URGENT: Sick male duck

[Pasqual]

Sorry for chiming in so late, but you are already in good hands!
Agree to starting an antibiotics treatment immediately, your drake shows signs of a general bacterial infection which must be treated as fast as possible.
Next those huge bumbles should be properly treated, here in the US there is an ointment with broad-spectrum antibiotic available for cheap and i made very good experiences with it, so i suggest you find something similar where you live:
View attachment 2408762
As for his general bad health, i would:

• Have him swim as much as you can, water therapy is always improving the duck's leg and hip health
• Have him walk on soft natural surfaces, you said you don't have a backyard, so could you take him outside to a public park or something similar?
• Giving him some outside time will also allow him to pick up some natural grit for his digestive system and some additional nutrients that are hard to come by.
• Cut back on calorie rich treats with lot's of fat and carbohydrates.

Unfortunately Pekin ducks are a rather screwed up breed, for which birds have purposefully been selected that fatten up rapidly due to their insatiable appetite and can be slaughtered at a young age. No breeder cared for their feet, legs and hips.
Grown up Pekin Ducks do have a slightly yellow taint in their feathers, so that is very normal.

Thanks for your reply
It’s midnight here so I put him to sleep and added the antibiotic in his water. I hope he will get better soon
The Fucidin I spoke of (that I am already using in his bumblefoot is a triple antibiotic that’s pet friendly, so I have that sorted out. Thanks for the picture, it matches the one I use and I feel assured now.
As for the bumblefoot, I have just noticed that it became very soft and is lightening in colour so I can assume we will be able to remove it soon!
for the outside time, this is his first winter so I will be taking him out now. The weather here is so hot that winter here sounds like your spring in the US, so it is the best time. The thing is the country is so hot and is a desert (we live in Kuwait) so there are no forests/fields, only deserts, so the only places I can take him to are the beach and a local garden/park. Would the beach be a bad idea?
Regarding his food, I make sure to give him only grains, and the only treats allowed are cucumbers, frozen peas, watermelons. I give him a shower half an hour daily. Should I increase the frequency or time?

again, thank you all for your support. This forum helped my drake make it till this age. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to share knowledge here. I will keep you updated on his health (if you don’t mind )

 

[Isaac 0]

In regards to the Bumblefoot, you'll want to start soaking the core daily, every day, until the core becomes fairly loose then you can try peeling it off like a thick scab with a pair of tweezers, and if needed a scalpel. If you hit bleeding, stop, apply pressure with a damp towel for a minute, and continue on further. Once you got the plug out, fill it with an antibacterial ointment, and bandage the foot. Here is some info on bandaging :

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wrapping-feet.1255043/


I also notice his toes are fairly crooked. That could be a genetic abnormality or occurred when he was young, but given that he is an inside duck, his nails are not getting trimmed down naturally, which is causing them to lay on their side when he walks. You will want to get those nails trimmed so skeletal damage doesn't occur to the toes over time. Here is some info on trimming birds nails :


https://the-chicken-chick.com/when-... a partner holding the,the length of the nail.

When I mention keeping on soft grounds, I mean laying towels, or puppy pee pads for him, so he's not walking on hard/slippery grounds all day. This is important since you're dealing with a breed meant for meat, that carry a lot of weight with them.

I have never heard of Orni, but the antibiotic Doxyclicne (which is in Orni) is effective against staphylococcus aureus, which is often the main pathogen when dealing with Bumblefoot. It is also effective againt many gram-negative, and positive bacteria.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Thanks for your reply
It’s midnight here so I put him to sleep and added the antibiotic in his water. I hope he will get better soon
The Fucidin I spoke of (that I am already using in his bumblefoot is a triple antibiotic that’s pet friendly, so I have that sorted out. Thanks for the picture, it matches the one I use and I feel assured now.
As for the bumblefoot, I have just noticed that it became very soft and is lightening in colour so I can assume we will be able to remove it soon!
for the outside time, this is his first winter so I will be taking him out now. The weather here is so hot that winter here sounds like your spring in the US, so it is the best time. The thing is the country is so hot and is a desert (we live in Kuwait) so there are no forests/fields, only deserts, so the only places I can take him to are the beach and a local garden/park. Would the beach be a bad idea?
Regarding his food, I make sure to give him only grains, and the only treats allowed are cucumbers, frozen peas, watermelons. I give him a shower half an hour daily. Should I increase the frequency or time?

