Help!

[felicity5]

My pekin duck (7 months old) has become anti social and distant. He is usually slightly aggressive and chases and always eats food but now he isn't eating (not even his favourite worms!) he doesn't follow his other duck friend and walks as far away from humans and hides.
He is waddling funny and I went to pick him up and he couldn't run he was stumbling and falling forward. I don't know what's wrong with him!! Please help

 

[Amiga]

Get him into a lukewarm tub of water deep enough to float in, and watch him for a half an hour.

Does he "talk?" Swim? Just float there?

Check his legs and feet for signs of bumblefoot or injury.

How is his breathing? Are his eyes clear? Does he seem like he's lost weight, or is skinny?

Ducks can be difficult to diagnose. If he's gotten into something toxic, you could go the gentle way and put a couple of teaspoons of charcoal in a quart of water and let him drink that. Is he drinking?

Best bet is a veterinarian.

He could have an infection, or internal parasites. Many things can drag them down.

Has anything changed in his life in the last week or two?

 

[felicity5]

Thank you for getting back to me!
I will do that now and write back xx

 

[felicity5]

He just kind of floated there and constantly drank the water but started throwing it all up and choking on it. His eyes look a bit red and be isn't eating or "talking" . I looked at his feet and I think there are small signs of bumble foot .
Nothing had changed so I don't know what's wrong

 

[felicity5]

Maybe he has something in his throat ? But he can't keep the water down

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I think the Bumblefoot would be really obviously bad infected if that were the cause of your Duck's illness. My advice would be to keep your duck warm and dry now, see if he tries to preen and dry off normally. Offer him water to drink with vitamins. I hope your duck improves quickly and that some more experienced Duck-Emergency-Responders get on here quickly. I really don't know how ducks get "things stuck in their throats"-- none of mine ever have had that happen, but they've eaten frogs, which are much larger than I'd expect they'd be able to swallow comfortably. I would not mess with your Duck's bill at this time. Just see if he will try to drink on his own. Good luck.

 

[Amiga]

What did he throw up? Is he pooping at all at this point? What does it look like? Green?

He may have a systemic infection, and if he cannot keep anything down, may need to have an antibiotic injection. I would get him to a vet if at all possible. They have diagnostic tools we do not.

I can offer a few ideas if seeing the vet is impossible, or until you can get him to a vet.

I don't have a strong feeling about exactly what could be wrong. So here are possibilities.


He may have hardware disease, and that's a rough one. If he has swallowed metal, it can be fatal. There are things you can try, but those involve him being able to swallow and keep some things down. There is an injection, calcium EDTA, that can be given to bind to metals in the bloodstream.

If he's gotten into something toxic, you could look up the Sticky on how to do a flush - make him pass whatever's in his digestive tract. Be careful to follow directions carefully. This is a powerful treatment.

You could try activated charcoal in his water as I suggested earlier, he might be able to keep that down.

Try a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a quart of water for him to drink. It has electrolytes in it and may be easier to keep down.

If it is a virus, the best you can do might be to keep him separate in a clean, quiet, safe place, tell him nice things (they seem to respond to sweet gentle noises). Are any others showing signs of illness?

 

[felicity5]

THabks for all the information!
I'm taking him to the vet today.
He threw up just water that he is constantly drinking and it's a bit gooey. He is pooing but it's just clear liquid nothing in it

 

[Amiga]

Please let us know what the vet says. That's how we all learn. I really hope for the best for your duck. It is good to see someone who cares so much.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Please let us know what the vet says. That's how we all learn. I really hope for the best for your duck. It is good to see someone who cares so much.

X2