Treating Wry Neck In Crested Duckling *EDITED TITLE*

[Miss Lydia]

Wanted to post an update since it's been a few days.

Qwackers is doing well, she has been leaning left a little more the last 2 days but she doesn't seem to be relapsing as bad as last time. I am still giving her the same meds but I have upped the Polyvisol and Prednisolone dose and will continue until I think we're at her maximum improvement. I truly believe that she is not going to fully recover, she going to be a special duck her whole life, which is OK we can accommodate. I am planning to make their own house and run so that it's just Qwackers, Indie, and Raj. The chickens will have a separate house and run that they'll share with the future turkeys (if they do well housed together) I have gotten my name on the list for someone that has Royal Palms in the incubator. I am planning to get 3 and hope for a mating pair. There seems to be a high demand for turkeys here, but not many people hatch them.

Another thing...I know it may sound impossible but Qwackers and Indie have almost doubled in size over the past week. Raj is growing, but she just isn't as big as the other 2. All three of them are getting their feathers, it's most noticeable in Qwackers because she is going from yellow to white. They're all prickly when you pick them up, not soft like they used to be.

Glad to hear Qwackers is still growing and that you are willing to stay with her even if she doesn't get 100%. who is huh? I'll admit it. about Raj are you sure she is getting to food and water okay? acting normal in all other ways? maybe the other 2 are drakes?? I know very early to tell. Main thing I'd watch for is that Raj is getting her fair share of feed and all other things are "normal"Thanks for updating

 

[jenniemig]

Glad to hear Qwackers is still growing and that you are willing to stay with her even if she doesn't get 100%. who is huh? I'll admit it. about Raj are you sure she is getting to food and water okay? acting normal in all other ways? maybe the other 2 are drakes?? I know very early to tell. Main thing I'd watch for is that Raj is getting her fair share of feed and all other things are "normal"Thanks for updating

Raj is eating and drinking, she makes her way in and they all eat and drink together. I do have 2 feeders in with them to make sure.

I am beginning to wonder if Indie and Qwackers are boys, but still too early to tell. Will I have to rehome one of them if the 2 are boys? I hate to say it but I could never let Qwackers go, it'd have to be Indie since he/she is the healthy one. Or would I have to get more girls? No one around here sells sexed ducklings so I would have to buy them as adults, not doing the shipping thing again!

 

[subhanalah]

Good to hear they are all doing well! Indie and Qwackers will definitely outgrow Raj! Raj is on the smaller side of the size spectrum and the other two are on the much larger side, lol.
Do you think it's possible she has an infection causing this problem and could need antibiotics? Have you had her to a vet yet?

 

[subhanalah]

If it is an infection, it would explain why she seemed to get better and then regressed after the prednisone, because it suppresses the immune system.

 

[jenniemig]

Good to hear they are all doing well! Indie and Qwackers will definitely outgrow Raj! Raj is on the smaller side of the size spectrum and the other two are on the much larger side, lol.
Do you think it's possible she has an infection causing this problem and could need antibiotics? Have you had her to a vet yet?

Taking her to the vet is not an option. Our only avian vet that deals with ducks is $100 just to walk through the door which was quickly vetoed by my husband. When I asked for advice their only offering was to euthanize her.
She has not gotten as bad as she was. She is up and active, she just has a tilt to her head. I keep thinking it all leads back to her being a crested with neurological problems caused by a genetic brain defect. BUT, then I say why would the vitamins be working? It's all a big mystery I guess.

 

[jenniemig]

OK this is tough...My dog had surgery this morning to get spayed. When I dropped her off I spoke to the vet about Qwackers condition. He asked me to bring her when I picked up my dog. He is not an avian vet but does occasionally treat birds like parrots, cockatoos etc...Before I picked up my dog he researched crested ducks and made a few calls. When he examined Qwackers he said that her brain is protruding from the top of her skull quite a bit and that in his opinion that is the cause of her symptoms. He said that because of the placement of some of the brain she is experiencing swelling, which is being somewhat controlled by the steroids. He said that brain swelling is painful in humans, and in animals as well, imagine having a constant migraine. He suggested that I finish the next 2 weeks on the meds, then begin to wean her off. If the symptoms worsen euthanizing her is the only humane thing to do.

He has been treating our dogs for 10+years. I should add that my vet is a wonderful animal loving man and would never suggest this route if he thought she could be treated.

 

[subhanalah]

Poor girl. I'm sorry that you are in this situation!

 

[subhanalah]

Didn't you also have two others that died due to whatever ailment this is? I think it's at least worth a shot to try antibiotics, just in case it's not the crested issue.

 

[jenniemig]

Didn't you also have two others that died due to whatever ailment this is? I think it's at least worth a shot to try antibiotics, just in case it's not the crested issue.

I started with 4. One was doa, one died an hour later from dehydration, then the third from not being able to potty her vent was sealed shut. I asked about infection, virus and botulism. He said that he doubted it because there was no fever or other symptoms. I could try antibiotics but I'd have to wean her off the prednisone first. I'm not sure about doing that. We're going to discuss it more when i take my dog in for her surgical follow up.

 

[subhanalah]

I'll be praying for you. But I do believe the prednisone would hinder an accurate "fever" reading since it is an antiinflammatory and also suppresses the immune system. The immune system is what causes the temperature to rise while fighting an infection.