Help! My duck is unwell! Can’t walk and won’t eat.

[GracieJ]

One night I discovered one of my drake, Riddick, couldn’t walk very well so I assumed he had sprained a leg and put him in his pool for some physio and rest. After putting them to bed, the next morning he couldn’t walk at all!! We took him to the vets and she gave him antibiotics (baytril) and metcam. He has green poo. He can stand now (2nd day of antibiotics) and preen himself. He goes in his own pool for a couple of minutes three times a day but is not fussed on swimming. I’ve separated him as we don’t know what’s caused the infection. He’s drinking his antibiotics mixed with brewers yeast but he won’t eat. I’ve tried all his favourite foods but nothing. Not even yoghurt! This morning, he was standing preening himself and he walked one step (a slight improvement!) to turn to his water. He’s such a beautiful and adorable duck. Any ideas on what it could be? Must be an infection? How can I get him to eat? Could I mixed some food with water like a soup? I’ve checked his neck and nothing seems swollen or out of the ordinary. Thanks.

 

[GracieJ]

@Miss Lydia ?? Xx

 

[Miss Lydia]

Of course try mixing his feed in some nice warm water sometimes when they won’t eat they’ll drink their feed like soup. How old is Riddick? Id also get some B complex liquid and start giving that to him even if it’s nothing to do with s nutrient def the complex has all the bs to give him a boost. You can mix the liquid b in something yummy he likes have you ever tried mealworms? Or peas just enough he takes the b complex TSC has the best one it’s in the cattle section and will say injectable but we give it orally 1 ml daily or you can get human at most places that sell vitamins and give him 3 ml a day. Did the vet not have any idea what this infection is and have you talked to her about him not wanting to eat might want to ask her about tube feeding him. You can do it too @casportpony can give you info. He’s on the right meds and actually they can cause tummy upset so that could be one reason he isn’t wanting to eat.

 

[pitonia]

Sorry to hear about Riddick. I just went through a month of rehab with one of mine.
Complex B Miss Lydia suggests greatly helps.

I mixed the complex B with a combo of a small handful of feed, 1/2 a sardine pkged in olive oil, put a little of the oil in and a tablespoon of plain yougart and mashed it together with a fork. Worked like a charm. You can add the antibiotics to that too.

If it is an infection he will need to take the whole course of antibiotics. Did the vet run an x-ray to see if it might be a hip issue?
Hope he feels better soon.

 

[GracieJ]

Sorry to hear about Riddick. I just went through a month of rehab with one of mine.
Complex B Miss Lydia suggests greatly helps.

I mixed the complex B with a combo of a small handful of feed, 1/2 a sardine pkged in olive oil, put a little of the oil in and a tablespoon of plain yougart and mashed it together with a fork. Worked like a charm. You can add the antibiotics to that too.

If it is an infection he will need to take the whole course of antibiotics. Did the vet run an x-ray to see if it might be a hip issue?
Hope he feels better soon.

Thank you both for your help. Update: I took him back to the vets yesterday as a vet called Will wanted to see him. He had more experience in poultry and waterfowl and stated it was 100% neurological and that the only step next would be to take him to a specialist to run tests. He also gave him a steroid injection and suggested I syringe feed him the antibiotics instead of diluting in water like the previous vet suggested. I took him home and did just that and he stood up preening himself all night. Today, I put him in the pool for a swim and got him out, gave him some more antibiotics and he walked a few steps!!! He’s still not eating but drinking and now he can walk a small bit but only if he has to. He wants to be outside with the others but they will attack him as they can sense weakness.

In his water is brewers yeast and crushed mealworms. He won’t eat sweet corn, peas, rice, feed none of his favourite stuff but I’ll definitely try mushed up sardines!! Fingers crossed he’ll come better. I have one more dose of antibiotics left over the weekend x

 

[pitonia]

Good to hear there is some progress. Keep up the antibiotics. Try the complex b too it can't hurt.
I hope the sardine mash works.

I had to keep mine in the house for a month in the garden tub. It was well worth it.

Keep us posted as to how he's doing.

 

[GracieJ]

Good to hear there is some progress. Keep up the antibiotics. Try the complex b too it can't hurt.
I hope the sardine mash works.

I had to keep mine in the house for a month in the garden tub. It was well worth it.

Keep us posted as to how he's doing.

Thank you so much! Update: Riddick is in the kitchen for his rehabilitation. He’s got one dose of antibiotics left and he can walk a bit more today, he still loses his balance but can now pick himself up when he does! Fingers crossed and please pray for him to get back to full health. He eats a couple of mealworms and bits of lettuce every now and then but won’t touch his feed yet. He didn’t even look at the sardines lol! Let’s hope he improves every day xx