1 minute read
Something to ‘Quack’ About
from Vet Cetera 2010
When an OSU groundskeeper noticed one of the ducks at Theta Pond was not standing or eating, he took it to OSU’s zoo, exotic and wildlife veterinary medicine department at the Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.
Dr. Cornelia Ketz-Riley and her team began treating “Rudy” the duck.
“Rudy was lethargic; his beak was pale, and he couldn’t stand on his own,” says Ketz-Riley. “We drew a blood sample and discovered Rudy was anemic. So the first thing we needed to do was give him a blood transfusion.”
Since there is no blood bank for ducks, they turned to a Theta Pond mate as a source for Rudy’s transfusion.
“Once he was feeling better from the increase in red blood cells, we examined him further and found some acorns lodged in his crop — the sac in the esophagus where they store food,” she says.
“We then scoped Rudy and diagnosed a severe yeast infection in his crop and esophagus. We removed another acorn and began a 10-day anti-fungal treatment.”
Two weeks later, thanks to antibiotics and some tender loving care, Rudy was able to return to his home at Theta Pond.
