Flapper Update
Flappy is snoozin’ in the sunshine this afternoon. His blood results look just great, but his x-ray shows an area of thickening on one of his air sacs… maybe. It was hard to tell. This could be a respiratory fungal infection (it’s not a bacterial infection or that would have shown up on the blood work).
I had Flapper x-ray’d because I did something really stupid in mid-November. I used a pipe cleaner to hang a mirror in his & Chewy’s pen. I don’t have any idea why I was that stupid, except that I was kind of depressed over losing Georgie and worried about Hodjee being sick. I was obviously not thinking clearly. I used shoelaces to hang the other two mirrors in their pens. One day the pipe cleaner was gone, but I didn’t even notice when it happened because I just found the mirror on the floor when cleaning out his pen on the weekend. I looked for the pipe cleaner several times, with a strong magnet, a shovel, a fine-tooth comb… no pipe cleaner. So the x-rays were to soothe my mind that Flapper didn’t swallow the pipe cleaner. Thankfully, he didn’t swallow it.
If those x-rays did show a thickening on an air sac, which could be aspergillosis or some other fungal infection, I feel really, really lucky that I had him x-ray’d, because most problems with fungal infections are not caught early-enough to help. You often don’t find out a duck has a fungal infection until after they’re dead, or so far along that they can’t be saved.
So Flapper is going to get a new x-ray on a much better machine at the dog/cat vet’s office. His usual vet’s x-ray machine is more for little critters like hamsters and cockatiels. It’s not big-enough for a super duck. This new x-ray will show more clearly if his air sac does in fact have thickening. Then if it does, he may need a quick endoscopy to get a biopsy and see what is causing the thickening (a biopsy of what spores are in his air sacs, if there are any).
Right now he’s doing just fine, and feeling… good. I just had a “feeling” that he wasn’t 100%, and I’m glad I had it checked out. This morning he looked great and he’s not in any immediate danger with his health.
As soon as we know more, we’ll post more.
Quacks,
Tiff
XOXOX
10 Comments
Yeah, i get to be the first to post. Such wonderful news. We will keep trusting that his airway will be fine with the Super Duck, the Mr. Flapper. Great news Tiff.
It’s wild to see sunshine happening. Something we have not had in quite a while.
This is great news! It sounds like a fungal infection can fixed, which is good.
Flapper is lucky to have a mom like you.
Please don’t be too harsh on yourself over the pipe cleaner. It was a rough time for you, and it’s as you said – you’re lucky you got him to the vet early enough. Joan is right. Flapper is lucky to have a mom like you.
I can’t tell you how many times we’ve done something boneheaded with the pets. You remember Peepers’ bonk on the noggin. So go easy on yourself.
I saw Flap when he was out in the sun. His feathers were so luminous. He’s quite the handsome Superduck.
Keeping my fingers crossed for him.
How fortunate that you found his infection at such an early stage that it can be treated completely. Your sixth sense for Flapper reminds me of Stacey and Wesley the Owl. They have formed such a deep bond that she could tell by his behaviour or sound that something is not quite right. What you have with Flapper is precious… you are both lucky to share this bond with each other.
I am so happy that your vet listened to your concern and consented to the X-Ray. They have marvelous treatments for fungal infections! I know because I saved my own bird by insisting she was sick, when the all the tests were normal. X-Ray was the only thing left, and bingo! When the air sacks go haywire often times you can feel little balloon like air bubbles on the birds body, just under the skin. Feel Flapper’s back for these. I go to one of the most celebrated avian vets in the country who also teaches. If your doctor wants to discuss anything with a noteworthy colleague, email me privately. In the meantime give Flapper a kiss!
you are very in tune with flappypants. you’re a good mom being so attentive and having him checked right away. thanks for keeping us posted. we’re crossing our fingers and toes that flapper’s recovery from whatever he’s got is swift.
Good for you to have Flapper checked, did he have breathing problems?
I’m very anxious to learn what is bothering him and how it is going to be treated.
Snuggles has some troubles too, when he’s eating fast (what he normally does) he chokes easily. Also I think his breathing issues are the cause that he can’t win from Sieb. I’ve thought about Asper too, but his brother Socks had it also, I think it’s something gentic (who knows what his family history is).
I wished I had an avian vet, I’d take Snuggles….
You know, we all make mistakes, you can’t prevent everything. Eventhough you take all the measures to keep them safe, they get into trouble themselves too, they are such inquisitive birds. It’s understandable, you’ve had so much on your mind.
I worry a little about my Gelder Girls, they are still young and are discovering the world, who knows what they find on the yard and in the neighborhood. I try to keep everything as organized as I can, but still, you can’t prevent everything.
Good news, I hope this is treatable and will be in the past soon:-)
I hope Flapper gets better soon! I think that, as a fellow friend of poultry, you’re definitely duck owner of the year!