My duck Chicky is feeling really unwell, desperate for help :(

[Lynnard]

I'm so sorry. Many of us have experienced this or something similar and know how difficult it is to see them suffer like this. Any chance you can get a picture of both of the ducks feet/legs (front and back) and attach the pictures to this thread? Is she being confined to a small area with heavily padded flooring? What meds is she taking now? Do you have an appointment to see the Avian vet soon?

Thank you. I can grab a picture, but to be honest they look totally normal other than the slightly swollen toe at this point. She is on TMS antibiotic and an nsaid painkiller. I'll be taking her to the avian vet first thing Monday.

 

[Lynnard]

What type of food are you feeding? Often times certain foods don’t have enough thiamin and niacin to support their legs and bones, causing types of arthritis, tremors, drooping of wings, neck, head, legs and really anything that can be affected by movement.

She's on Mazuri waterfowl diet, which I've heard is about the best thing they can be on. She's also getting peas and is 1.5 years old, so I don't think niacin would be a concern.

 

[Lynnard]

@Miss Lydia I've seen you offer a ton of amazing advice on this site, any chance you might have some thoughts on Chicky?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would give extra niacin in a human B complex tablet which has all of the many b vitamins. 1/4 tablet daily, crushed into food or a little water. It certainly won’t hurt.

 

[Lynnard]

I would give extra niacin in a human B complex tablet which has all of the many b vitamins. 1/4 tablet daily, crushed into food or a little water. It certainly won’t hurt.

Yep I am doing the liquid form in their water along with crushed garlic, ACV, and oregano.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I really can't offer any more than you have already seen here. Getting an avian vet to see her sounds best. And I am happy to hear your taking her to one. For today just keep her comfortable, make sure she is eating and drinking. Good to hear she is already on the B complex liquid. And please let us know what the vet has to say. Hopefully the antibiotic will kick in. I sure understand how worrisome it is when we have one not feeling good.

 

[DabblinDuckDabbler]

Sounds like a bunch of good suggestions here. How is the patient today?

 

[Lynnard]

I really can't offer any more than you have already seen here. Getting an avian vet to see her sounds best. And I am happy to hear your taking her to one. For today just keep her comfortable, make sure she is eating and drinking. Good to hear she is already on the B complex liquid. And please let us know what the vet has to say. Hopefully the antibiotic will kick in. I sure understand how worrisome it is when we have one not feeling good.

Thank you for taking a moment to respond, and so quickly! (Not to mention all the advice you've offered here over the years, you've inadvertently helped me a number of times as a new duck owner).

 

[Lynnard]

Hey all, I just went to get her out of the coop before the auto-door let her out to her food to check her crop, and it seemed empty and her breath was fine (so no sour or impacted crop either). She actually seems a little better this morning, voice closer to normal pitch and wings a little higher on her back. Also a bit more energy.

Still not herself though, moving slower, lower voice and less vocal, wings still droopy. Will continue to monitor and update y'all.

 

[Goosebaby]

Thank you for your insight, you must know a whole lot more than I do after having ducks for 14 years and I'm grateful you responded.

They only examined her by sight and feel, didn't run any tests like X-rays or testing stool samples.

They have her on 1ml TMS antibiotic ever 12 hours and 1ml nsaid for pain given the septic arthritis theory. I'm a little dubious though without the other tests and the fact she seemed to have a sprain rather than any cuts that could introduce bacteria.

Another thing is her breath smells a little weird, so I wondered about sour crop maybe? But I'm not sure if that would make her seem like she feels so unwell.

Fwiw, the vet said he wasn't too concerned she's an emergency case since she seems otherwise healthy and is still eating and drinking fine, but he wasn't a specialist. I'll be taking her to the avian vet first thing Monday morning, but I don't think I'll get much sleep til then. She's my baby and it hurts so much to see her feeling ill.

I looked up tms, it’s a very broad spectrum antibiotic that can even get quite a lot of things, from staph to toxoplasma, so I guess it’s a good choice when its unclear what the bacteria is causing the problem.