Weak Little Duckling

[Miss Lydia]

Unfortunately Handy (the duck pictured above) is gone. We went to an Avian Vet today and the Vet thinks it must have been caused by a virus. He was paralyzed in one leg, had developed poly arthritis (?) and had a paralyzed tail. I did the only humane thing I could do for him, he was so swollen and in so much pain :-(
I am just saddened beyond belief right now

My gosh so very sorry

It's a hard decision to make but sounds like it was the right one.

 

[casportpony]

So sorry for your loss!

-Kathy

 

[User353335]

Can you post a picture of her poop?

-Kathy

Her excrement does not appear abnormal as compared to the other ducklings.

 

[User353335]

Unfortunately Handy (the duck pictured above) is gone. We went to an Avian Vet today and the Vet thinks it must have been caused by a virus. He was paralyzed in one leg, had developed poly arthritis (?) and had a paralyzed tail. I did the only humane thing I could do for him, he was so swollen and in so much pain :-(
I am just saddened beyond belief right now

I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[casportpony]

Quote: That does look normal.

-Kathy

 

[User353335]

Sorry, typographic error. I meant to say, DOES look normal.

 

[casportpony]

Sorry, typographic error. I meant to say, DOES look normal.

I knew what you meant.

-Kathy

 

[Lynn Manes]

Unfortunately Handy (the duck pictured above) is gone. We went to an Avian Vet today and the Vet thinks it must have been caused by a virus. He was paralyzed in one leg, had developed poly arthritis (?) and had a paralyzed tail. I did the only humane thing I could do for him, he was so swollen and in so much pain :-(
I am just saddened beyond belief right now

I'm so sorry

 

[User353335]

Quick update to those who are following; last night, she seemed extremely weak. I was starting to get concerned that we were dealing with some other issue or she was just going to be that way due to a congenital issue. We were following all the books and guides for treatment... mixing the Niacin in the water at a ratio of two (2) gallons to a single crushed 250 mg tablet from GNC. We checked her feet and legs again, and she just appeared so so weak I was afraid she was going to pass away

In an act of desperation, I decided to put a quarter of the 250 mg GNC Niacin tablet (62.5 mg dose) crushed up onto a small cube of tomato and feed it directly to her. She happily ate it, and then approximately two hours later... as if almost a miracle, she got up and started behaving almost totally normally. She was walking around much stronger, she was interacting with the other ducks... even getting up to walk around without being coaxed into it to stretch her wings!

Today, we've continued the same treatment this morning and will do it at night. I'm hoping that she just needed a bolus of the medication to get her straightened out. The only assumption I can come to is that those GNC tablets were not dissolving correctly in the water, however, they are effective if you administer them in crushed up form directly to the duckling using some type of treat to facilitate the consumption of the medication. The amazing thing was the speed at which she showed improvement; definitely less than 3 hours after consuming the Niacin.

Will continue to update.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quick update to those who are following; last night, she seemed extremely weak. I was starting to get concerned that we were dealing with some other issue or she was just going to be that way due to a congenital issue. We were following all the books and guides for treatment... mixing the Niacin in the water at a ratio of two (2) gallons to a single crushed 250 mg tablet from GNC. We checked her feet and legs again, and she just appeared so so weak I was afraid she was going to pass away

In an act of desperation, I decided to put a quarter of the 250 mg GNC Niacin tablet (62.5 mg dose) crushed up onto a small cube of tomato and feed it directly to her. She happily ate it, and then approximately two hours later... as if almost a miracle, she got up and started behaving almost totally normally. She was walking around much stronger, she was interacting with the other ducks... even getting up to walk around without being coaxed into it to stretch her wings!

Today, we've continued the same treatment this morning and will do it at night. I'm hoping that she just needed a bolus of the medication to get her straightened out. The only assumption I can come to is that those GNC tablets were not dissolving correctly in the water, however, they are effective if you administer them in crushed up form directly to the duckling using some type of treat to facilitate the consumption of the medication. The amazing thing was the speed at which she showed improvement; definitely less than 3 hours after consuming the Niacin.

Will continue to update.

Great news!!!