I HAVE AN EMERGENCY----HELP ME PLEASE!!!

ElisaTheDuck

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I rescued a mallard duckling on Friday. He was doing well yesterday after I fed him ants and worms. Today he wouldn't eat or drink and all he wanted to do was sleep, and now he is twisting his head back and stretching his legs out and randomly convulsing. Someone please help me!!!
 
I rescued a mallard duckling on Friday. He was doing well yesterday after I fed him ants and worms. Today he wouldn't eat or drink and all he wanted to do was sleep, and now he is twisting his head back and stretching his legs out and randomly convulsing. Someone please help me!!!
I can not think that ants and worms would be all a tiny duckling needs, but this may not even be related to what is going on now, Do you know of a rehabber in your area? I would suggest taking the little one to them.They know how best to deal with injured or sick wild birds. You could try some infant vitamins with out iron some have found that helps with some of the symptoms your seeing .
 
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Ducklings need a lot of food - rehabilitators know how to get nourishment into them, and quickly. There is usually a web site for your state that has links to contact someone.

Nature centers can also be points of contact.

You need to do something to get help locally right now.
 
Ducklings need a lot of food - rehabilitators know how to get nourishment into them, and quickly. There is usually a web site for your state that has links to contact someone.

Nature centers can also be points of contact.

You need to do something to get help locally right now.

X 2 - the food you have offered is insufficient to sustain life, and that is why he is showing the symptoms he is now. If you are unable or unwilling to turn him over to someone with the knowledge and ability to properly care for him, at this point the kindest thing may be to put him out of his misery.
 
Might be best to take him to the nearest vet and surrender him to them.

-Kathy
Agreed - this is why I am so quick to suggest that someone get in contact with a licensed animal rehabber on all the "I just *saved* a x, y or z" -- the fact of the matter is that they require special care from someone with the experience and knowledge not only to provide the physical needs of that species, but to do so in a way that respects the wild nature of the species and allows for the best chance of a successful rehabilitation and release - something most well-intentioned people are simply not in a position to provide.
 
I wasn't feeding him just worms or ants by the way. I hadn't been able to get him the proper duck feed due to certain circumstances, so I was feeding him various greens and mashed rabbit pellets in water. I had already called up SPCAs in the area, but they only took domestic animals, and there are no rehabilitation centers in my area. But none of that matters now......he's gone and thankfully his misery wasn't stretched out. Thank you.
 
I wasn't feeding him just worms or ants by the way. I hadn't been able to get him the proper duck feed due to certain circumstances, so I was feeding him various greens and mashed rabbit pellets in water. I had already called up SPCAs in the area, but they only took domestic animals, and there are no rehabilitation centers in my area. But none of that matters now......he's gone and thankfully his misery wasn't stretched out. Thank you.
Don't feel bad, he was probably sick when you found him. If you ever need to find an avian vet, try this link:
http://www.aav.org/search/custom.asp?id=1803

-Kathy
 

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