Duck off balance. HELP!!!

[SwedishDude99]

Oh, my bad. I just figured out you were talking about yelyah's duckling, not my duck. Sorry.

 

[Amiga]

Oh, my bad. I just figured out you were talking about yelyah's duckling, not my duck. Sorry.

The conversations can get a little crossed up, SD, and I did not use the quote option. Anyway, I am concerned about your duck, and I think it may be good to give him a sprinkling of food grade activated charcoal in his water at night for a couple of days.

Too much charcoal can cause constipation, so follow the guidelines, there are several sites that have recommendations. I use about three capsules in a quart of water if I can only find capsules.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Not to contradict anything that has been advised, but first I would start with nutrition. Add Niacin supplement. I would do that go at least 3 days, and wait to see if that showed improvement. (When I had niacin deficiency here, I believe 3 days was all it took, Altho I did continue to supplement longer) After that, I would go to the charcoal. ...but doing it that way would certainly not be the right approach if you had any inkling that you were dealing with toxins. In a case of a known toxin, then I would go right ahead with the charcoal.

 

[SwedishDude99]

Okay thankyou all. I got niacin tablets today and put them in the water. We will see how he is in a couple days. I hope this is what it is. and If not, I will try the charcoal.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I am now wondering if you can do the charcoal and the Niacin together? Amiga????

 

[Amiga]

Good question, HollyDuckFarmer. According to this site

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/activated_charcoal/page2_em.htm

activated charcoal can absorb nutrients and vitamins.

Based on the description of the problem, I am thinking this is an adult duck with rapid onset of symptoms and that seems to me like poisoning or infection more than niacin deficiency. And I am not there to run any tests (as if I had the equipment!).

So I would give the activated charcoal first for a couple of days. I would think if it is poisoning, that would possibly show improvement within a couple of days. I write this often, and will continue: a good vet's help is important. If you can get that help, please do.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Yes, makes good sense to get to a Vet if possible. For some reason, I first thought we were talking about a duckling, not an adult. So I am inclined to agree 100% now, very different when this happens with adult ducks.

 

[Amiga]

Yes, makes good sense to get to a Vet if possible. For some reason, I first thought we were talking about a duckling, not an adult. So I am inclined to agree 100% now, very different when this happens with adult ducks.

HollyDuckFarmer, there is a duckling with problems on this thread, too, and I agree, the duckling needs niacin supplementation. Apologies if that got lost.

 

[SwedishDude99]

Okay thankyou. I will try the charcoal. Haven't seen any improvement with the niacin, though it has only been a day. Does anyone know where I could find a list of things potentially toxic to ducks? I think, if anything, that a cigarette butt ended up in their yard or some other object similar that wasn't supposed to be there. I don't know if a cigarette but would potentially be toxic though. Our neighbors are right up next to us, and they have young kids so they could have thrown something over the fence.

 

[Amiga]

I would say a cigarette butt is toxic.

I have had to look around a bit for lists of toxic plants and other materials. Have you searched the BYC archive for something like duck toxic?