you in touch with the Gareys.

Please note, this is a courtesy listing; Smuckers is not located at Majestic Waterfowl Sanctuary.

 

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Special Thanks!

We would like to thank everyone who responded to our call out for donations last month!

Laura & Lemon, Deborah & Tommy Knocker, Christina & Sweet Pea, Anne & Sophie, Dayl & Peepers, Caroline, Dennis, Beth, Val, Lisa, Elaine, Mary W., Brett, Joyce, Gary,  Jenn and Mary G.

If you have not yet donated and you are enjoying our free and informative newsletters, please consider making a small donation. Remember, every little bit helps!

Thank you again, EVERYONE!

Salem says:  THANK YOU!