Successful Surgical Removal of a Perforating Ventricular Foreign Body from a Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos): A Case Report

Abstract

Swallowing foreign bodies is an important cause of emergency visits in pet birds. An adult female mallard duck with a history of anorexia, weakness, and depression was referred to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Radiographic examination showed the penetration of a needle in the ventriculus (gizzard). Since foreign bodies can lead to obstruction and injury that is life-threatening, the team's decision was surgical removal by ventriculotomy under general anesthesia. The patient was laid in dorsal recumbency on a heating pad, and the feathers around the incision site were removed. Then a skin incision was made in the middle of the abdomen. The ventriculus was explored, and the infiltrated foreign object was carefully removed. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study reports the first successful foreign body removal surgery in a duck in Iran. During the 10-day follow-up period, no complications were observed, and the duck was healthy. Prompt intervention and surgical treatment might be necessary to remove penetrating gastrointestinal foreign bodies located in the gizzard of domestic ducks.