Indian Runner to weak to stand

[Louise Hill]

Continue with lots of fresh water...Charcoal water can help if this is a toxin or botulism. But also flushes protein and nutrients too. Is her head/neck affected too or just legs?

I stopped the charcoal water this evening and the only water she has now is the vitamin water. I wanted to be safe just in case she ate something bad. No, her neck is not affected but she has to turn her head so she walks oddly anyway because she can't see out of one eye. She seems healthy other than not strong enough to walk she swims well and paddles with her feet.

 

[Tlmcq]

If it's just legs, give her lots of fresh clean water(I know hard to keep duck water clean) and continue vitamin support and rest. Sounds like a strain in her legs or possible niacin deficiency. Either way the vitamins and rest will help. If she gets any paralysis or weakness in her neck that is sign of botulism, but ducks that make it 2 days with botulism can usually fight off most forms of it. Usually neck is affected first with paralysis before legs which is why I'm leaning more towards a sprain/strain or vitamin deficiency rather than botulism.

 

[Tlmcq]

Warm baths or an Epsom salt soak for her legs can help if it's a strain. Be cautious of her drinking Epsom salts water if you choose to do that as it has laxative properties. If you can put it in a big bowl and just soak her legs rather than swim in it. I know this may not be an easy task for some ducks...lol

 

[Louise Hill]

If it's just legs, give her lots of fresh clean water(I know hard to keep duck water clean) and continue vitamin support and rest. Sounds like a strain in her legs or possible niacin deficiency. Either way the vitamins and rest will help. If she gets any paralysis or weakness in her neck that is sign of botulism, but ducks that make it 2 days with botulism can usually fight off most forms of it. Usually neck is affected first with paralysis before legs which is why I'm leaning more towards a sprain/strain or vitamin deficiency rather than botulism.

How would she get botulism? None of my other ducks have been sick but one had a weak leg last week but by morning she had recovered. Both her legs are weak, so it seems strange to me that if it was a strain would it be both legs? Maybe since she has only one eye she has not been eating enough?

 

[Tlmcq]

They can get botulism from puddles, pond water, dead snails or invertebrates, live maggots that have fed on dead stuff. It's also found a lot in hot dry times and in bodies of water due to condition being right for bacteria to grow. It's one of the few things ducks do get. They have very hearty immune systems due to the natural exposure to lots of bacteria that grow in moist warm areas...Which is what ducks are constantly exposed to by being ducks.

 

[Tlmcq]

If she tripped coming out of pool she could have injured one or both and then favoring one leg can make the other weak. And honestly, if she were a younger duck I would say this is most likely niacin deficiency. What kind of niacin have you been giving? Is it drugstore niacin or supplement or are you using yeast?

 

[Louise Hill]

If she tripped coming out of pool she could have injured one or both and then favoring one leg can make the other weak. And honestly, if she were a younger duck I would say this is most likely niacin deficiency. What kind of niacin have you been giving? Is it drugstore niacin or supplement or are you using yeast?

I have not been giving them niacin supplements with their food because I thought it was included in the grain. I did give it to them when they were young. But today I used both nutritional yeast and some niacin from the health food store. The vitamins have it too.

 

[Louise Hill]

They can get botulism from puddles, pond water, dead snails or invertebrates, live maggots that have fed on dead stuff. It's also found a lot in hot dry times and in bodies of water due to condition being right for bacteria to grow. It's one of the few things ducks do get. They have very hearty immune systems due to the natural exposure to lots of bacteria that grow in moist warm areas...Which is what ducks are constantly exposed to by being ducks.

Good to know. Gosh, I sure hope she doesn't have it.

 

[Tlmcq]

Yes they normally don't need added niacin after 10 weeks if they are able to forage outside, unless they've been deficient or have an issue like this. I would stop the drugstore niacin. It can be overdosed. The yeast is safer as it doesn't carry risk of overdose. And if the drugstore kind is flush free then it's passing thru the ducks system before being used as it's like a time released version. The yeast and vitamins you're giving should be plenty. If it's a deficiency it may take a little bit to build up and subside symptoms completely, but you should see improvement. The other vitamin that can be helpful is E...Which is also probably in your vitamin supplement.

 

[Louise Hill]

Yes they normally don't need added niacin after 10 weeks if they are able to forage outside, unless they've been deficient or have an issue like this. I would stop the drugstore niacin. It can be overdosed. The yeast is safer as it doesn't carry risk of overdose. And if the drugstore kind is flush free then it's passing thru the ducks system before being used as it's like a time released version. The yeast and vitamins you're giving should be plenty. If it's a deficiency it may take a little bit to build up and subside symptoms completely, but you should see improvement. The other vitamin that can be helpful is E...Which is also probably in your vitamin supplement.

Thank you so much for all your help. So adding yeast to the food will not overdose her because I am giving the vitamins too? Btw I didn't give flush free niacin. All my ducks get peas every morning and I thought peas had a good amount of niacin. Can a calcium deficiency cause weak legs like this?