Duckling shaking, having a tough time walking?

[CayugaJana]

I have one source that says to give niacin at 50 mg/kg every 8 hours, so for your duckling that's about 25 mg three times a day of giving just niacin.

The same source says the b complex dose is usually based on thiamine at 2 mg/kg, which for a duckling the size of your duckling is about one drop.

@CayugaJana and @Miss Lydia, where/how did we come up with the 1 ml dose?

Edited to fix dosing typo.

I feel bad because I think I might have posted a dosing picture from that poultrydvm or duckdvm site, and I think it was wrong. .

This is a site that seems more trustworthy
https://lafeber.com/vet/diagnosing-and-treating-avian-neurologic-disease/

I looked this over and this is specifically talking about neurological issues with tropical parrots. Where as the 100 mgs of niacin I was referring to, was b vitamin deficiencies in general. It doesn’t seem clear as to whether you can convert dosages from parrots directly to ducks. But I’m sure it won’t hurt the duck to give either one of the dosages referred to in this article.


Here is an excellent resource of numerous articles combined into 1 paper. It goes over what the function of niacin is, how it’s made, and deficiency symptoms. If you will notice, there are quite a few different suggestions for dosages.

It basically ranges from 10 mgs/kg to 160 mgs/kg. Based on symptoms and severity. But since it’s super hard to say for sure what is going wrong with a duck I’ve averaged it out to 50mgs/kg to hopefully relieve a variety of issues.

This is based off an adult duck. And since it’s water soluble, extra niacin is excreted in the urine (or whatever the technical name of urine is for ducks). My line of thinking is if myself and another woman that weighs 400 lbs needed multivitamins, we would both buy the same multivitamin and take it. Just for the fact it doesn’t have to be exact. But there are some medications that have to be precise, but my opinion is these aren’t.
https://www.dsm.com/markets/anh/en_US/Compendium/poultry/niacin.html

Also, other B vitamin deficiencies show some similarities (and work better when combined together) so I prefer to use the complex as a shotgun type approach since 1)I don’t take my ducks to the vet 2)They are healthy for them 3) the other b vitamins in the complex relieve a lot of other symptoms

Regardless, these issues for the duckling started before treatment began. So hopefully something can be done to make the duck a normal happy camper!

 

[Miss Lydia]

So stick with the 1ml dose with the cattle complex? Y’all have to break it down into lay mans terms here please.

 

[CayugaJana]

I’m going to defer to casportpony as I have experience with seizures and leg issues related to vitamin deficiencies rather than constant tremors!

 

[Miss Lydia]

So if someone comes on BYC and needs dose for vit b complex I will not know what to tell them? Since this has not been worked out? @casportpony. We need dose please. And sorry that has never been easy for me that is why I am asking.

 

[onaharley]

I seen the video but have not had a chance to read the entire thread, but I’d like to mention trying the poly vi sol without iron. It’s used for wry neck and neurological issues. I wonder if something like this would help? I have never had to use this so I’m unsure of what the dose would be.

Attached is the picture I have of the box, it’s in the baby section in stores. Just make sure it’s the kind without iron.

 

[Miss Lydia]

How's is Spazz doing today @MRetriever

 

[MRetriever]

I know very very little about ducks and ducklings but after reading all the posts I agree that a vitamin deficiency is a good possibility and y’all are on top off that If it’s a neurological issue that doesn’t improve with supplements would “physical therapy” help? Like the swimming, maybe periods of time in a sling with Spazz’s feet touching the ground lightly and letting him bear weight a little at a time to strengthen his legs? Again, just a thought that popped in my head

Ok so swimming is already a daily/every night ritual for the the duckling because I had the same idea!

I have thought up a sling or harness yet, but the thought did cross my mind. I do support it and try to help it walk. It comes out a few times a day in my house on the carpet so it can stretch and try to move a little easier.

I think when swimming I also need to add in time where he can barley touch the bottom as this seems harder/more upsetting for him than normal swimming.

 

[MRetriever]

I’m going to defer to casportpony as I have experience with seizures and leg issues related to vitamin deficiencies rather than constant tremors!

After talking with a cattle/livestock vet friend I have decided to stick with the 1ml a day.
1) the vet didn’t think that dose was even close to a dose that would cause any overdosing issues
2) the duckling isn’t actually getting it all anyway no matter what I try haha!

Unfortunately the vet doesn’t know a whole lot about ducks. And he was surprised I cared so much and was doing the things I am haha

Will post more on my update...

 

[MRetriever]

I seen the video but have not had a chance to read the entire thread, but I’d like to mention trying the poly vi sol without iron. It’s used for wry neck and neurological issues. I wonder if something like this would help? I have never had to use this so I’m unsure of what the dose would be.

Attached is the picture I have of the box, it’s in the baby section in stores. Just make sure it’s the kind without iron. View attachment 1701290

Thanks! I will be looking into this for sure! Every little bit helps!

 

[MRetriever]

How's is Spazz doing today @MRetriever

Ok UPDATE TIME!

So we did not have any meds yet tonight or his swim so I was going to wait to update... but I noticed all the replies and posts here and didn’t want to wait any longer.

So Spazz today is having more trouble balancing and walking, more so than yesturday.
However he is shaking a LOT LESS! And while resting I caught him a few times where for several seconds he didn’t shake at all. A HUGE change!

I had my chicks and ducklings all together but because Spazz and Tazz are now so huge compared to everyone else and because my ducks are so dirty compared to the chicks I decided to separate them all. So now my 2 Pekins and 4 mallards have their own brooder. It also makes it easier to give them their new waterer (where they can put their heads under water) without having near death by drowning experiences for my chicks . So that makes us all happy!

I wish I could have the ducklings outside for a little to walk and stuff in the grass but it’s still too cold

I did also notice Spazz also seems less happy about being still and has been moving around, and trying to walk, a lot more this afternoon. So maybe the duckling is feeling better? I hope so :/