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because... ? for some reason other than outright attacks? wondering, as I've got feral cats in my yard... although they don't seem interested in hunting any of my birds.
The reason that I asked about feral cats is because a cats' poop can pass on (if ingested) what is called Toxoplasmosis - a parasitic disease. This can be passed on to ducks, turkeys, chickens and even rabbits.
I'm not saying that's what's wrong with the ducks, but this is another illness to look into. If anyone else has heard of Toxoplasmosis, please chime in. I watched the video and I saw the duck's leg trembling. This is what triggered it for me.
Here is information about it.
because... ? for some reason other than outright attacks? wondering, as I've got feral cats in my yard... although they don't seem interested in hunting any of my birds.
The reason that I asked about feral cats is because a cats' poop can pass on (if ingested) what is called Toxoplasmosis - a parasitic disease. This can be passed on to ducks, turkeys, chickens and even rabbits.
I'm not saying that's what's wrong with the ducks, but this is another illness to look into. If anyone else has heard of Toxoplasmosis, please chime in. I watched the video and I saw the duck's leg trembling. This is what triggered it for me.
Here is information about it.
Unfortunately, Toxoplasma is rarely considered when trying to diagnose poultry problems with ataxia and incoordination. Turkeys, and waterfowl in particular, are typically asymptomatic and infections usually go unnoticed. Chickens can also be infected but suffer a greater number of symptoms, along with a higher rate of mortality.
The first sign of Toxoplasmosis is usually a young duckling flipping over onto its back with the inability to right itself. Sometimes a young duckling will simply be uncoordinated, flip over on its back occasionally, and then over time, learn how to right itself on a regular basis until he finally grows out of this awkward stage.
Symptoms for Toxoplasmosis also include congestion, weight loss, paleness and shrinking of the comb (in chickens), drop in egg production, whitish droppings, diarrhea, incoordination and ataxia, trembling, and blindness.
Although systemic in nature, the disease does most of its damage in the young and weak within the central nervous system.
Toxoplasmosis is the primary reason why obstetricians recommend that pregnant women dont keep cats or clean out the litter box if they already have a cat.)
In an open yard where there are free-ranging adult ducks, there may be little problem. And even if the ducks pick it up and are pretty healthy otherwise, theyre usually asymptomatic. But if the younger ducks or ducklings have any contact with the same yard or the droppings of cats, even through the travel of rodents, they become at risk.
The treatment calls for a drug called pyrimethamine at the rate of 0.5mg/kg PO (oral) per day given in two equal doses every 12 hours for 7 10 days, with sulfadiazine at the rate of 30 mg/kg also given orally with the daily dose split in two equal doses every 12 hours, for the same time period.
ETA: Even though this may not be the problem with the ducks, all duck owners should be aware of what disease feral cats' poop can bring to our ducks and other animals and this is one of those diseases.
ETA: Even though this may not be the problem with the ducks, all duck owners should be aware of what disease feral cats' poop can bring to our ducks and other animals and this is one of those diseases.
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otasium balance already mentioned is part of that, but I'm not sure how you'd know or how you'd treat... gatorade? resorb (used for electrolyte depletion in cattle with diahrea)? pediolite? bananas and apricot nectar?
