PLEASE HELP!! (Video) Dizzy, unbalanced, "drunk" duck. WHAT'S WRONG??

[jz]

I'm sorry to double-post, I posed in the emergencies section too. I'm just looking for any help I can get, if this duck dies I will be devastated


My 1.5yr old muscovy drake was fine this morning. Now he is unable to maintain his balance and his head and body are wobbling back and forth nonstop. He is slow, can barely walk, and won't drink. He is pooping normal. He is inside with me now.
My local vet is off today (what luck), and I'm scared a vet wouldn't know what was wrong anyway

SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP. I LOVE THIS DUCK SO MUCH!!!


Here are two videos of the problem:

Thank you for any help/advice you can give! I will be reading similar threads and calling vets offices in the meantime.
Julie

 

[Amiga]

I would suspect toxicity, possibly botulism.

Good you brought him in.

He needs plenty of fresh water, and some close attention.

You might try the molasses laxative approach, to help him pass it more quickly out of his system.

If that seems to help him, I would follow up tomorrow with activated charcoal (you can get it at most pharmacies or pharmacy sections of large grocery stores). I put three capsules in a half gallon of water. It helps absorb toxins to keep them from leaving the digestive tract.

I will look up the laxative recipe and be right back.

From Storey's:

either 1 pint of molasses or 1 pound of Epsom salts per 5 gallons of water. Birds that cannot drink on their own should be treated individually. The addition of 1 part potassium to 3,000 parts drinking water or individual doses of 1 teaspoon castor oil have also been recommended as treatments. In birds that are particularly valuable, flush out the contents of the esophagus with warm water by using a funnel and rubber tube inserted into the mouth and several inches down the esophagus. To avoid further problems, every effort must be made to locate the source of botulism.

end of quote

I would not be comfortable with the flush, because I have not done this and fear loading the duck's lungs with fluid. But perhaps you are better with these things.


Sending this on with prayers,

 

[MamaDuck1]

Im so sorry. It doesnt look good, hon. Based off of my unfortunate experience, it looks similar to intestinal impaction or metal poisoning. Keep a close eye on the fecal matter. If hes pooping normal, then there could be hope. Give him lots of love in the mean time. The vet would need to run an xray and take blood if you choose. Watch for a green color in the poop.?.. And for anything coming out that shouldnt be there. If its intestinal impaction, its important to get it taken care of before it enters the lower intestines.... But surgery is risky on these guys. Watch for liquid coming out of the beak as if hes drooling, too.

 

[MamaDuck1]

My avian vet prescribed a medicated alfalfa fiber suppliment for rodents to feed through a syringe, but it was too late for us.

 

[Amiga]

I need to step away for a few. If you think of more questions or ideas, please pm me . . . I will check messages as I am able.

 

[jz]

Thank you everyone so much for your help!!!

My boyfriend reported that he started improving while I was at the fish store getting charcoal. I crushed up the charcoal and a little epson salt and put it inside some cherry tomatoes anyway just in case - thank god he ate them or I would have had to force feed or tube feed him. He is drinking well and is 95% back to normal, just walking slower than usual. I suspect it was botulism or some kind of toxin- I found an old plastic bowl filled with some nasty water with traces of duck food. They must have been drinking from it while they had food in their mouth. It was foul. I will be much more careful to check their enclosure next time. I feel so lucky!

This forum is such a blessing to people who love their birds. All of the vets offices were incredibly unsympathetic and didn't take me seriously at all (although one bird rehab center was very kind). They just don't understand how a duck can be as loved as a dog or cat. You guys are truly a comfort when no one else will help.

Thank you again everyone! Hopefully this will be the end of this problem.
Julie

 

[Mickeyg64]

I am so glad he's doing much better now. I too am so very grateful for this site. And the best thing is, there are no stupid questions.
Whew, bet that was so very scarey for you. Keep us updated on how he's doing.

 

[jz]

Thank you for your warm wishes. Now that I figured out how to upload videos maybe I'll try to post some fun ones of him instead of sad ones. He really is a character, I used to take him to a park for walks and he would fly a couple of laps around the pond and come back and land next to me I've had him since he was 2 hours old.

 

[un-named543]

Sweet. Glad he is better.

 

[veronicasmom]

What horrible vets! I have a place that I take the ducks and they are so very nice.
I am glad to read your duck is doing better.