Duckling Acts Drunk Flops on Back

[astronomer]

I have a 4.5 week old Buff duckling who has been acting peculiar the last couple days. She swings her head around, runs crazy, and ends up stuck on her back. The only thing I can describe it as is drunk. Not sure what to do. She isn't eating or drinking as much as I would like, but if I hand feed her and water her, she will eat and drink. She has plenty of energy to run off scared whenever I get near (which isn't normal for her). She falls over when trying to preen as well. When I checked on her this morning she was laying on her back. It looks like she fell over and got stuck there last night. Poor thing.

The only thing I can think of is Botulism. It has been very hot and wet here in Georgia lately. She does get brewers yeast in her water for niacin. Perhaps that could have been it? I have since stopped giving her niacin.

I have given her water with Epsom salt for the last 24 hours with no improvement.

She is on unmedicated flock raiser crumbles for food.

 

[chooks4life]

Heat stroke can do some funny things to them... It could be Botulism, but another thing to check with in ducks especially is epilepsy and seizures.

Maybe if you search those terms on this forum you'll come across something relevant and helpful.

I don't keep ducks so my ability to help there is pretty limited, but when any animal is acting drunk there's a few bases to cover including heavy metal toxicity (or any other toxicity including plants, water bacteria, etc).

Best wishes. Also, hello and

 

[astronomer]

Not heat stroke. She spends most of the time in the shade under the deck. She's in pretty bad shape. She can't seem to preen, so she looks wet all the time. I'll try a blow dryer.

 

[Duckrazy]

Please, please...GET HER TO A VETERINARIAN PRONTO.

 

[Duckrazy]

Ya don't need a 16" Meade SCT to see she needs help....

 

[Amiga]

While a vet is best, in the meantime and if vet care not possible, I would stop the Epsom salt - it will have cleaned her out. I would start adding tablespoon of brewer's yeast daily to her food. At night I would add a teaspoon of food garde activated charcoal powder per quart of drinking water for two nights.

She may be showing signs of B vitamin deficiency.

 

[Duckrazy]

She needs life sustaining electrolytes...sodium, potassium and glucose. Orally they are not as effective...go get her some infant formula pedialyte from a drugastore. She might make it through.

 

[Duckrazy]

Pedialyte

unflavored.

 

[astronomer]

I called all the vets around. None of them will see a duck except one, who wants a $200 exotic animal fee to just look at her!

I've been giving niacin in the water in the form of brewers yeast. I'll try giving it dry.

I dried her out and she seems more comfortable for the time being. Still can't seem to stay upright very well.

I have to find some activated charcoal.

 

[astronomer]

Perhaps Anatipestifer Disease?Signs

Weakness.
Neck tucked in.
Head/neck tremor.
Ataxia.
Disinclined to walk.
Incoordination.
Dyspnoea.
Ocular and/or nasal discharge.
Hyperexcitability
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/4/anatipestifer-disease-new-duck-syndrome-duck-septicaemia