Duck Unable to Walk

JackieBK

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Hey.
I had posted Sunday since my duck had begun to limp and I realized she had bumble foot. Yesterday morning she was still limping, but by yesterday evening she was completely unable to bare weight. I soaked her legs and brought her in the house for the night. She is still eating and drinking. She is having very bright/mint green diarrhea which has a strong odor and still unable to walk. She slept on a towel and did not move from that spot all night. I brought her to the vet and they are baffled to what could be wrong with her. They did blood work but I won’t have the results until tomorrow. Her temperature was so high the thermometer could not read it. They gave her some antibiotic but were unsure she will make it. Thinking maybe something neurological? I have five other ducks none of which are showing any symptoms. Has anyone had any experience with this??
 
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Bright green poop is often an indicator the bird has an infection of sorts. Since you mentioned she has a high temperature that would further back that claim. If they're doing blood work, they should be able to confirm that by looking doing a WBC, to see if her count is high.

At this point, your main goal is providing the bird supportive care until the results get back in,. Keep her well hydrated, either via tube feeding if she is producing droppings, or drip sugar water or Gatorade along the side of her bill often. Make sure the area she is in, is stressful free, warm, and quiet with feed and water provided.

Ducks are very good at hiding illness, so it's possible the infection originating from the bumblefoot has spread further up her leg and is causing septic arthritis, or something similar. Other cause's for sudden lameness may be trauma, or toxicosis,
 
Bright green poop is often an indicator the bird has an infection of sorts. Since you mentioned she has a high temperature that would further back that claim. If they're doing blood work, they should be able to confirm that by looking doing a WBC, to see if her count is high.

At this point, your main goal is providing the bird supportive care until the results get back in,. Keep her well hydrated, either via tube feeding if she is producing droppings, or drip sugar water or Gatorade along the side of her bill often. Make sure the area she is in, is stressful free, warm, and quiet with feed and water provided.

Ducks are very good at hiding illness, so it's possible the infection originating from the bumblefoot has spread further up her leg and is causing septic arthritis, or something similar. Other cause's for sudden lameness may be trauma, or toxicosis,
I am hopeful the blood work will give us some sort of guidance. I feel so bad for her. She was totally fine on Saturday with the rest of the flock and then it escalated so quickly. I have been letting her soak in epsom salt. She is still drinking and eating a bit. I am just hoping these antibiotics help. I hate to see her suffer but mentally she seems okay, very alert and all. Just heartbreaking.
 
I am hopeful the blood work will give us some sort of guidance. I feel so bad for her. She was totally fine on Saturday with the rest of the flock and then it escalated so quickly. I have been letting her soak in epsom salt. She is still drinking and eating a bit. I am just hoping these antibiotics help. I hate to see her suffer but mentally she seems okay, very alert and all. Just heartbreaking.

Keep us posted on what the blood work comes back as. What antibiotic is she on?
 
Keep us posted on what the blood work comes back as. What antibiotic is she on?
To be honest I am not sure. It was a shot she administered. If I see any improvement then in three days I have to bring her back for another. This morning she is the same. Still eating some fresh peas and drinking. I mixed electrolytes in her water in hopes to help her. I’m distraught for her.
 
Unfortunately I had to have my dear Sue put to sleep this morning. She began to have seizures and vomiting this morning. All of the blood work hadn’t come back yet but they said her ck was elevated. They think it was something neuromuscular...sad day.
 

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