Is my duckling sick?

[Duckmom1]

Okay so first thing first Benny is great!! He is running around, swimming like a champ, and is just overall adorable. I really think it was niacin deficiency because now he is a little racer. Now to the problem my other baby, Ralphie, has a hurt leg. He's limping badly and laying down a lot. I have him all set up right next to the food and water. Tomorrow my dad( a vet) is takin him on for a x-ray. Any tips on how to limit his stress or on how to help make him comfortable with his injury? I already decided Benny will go with him because those two REFUSE to be separated. All advice is greatly appreciated

 

[Amiga]

Has Ralphie had a chance to float in warm water so you can see if he can paddle normally? Is the leg warm, swollen? Did he have a leg band near the top of his leg that did not get removed? Any marks, scratches, swollen spots under the foot?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Okay so first thing first Benny is great!! He is running around, swimming like a champ, and is just overall adorable. I really think it was niacin deficiency because now he is a little racer. Now to the problem my other baby, Ralphie, has a hurt leg. He's limping badly and laying down a lot. I have him all set up right next to the food and water. Tomorrow my dad( a vet) is takin him on for a x-ray. Any tips on how to limit his stress or on how to help make him comfortable with his injury? I already decided Benny will go with him because those two REFUSE to be separated. All advice is greatly appreciated

Mostly just try to keep him as quiet as possible especially till you find out how bad the injury is. keeping his buddy with him will most certainly keep him with less stress. If you can get some poultry vitamins and add to his water it will help to supoport him during this time. Please let us know what your dad finds, How awesome is it to have a vet for a dad.

 

[Duckmom1]

I did put him in warm water and he did not use the hurt leg to paddle. My dad checked out the leg and it's not swollen (as far as we know) He will run on it but with a very pronounced limp. I think it's his ankle? ( idk of there's a special word for it) that's the problem. It doesn't bend. Thanks for the advice for the trip and it definitely has it perks to have a vet for a dad

 

[Miss Lydia]

I did put him in warm water and he did not use the hurt leg to paddle. My dad checked out the leg and it's not swollen (as far as we know) He will run on it but with a very pronounced limp. I think it's his ankle? ( idk of there's a special word for it) that's the problem. It doesn't bend. Thanks for the advice for the trip and it definitely has it perks to have a vet for a dad

Do you think he jumped down off of something. or got stepped on by someone? another op posted about her duck getting stepped on by her horse. My old drake decided to jump off the side of the stock tank instead of using the ramp and limped around for a couple weeks, I kept him a quiet and immobile as I could and he finally got over it.

 

[Amiga]

Try an Epsom salts compress. Don't let him eat or drink any of it, it's a laxative. But it's great for leg injuries.

Human ones, too - voice of experience, here.

 

[Duckmom1]

Okay so it isn't a fracture or anything like that. My dad thinks it may be rickets? I honestly have no clue what that is. But we got vitamin d for him. He is a lot weaker today and keeps his eyes half closed. Anyone else have something like this? I really hope it isn't something neurological like my dad said is the worst cad scenario

 

[Miss Lydia]

Okay so it isn't a fracture or anything like that. My dad thinks it may be rickets? I honestly have no clue what that is. But we got vitamin d for him. He is a lot weaker today and keeps his eyes half closed. Anyone else have something like this? I really hope it isn't something neurological like my dad said is the worst cad scenario

Hopefully the vitamins will take care of the problem, I don't know what you got but I do know that Poultry Nutri Drench is a good product and can be given straight and mixed with water. Was he on the niacin when you were giving it to your other duck?

 

[Duckmom1]

Yes he was and it definitely helped the other. There is such a big size difference between the two. I always thought they were different ages. Is that common at TSC? Both his legs are weak now and it's not looking good. I definitely will pick up that vitamin I really don't want to lose this little guy.

 

[Duckmom1]

Any help? I'm SO worried and I run down to check him every five minutes.