Please help! Something is wrong!!

[gravitystar]

My duck isn't walking. I thought my drake was beating up on her but I have him separate from her for a week now and it's getting worse... She just lays there. She is eating and drinking but dragging herself when she does move.
She is broody at the moment and not laying any eggs... Could one be stuck?? I saw her limping, that's why I took the drake out so maybe it's her leg? I checked her feet, no bumble or cuts...

Someone please... She's my favorite duck and I can't stand to see her like this!

What can I do?

 

[gravitystar]

My husband just admitted to me that he hasn't been giving them the grit... I'm pregnant and stuck on bed rest so I can't take care of them, he has been and they are not important to him like they are to me. I am bawling my eyes out...
Is she going to be ok? I think it's an egg... I just made her walk and it's both legs... What do I do!???
Please someone tell me what to do!

 

[smonkeySK]

Ducks hide pain well so it's always difficult to diagnose if there are no outward signs.
Egg binding usually involves panting and at the other end a lot of contracting. Without that I'd say it isn't bound.
It could be an internal injury like a break or a sprain, or it could be some form of infection.

Tlc and isolation from the others to help her rest up would be my first move, also some further examination of the legs and joints.
After that I would be looking at a vet

 

[Amiga]

Get her into a lukewarm tub deep enough to float in, see if and how she moves her legs. If you have a friend who is an animal person, ask them to help with that.

A vet is best. I understand sometimes it is not an option.

She may have peritonitis, a systemic infection. In that case, oral or injectable antibiotics would be needed.

Is she not getting grit, or not getting oyster shell? If she is outdoors much, she probably is eating enough grit. If she is eating only pelleted food, she should be fine in that regard.

 

[gravitystar]

Thank you. There is no panting at all! Thank god! Ok!!! I have had her inside for 24 hours now, I will keep her in then... I guess give her until weds and if there is no improvement then try and find a vet??

 

[Amiga]

I would give her till tomorrow. If she is not walking, she may have an advanced infection.

 

[gravitystar]

Sorry, she gets grit, she has not been getting the shells... She just ate a full tomato and a few leaves of romaine... I gave her some shells and now I'm breaking my instructions and getting her in the tub...

 

[gravitystar]

She was pruning and cleaning herself... Does that seem like a sick duck or a hurt duck?

 

[gravitystar]

And she is using both feet to paddle around in the tub... What is going on???

 

[Amiga]

If her legs hurt her, then removing the weight might make it possible for her to move her legs much more easily.

You say she is broody. How long has she been on the nest? How often does she go off the nest and what does she do?

And you, you need to be careful about the bed rest and taking care of yourself.

Ducks can get sprains and muscle pulls and pinched nerves. Bath therapy can help with all that.