again, thank you all for your support. This forum helped my drake make it till this age. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to share knowledge here. I will keep you updated on his health (if you don’t mind )

Kuwait!? - What an exotic place for a duck!
In 2004 i had a three week project in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, i bet Kuwait is as weird as that. 40° in November and bone dry.
I would love to hear news from »Our Duck in Kuwait«, at best every day!
A local beach would definitely be nice for his bumble feet, the salt in the sea will act as an additional anti-biotic. Just make sure that he doesn't drink too much saltwater. I don't know where in Kuwait you live, but there is the »Al Shaeed Park« in Kuwait City, one of my colleagues who was on an engagement there told me it is a green oasis. Maybe you can take him to the Jahra Pools?
And walking in sand will also be good for his feet, it grinds down his toenails and the sand will act as an abrasive on his bumbles too.
Can you give him a bath instead of a shower? Enough water so that his feet won't touch the ground. This will remove all the weight from his legs so he can exercise his muscles without putting more wear and tear on his joints. Think of him as an overweight person who needs some water therapy.
And for the food, ducks need a good amount of protein in their diet, my ducks gorge on dry cat food as treats, but the girls do lay eggs and therefore need more protein than the drakes, peas are one of the best treats you can give him: They are rich in B-vitamins, which he needs for his nerves and they contain a lot of protein too. If i remember correctly, chickpeas are very common in the middle east (hummus!), those would be very good for him too, but they needed to be boiled, there is even a chapter about chickpeas in the Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickpea#Animal_feed

Just out of curiosity: Are you allowed to venture outside on your own as a woman? I remember in SA even the spouses of the American's had to be accustomed by a "Guardian". The divorce rate under the foreign workers was very high…

 

[Pasqual]

In regards to the Bumblefoot, you'll want to start soaking the core daily, every day, until the core becomes fairly loose then you can try peeling it off like a thick scab with a pair of tweezers, and if needed a scalpel. If you hit bleeding, stop, apply pressure with a damp towel for a minute, and continue on further. Once you got the plug out, fill it with an antibacterial ointment, and bandage the foot. Here is some info on bandaging :

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wrapping-feet.1255043/


I also notice his toes are fairly crooked. That could be a genetic abnormality or occurred when he was young, but given that he is an inside duck, his nails are not getting trimmed down naturally, which is causing them to lay on their side when he walks. You will want to get those nails trimmed so skeletal damage doesn't occur to the toes over time. Here is some info on trimming birds nails :


https://the-chicken-chick.com/when-how-to-trim-chickens-nails/#:~:text=With a partner holding the,the length of the nail.

When I mention keeping on soft grounds, I mean laying towels, or puppy pee pads for him, so he's not walking on hard/slippery grounds all day. This is important since you're dealing with a breed meant for meat, that carry a lot of weight with them.

I have never heard of Orni, but the antibiotic Doxyclicne (which is in Orni) is effective against staphylococcus aureus, which is often the main pathogen when dealing with Bumblefoot. It is also effective againt many gram-negative, and positive bacteria.

Thanks for your reply
I soak him daily already, it has been like 2 weeks now, I will try to remove the scab today.
As for the toes , it is because of his misfortune in his youth. I did already trim his nails, the nails you saw in the picture are trimmed. Should I trim more? I was afraid to reach the nail root and have him bleed so I was very conservative cutting them.
thank you for the suggestion of puppy pee pads! I would never think of that. I will get them as soon as possible.
Thank you for your help

 

[Pasqual]

