News Stories

Duck neutering!

September 2010

Molly a 2-year-old female hybrid duck was referred to us with a history of chronic egg laying. Because she laid particularly 'large' eggs, on three separate occasions this had resulted in 'egg binding' and subsequent paralysis of her legs due to pressure of the egg on their nerve supply. On each occasion emergency treatment was required to remove the offending egg. Her owner became concerned that as well as being particularly stressful for Molly, permanent damage to the reproductive tract and other abdominal organs may eventually occur as a result of any further episodes. As such the referring vet recommended using a hormone implant, which is injected into the breast muscle. This stopped the egg laying for a period of three months. After this time, true to form Molly began laying her oversized eggs again and she was referred to us. At this point treatment options included (a) using hormone implants long term, but this could potentially mean up to four a year (all of which required an anaesthetic) and with no real idea of when she could potentially start laying and get into trouble again or (b) surgery to remove the oviduct. The surgery, a salpingohysterectomy, is not without complications given the delicate nature of the organ and its close association with major blood vessels and kidneys. This was discussed at length with the owner who felt that realistically this was the only long-term solution to Molly's problem, and the decision was made to go ahead. When birds are laying the oviduct and the blood vessels that supply it increase in size dramatically. As such it was decided to repeat the implant to once again temporarily stop egg laying and 'shrink down' the oviduct to its inactive state, thus reducing the surgical risk. Three days after the implant was inserted Molly stopped laying and surgery was scheduled two weeks later. Following administration of antibiotics, painkillers and intravenous fluids Molly was anesthetised and connected to a ventilator to breathe for her during the op. The surgery was performed via the left flank as birds only posses a left ovary and oviduct. Radiosurgery, essentially an 'electric scalpel', was used during surgery which seals small blood vessels as it cuts, the larger vessels were clamped off with metal clips. The oviduct, which by now had been successfully reduced with the implant, was isolated and removed again by clamping the major vessels and either end of the organ with surgical clips. She made a good recovery from surgery and went home the following day. We recently saw Molly for her final post op check (two weeks after the op) and the owner reports she is back to her normal self, and desperate to go for a swim which now with stitches out and wound healed up we are more than happy to let her do!