duckling found, it shakes a lot,(new videos added) Please help!

[Happyflower]

Anybody know or at least where I could find out more info?

 

[chickboss]

Riemerella anatipestifer Infection
This bacterial disease of ducks is also known as Pasteurella anatipestifer infection, infectious serositis and New Duck disease. Anatipestifer infection causes high mortality, weight loss and condemnation. In the acute form, listlessness, eye discharge and diarrhea are commonly seen. Ducks show incoordination, shaking of the head and twisted neck. Birds are commonly found on their backs, paddling their legs. Typical lesions found in dead birds are infected air sacs, membranes covering the heart and liver, and meningitis. Preventive management and vaccination are effective means of control. Penicillin, enrofloxacin and sulfadimethoxine-ormetoprim (0.04-0.08% in feed) are effective in reducing mortality.

Taken from: http://www.duckhealth.com/duckhlth.html

Also check out: http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/206300.htm&word=Duckling%2cshaking

I don't know if any of these are quite right, but what I would do is call your local extension service, explain what is going on and ask for a recomendation as to where to send some labs, or if they know of competent vets in the area. I would definantly seek some kind of verternarian advice before trying to administer treatments. If it is disease orientated, and not just a nurological problem, your extension office can help you report it on the chance that it is a disease that is being watched.

Good luck, sounds like duckie got luckie and found a nice place. I hope she/he can recover.

 

[Happyflower]

Thanks Chickboss,

I have been reading things and nothing yet fits with my little duck, but I will keep looking. He doesn't have an discharges and is breathing fine. Loves to eat and drink, if there is something wrong with him, he doesn't seem to let it bother him. haha! He is so active and now is really hard to hold because it is so strong. Pecks at my fingers to let him go! Poop looks normal. He sure is a little fighter and vocal too! Loves to sleep with the little stuffed animal I put in the cage. I will just keep doing what I am doing and hope for the best. Thanks for the good links!

http://thelyricalwoodshed.blogspot.com/2010/05/feisty-little-thing.html

 

[Buttercup Chillin]

Looks like one of my Muscovy ducklings.
One duckling is unusual, could have been dropped by bird of prey or something. Non-medicated chick food or I use grower chick food for ducklings. Brewers yeast or Nutrional Yeast sprinkled over food.

Give him a few days to see some improvement. The duckling may be closer to just hatched and that young it would not be able to get back on its feet if turned on its back, that takes about a week before mine can handle that. The first few days they can be a little shaky and unsteady.

If its Muscovy, once it catches up on the food situation you will see fast growth on a daily basis and if its eating a lot of the time, it may have been starved. I had one that was small and the others would not let it eat. I had to bring it in for a few days and feed it up then returned it to the Duck family. Its fine now.

I also give my Ducklings Cooked Frozen peas or dried peas cooked and mashed and watery. They love it and it serves as a green at a very young age. Try it, it will like it and maybe peas will have something it needs right now.

Good luck.

 

[rainplace]

Have you looked at these Poultry Health Articles before? You may want to look at the article on Toxoplasmosis.

 

[Happyflower]

Thanks Rainplace for the link, all this stuff helps. I am still not sure.

Buttercup! This gives me some hope. I do think it has gained some weight and certainly strength over just 24 hours. I am going to try the frozen pees tonight! Is brewers yeast the same thing as the stuff you make bread with, in the little packets?

 

[tigerrrrrrrlilly]

Some viruses (such as bird flu and west nile) can cause tremors and neurological effects like this without any other signs of illness. These types of viruses attack the brain stem, if caught in time with antibiotics, it can recover without any neurological damage. If this is the problem, It may be late considering the severity of the tremors, but it's still possible it can recover, there may be the chance it will always have "the shakes" if there is already unrepairable damage. You would need to treat it right away because left alone, the baby's immune system may not be able to keep fighting and it can cause other issues like organ failure that will ultimately kill it.
I think you have a really good chance since he is eating, drinking and pooping good. I don't think it is a toxicity issue. I would start antibiotics right away. Even if it is not a virus, it won't hurt, there is obviously something going on and it may help.

 

[Happyflower]

Where do you get ducks treated? I am happy to report today I took it outside in the sun and let it run around outside. It sure seems stronger and more in control of itself. It is walking more on its feet today, instead of the feet and legs. My other ducks don't know what to think though, they tried to attack it. I don't think think it knows it is a duck, seemed to want to stay right by me instead of looking at the other ducks. I guess I am the momma. haha!

 

[tigerrrrrrrlilly]

That makes it seem to me it is some sort of virus because he is most likely fighting it off if he seems better today. You should give some antibiotics for sure, seems he might snap right out of it.
I raised one duck alone and he didn't know he was a duck either. I was momma. When he got older and started trying to hump me and his stuffed animal, I put him outside permanently with the other ducks (before he just went for visits). Now he is shy (and a wuss) with the other ducks and wants to jump on every person he sees every chance he gets!

 

[rainplace]

Quote:
It can be hard to find someone who treats waterfowl. The best bet is to start looking for avian specialists though most of them treat parrots and whatnot... occasionally you can find one that knows ducks. You can also try calling your local wildlife rescues and see who they use for waterfowl.

If your duck is showing signs of improvement, I would not treat with antibiotics. Antibiotics are powerful drugs that should not be used indiscriminately. Sometimes when we don't know what else to do, and getting a vet is out of the question, we have to do what we have to do, and sometimes that might include dosing with antibiotics. If that's the route you choose, make sure to research it extensively and not do it just because someone told you to on the internet.

To tigerrrrrrrlilly: Antibiotics do not work against viruses, they work against bacterial infections. You shouldn't be giving medical advice.