Kuwait!? - What an exotic place for a duck!
In 2004 i had a three week project in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, i bet Kuwait is as weird as that. 40° in November and bone dry.
I would love to hear news from »Our Duck in Kuwait«, at best every day!
A local beach would definitely be nice for his bumble feet, the salt in the sea will act as an additional anti-biotic. Just make sure that he doesn't drink too much saltwater. I don't know where in Kuwait you live, but there is the »Al Shaeed Park« in Kuwait City, one of my colleagues who was on an engagement there told me it is a green oasis. Maybe you can take him to the Jahra Pools?
And walking in sand will also be good for his feet, it grinds down his toenails and the sand will act as an abrasive on his bumbles too.
Can you give him a bath instead of a shower? Enough water so that his feet won't touch the ground. This will remove all the weight from his legs so he can exercise his muscles without putting more wear and tear on his joints. Think of him as an overweight person who needs some water therapy.
And for the food, ducks need a good amount of protein in their diet, my ducks gorge on dry cat food as treats, but the girls do lay eggs and therefore need more protein than the drakes, peas are one of the best treats you can give him: They are rich in B-vitamins, which he needs for his nerves and they contain a lot of protein too. If i remember correctly, chickpeas are very common in the middle east (hummus!), those would be very good for him too, but they needed to be boiled, there is even a chapter about chickpeas in the Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickpea#Animal_feed

Just out of curiosity: Are you allowed to venture outside on your own as a woman? I remember in SA even the spouses of the American's had to be accustomed by a "Guardian". The divorce rate under the foreign workers was very high…

Thanks for the reply!
Yes, Kuwait is indeed not a good place to be an animal in. A fun fact: Kuwait is the hottest spot on earth (you may google it). The temperature now is 30°C (that’s why even if I had a backyard, my duck would die from heat in summer)
It’s such a challenging story (our duck every day in Kuwait) but if you’d like I can keep you updates when I take him out for the first time
Kuwait is so small, so everywhere is accessible by car at most 1 hour. As for al-shaheed park, I am afraid they wouldn’t let him in. As for al-jahra pools, it’s a natural reserve for extinct animals, so they wouldn’t let him in. I suggested the beach because it’s the only place where if I take him nobody will ban it or hurt him. If I take him to the beach, do I allow him to pick sand with his mouth?
I give him a bath & a shower everyday (at the end of the bath I open the shower). The bath is deep enough for him to float (and he likes it)
I have cat dry food (I had a cat and they were best friends then we had to euthanise it). When the cat was alive, I would let him eat some as a treat, but I was worried from the amount of additives in it. As for chickpeas, they are everywhere! I didn’t know it was good for him. I’ll definitely give him along peas.

regarding your curious question: yes, Kuwait is nearly as open as the UAE, you would find both types of people: the very conservative who don’t allow women (they’re a good portion of the society) and the liberals (half the Kuwaitis and the non-Kuwaitis which is like 3/4 of the population) I am not Kuwaiti so I am so free. As for the general public, women generally are so free in the clothing/driving/travelling. It’s nothing like SA. Maybe if you go now to SA, you’ll find it changed because of the new laws.

 

[416bigbore]

Your in great hands, wishing your little guy a speedy recovery!

 

[Pasqual]

Your in great hands, wishing your little guy a speedy recovery!

Thanks!

 

[Isaac 0]

Thanks for your reply
I soak him daily already, it has been like 2 weeks now, I will try to remove the scab today.
As for the toes , it is because of his misfortune in his youth. I did already trim his nails, the nails you saw in the picture are trimmed. Should I trim more? I was afraid to reach the nail root and have him bleed so I was very conservative cutting them.
thank you for the suggestion of puppy pee pads! I would never think of that. I will get them as soon as possible.
Thank you for your help

Looking at the picture, I would say they need to be trimmed a little more. With ducks, and just like dogs, to avoid hitting the quick you have to do a little bit each day. Waiting a few days after the cut to let the blood recede further down.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Your doing a great job with him. If you do take him to the beach watch for stray or lose dogs. And if he picks at the sand it won’t hurt him you just don’t want him swallowing a lot of it.

 

[Pasqual]

Looking at the picture, I would say they need to be trimmed a little more. With ducks, and just like dogs, to avoid hitting the quick you have to do a little bit each day. Waiting a few days after the cut to let the blood recede further down.

I will start doing that. Thank you for your advice
Regarding his neck, do is there anything I can do for him about it? Or I just leave him recover it alone ?
Thanks again. Much appreciated