Egg Binding in Waterfowl

Disease Summary

Alternative Names (Synonyms)

• Egg Retention
• 'Eggbound'
• Dystocia (for egg in caudal oviduct, obstructing cloaca).

Disease Type

Infectious/Non-Infectious Agent associated with the Disease

Infective "Taxa"

Non-infective agents

• Calcium - deficiency
• Vitamin E - deficiency
• Selenium - deficiency

Physical agents

• Accommodation construction
• Calorie/protein intake excessive
• Non-specific physical trauma

References

Disease Author

Major References / Reviews

Code and Title List

Other References

Code and Title List

Detailed Clinical and Pathological Characteristics

General

Clinical Characteristics

• Depression, anorexia, ataxia, upright or 'penguin' stance. Rapid respiration/dyspnoea (may be presenting sign). Vent and surrounding tissues may appear enlarged, egg may be palpable. May be lameness, leg paresis or paralysis.

(B12.36.w3, B16.19.w1, V.w6).

Incubation

Mortality / Morbidity

Pathology

Human Health Considerations

Disease has been reported in either the wild or in captivity in:

• 'Stiff-tailed ducks' (J7.33.w3).

Host Species List

Disease has been specifically reported in Free-ranging populations of:

Host Species List

General Information on Environmental Factors/Events and Seasonality

Regions / Countries where the Infectious Agent or Disease has been recorded

Regions / Countries where the Infectious Agent or Disease has been recorded in Free-ranging populations

General Information on Investigation / Diagnosis

• History and Documentation - General
• Physical Examination - General
• Environmental Assessment - General
• Necropsy - General
• Appendix A - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Sample specimen history form

Similar Diseases (Differential Diagnosis)

Specific Medical Treatment

• Injections of calcium borogluconate (10% solution (100mg/ml), 0.5-2ml per kg (50-250mg/kg) slow intravenous injection or subcutaneous injection, also selenium, vitamin E, vitamin D₃. Combine with humid heat and seclusion. (B13.29.w8, B14, P3.1995.w1).
• Oxytocin (Oxytocin S, Intervet; Oxytocin, Leo; 10 units per ml) 3-5 IU/kg (0.3-0.5ml), intramuscular. May be repeated. N.B. do not use if oviduct tear or adhesions suspected (B11.X.w11, B13.29.w8, B14).
• Dinoprost tromethamine (a prostaglandin) (e.g. Lutalyse, Upjohn, 5mg/ml) may be preferable to oxytocin as it both relaxes the vent and increases the tone of the oviduct. 0.02-0.1mg/kg, intramuscular, use once only. N.B. do not use if oviduct tear or adhesions suspected (B13.29.w8, B14).
• N.B. Broad spectrum antibiotics are recommended in all cases of egg binding as there may be an associated salpingitis (J8.17.w1, V.w6).

• Treatment and Care - General

General Nursing and Surgical Techniques

Environmental Manipulation and Medication

• Heat. Provide a warm (85-90ºF) preferably humid (e.g. using steam), secluded place with freely accessible food and water. May be sufficient by itself, or combine with calcium, vitamin D3, selenium and vitamin E supplementation and fluids. (J8.17.w1, B12.36.w3, B13.29.w8, B13.15.w10, V.w5).
• If the egg is successfully passed, it is usually recommended that a short course of broad spectrum antibiotics is administered prophylactically, as oviduct infection is a common sequelae. (V.w6)

Manual delivery

• Under anaesthesia, gently dilate the cloaca by insertion of a pair of blunt thumb forceps of nasal speculum. Using lubricant (water-soluble or liquid paraffin or petroleum jelly), insert a blunt probe into the oviduct until the egg is reached. Use a circular motion of the probe to dilate oviduct until the egg is visible. Gentle digital pressure can then be used to expel the egg. Instill furacin solution into oviduct (B13.29.w8, B16.19.w1, P3.1995.w1).

Episiotomy

• Under anaesthesia, an incision can be made from the cloacal incision into the urodeum and oviduct, thereby enlarging the opening through which, with gentle manual pressure, the egg may be expelled. A stay-suture should be placed into the oviduct before the oviduct wall is incised (B14).

Ovocentesis

• Removal of egg contents: physically stabilize egg, penetrate the egg with a large-bore needle and aspirate the contents. Preferably carried out through the cloaca, but if the egg cannot be visualized, aspiration may be carried out transabdominally, with the egg manipulated into contact with the abdominal wall. Once contents have been removed, break shell by lateral pressure and leave to be expelled (give oxytocin and calcium)(B13.29.w8, B14).

Surgical removal by hysterotomy

• Anaesthetize, surgically prepare abdomen. Midline abdominal incision, incise through left post-hepatic septum. Oviduct and egg should be easily visible, although fat may be problematic in obese birds. Place fine stay sutures in oviduct and incise over egg, a sufficiently long incision to allow removal of the egg without stretching or tearing the oviduct. Remove egg, flush oviduct, close oviduct with fine absorbable suture material using an atraumatic needle, in a continuous pattern. If yolk contamination is known or suspected, gently flush peritoneal cavity with warm physiological saline and instill aqueous penicillin or ampicillin plus steroids such as dexamethasone. Close abdomen with interrupted sutures. Provide warmth, antibiotics, fluids and food postoperatively (B10.20.w16, B12.36.w3, B14).

• Removal of Retained Egg in Birds
• Treatment and Care - General

Preventative Measures

WATERFOWL

• Food and Feeding for Birds - General

Environmental and Population Control Measures

WATERFOWL

• Environmental and Population Management - General
• Accommodation Design for Birds - General