Help! My 6 week duckling all of a sudden cannot really walk.

[Lucky_duck]

Lucky, my 6 week duckling has stopped wanting to walk. He has always been the one behind the pack and when he would run to the food, his legs seemed to spin in circles. A few days ago, he stopped walking. His hocks are swollen and hot to the touch. I took him to the vet and got antibiotics and anti inflammatory medicine. I really want him to walk again what can I do!? I’m not sure if this is splayed legs or slipped tendon?

 

[sourland]

Sorry for the problems. Are you providing Niacin supplementation ?

 

[Lucky_duck]

Thanks for the welcome! Yes I am! I have provided all of my ducks niacin in their water. Also I sprinkle brewers yeast on top of their purina duck feed pellets. In addition, I give them all dried meal worms as a treat. I have been giving Lucky niacin orally now for the past 4 days. I have also been giving him the medicine that the vet prescribed. Should I try to put vet wrap around his legs? HE LOVES SWIMMING! I watched him swim for an hour today and he splashed all over me. I love the little guy and just want him to be able to keep up with his brothers and sisters.

 

[CoriM]

What did your vet say about the swelling and heat? Does he try to stand up at all? Do his legs keep going out to the side? I only have experience with splay leg, which my pekin duckling developed. I dosed frequently with the liquid vitamin B complex, until she was well over her problem - I think this is huge in turning a corner. I also used the vet wrap around her legs to hold them in proper position. I made sure the flooring of her brooder was as non-slip as possible. I let her swim to exercise her legs but made her wear the vet wrap for several weeks and didn't push her for exercise - she wasn't running around trying to keep up with the other ducks because they were still in a big wading pool at the time. If your ducks are in a larger area maybe you could make a small pen and keep another in with him so he doesn't hurt himself by doing too much but has a buddy, which is essential for ducks.

 

[Lucky_duck]

What did your vet say about the swelling and heat? Does he try to stand up at all? Do his legs keep going out to the side? I only have experience with splay leg, which my pekin duckling developed. I dosed frequently with the liquid vitamin B complex, until she was well over her problem - I think this is huge in turning a corner. I also used the vet wrap around her legs to hold them in proper position. I made sure the flooring of her brooder was as non-slip as possible. I let her swim to exercise her legs but made her wear the vet wrap for several weeks and didn't push her for exercise - she wasn't running around trying to keep up with the other ducks because they were still in a big wading pool at the time. If your ducks are in a larger area maybe you could make a small pen and keep another in with him so he doesn't hurt himself by doing too much but has a buddy, which is essential for ducks.

She said “His hocks appear moderately swollen, puffy, and hot to the touch. He has medially rotated tendons at his hocks, which might be a secondary change from the swelling. The hock swelling and heat does indicate a possible joint infection.” Yes he does try to stand up and walk, but his legs will give and then he just moves a bit on his hocks and then eventually sits down. Could he have possibly developed splayed leg now? I will continue to give him his vitamin b/niacin orally. What do you use as your flooring? I use pine shavings. I will definitely use the vet wrap! Where exactly do I wrap it though? Is it around the hocks? I will definitely continue to let him swim because he loves it and stands up and flaps his wings in there. I will definitely put him somewhere with a buddy and have the other ducks away from him.

 

[CoriM]

I don't know if I'm the proper person to give you advice because I don't understand "medially rotated tendons" and a joint infection would be a problem separate from splay leg. Hopefully someone else here can advise you on those issues. Shavings should be fine for slippage. What I did with the vet wrap was hold my duckling up with legs in proper alignment, then wrap the vet wrap around the outside of her legs a few times to keep them in that position. I changed it after swimming. If your cutie loves swimming, definitely keep it going as it's a way to exercise. When my duck used to get out of the bath she couldn't stand by herself to preen and I would support her belly to help her. I'm sorry for what you're going through. It's so awful to see them suffering. Hoping with your vet help and everything you're doing that you can get your baby on the mend! Here is a video of my duck walking with her vet wrap after she'd had it on for some time.

 

[Lucky_duck]

I don't know if I'm the proper person to give you advice because I don't understand "medially rotated tendons" and a joint infection would be a problem separate from splay leg. Hopefully someone else here can advise you on those issues. Shavings should be fine for slippage. What I did with the vet wrap was hold my duckling up with legs in proper alignment, then wrap the vet wrap around the outside of her legs a few times to keep them in that position. I changed it after swimming. If your cutie loves swimming, definitely keep it going as it's a way to exercise. When my duck used to get out of the bath she couldn't stand by herself to preen and I would support her belly to help her. I'm sorry for what you're going through. It's so awful to see them suffering. Hoping with your vet help and everything you're doing that you can get your baby on the mend! Here is a video of my duck walking with her vet wrap after she'd had it on for some time.

Thanks for the kind words! I’m hoping for the best as well. I’m gonna do everything I can. Going to give the vet wrap a try.

 

[ducksinvt]

What is the niacin supplement you are giving??? I know durvets liquid vitamin b complex is highly recommended and works extremely fast!!!

 

[ducksinvt]

What is the niacin supplement you are giving??? I know durvets liquid vitamin b complex is highly recommended and works extremely fast!!!

 

[ducksinvt]

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