What the heck is wrong with my Pekin?

[EvaluationUnit]

To make a long story short, we grabbed two ducklings in April, one of which has been nothing but sickly. We rehabbed him from niacin deficiency, to limber neck, and have been treating him with multiple antibiotics after visiting a vet multiple times for an eye/upper respiratory infection that we think he got from sleeping with his face in his own feces (when he had the limber neck). The upper respiratory infection seems somewhat under control, though not resolved entirely. We have done oral antibiotics (clavacillin), eye drops (both gentramicin and another kind), and back to clavacillin again, with the most success being on the clavacillin. He has had a culture done prior to being prescribed eye drops.

Now, he managed to do something with his leg. There's no physical damage I can see on his leg, but he doesn't want to use it, not even in the pool, he just lets it trail behind him. We went to the vet who took an xray and said the ankle area looked swollen, gave us the second round of clavacillin as well as a pain med/anti-inflammatory. When he was on the pain meds he would at least stand, and he will at least stand on it now (though he uses his beak as a third leg to get up), but he doesn't walk or swim with it. He can move it. He doesn't flap it when I pick him up like he flaps his other foot. I've called the vet again to see what our next steps might be, and she's out at least until September! Can anyone give me any ideas or thoughts? He's eating and drinking fine (when placed in front of it, of course), and I put him in the pool so he can get to food and water easier when he needs to, but with fall coming, I'm not sure how well this will work out for him in colder weather.

Edit: photo attached. The foot closest in the photo is the problematic foot. Though I did notice the scratch/mark on the other one, probably from bumbling around with one foot for a week or two. I wanted to get a shot of the bottom too but of course he stepped in poo as soon as I tried, so I'll probably be able to add that later. I'm thinking the problem is more leg/ankle than foot anyway. He's only on the hard surface for sake of photo.

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

@Miss Lydia @Isaac 0 pls !

 

[Miss Lydia]

Do you have him on any b complex? Not saying it’s nutritional but heavy breeds need the extra supplement for leg strength. Is this ankle swollen compared to the other one?

 

[EvaluationUnit]

Do you have him on any b complex? Not saying it’s nutritional but heavy breeds need the extra supplement for leg strength. Is this ankle swollen compared to the other one?

We were giving him poly-vi-sol when he was younger, but stopped when we thought it was no longer necessary (walking around fine, head/neck fine), and have only been giving him brewer's yeast along with his crumble. Sometimes he gets weeds/greens from around the yard. We have not fed him anything specifically b complex. The other Pekin, on the same diet, comparatively is totally fine. If it won't hurt him to feed him it, I will pick him up some.

Visibly, it does not appear larger than the other to me. His feet and bill have also been historically warm to the touch which makes me think infection. He also tends to pant a lot more than my other ducks, which also makes me think infection, but the poor guy has already had 4 rounds of antibiotics at this point so I'm not sure if there's different antibiotics that he needs, or if there's something else going on.

Worth noting that he has been quarantined in his own pen since he was maybe a month old, so it's not likely another duck messed with him.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sure wouldn't hurt to try the liquid b complex TSC carries an excellent one if he is eating good put 1 ml over a tasty treat that way he gets whole dose and it isn't watered down with putting it in drinking water. Also I'd start him on some probiotics since he has been on antibiotics so much get some good gut bacteria back in him. This Liquid b complex will say injectable but just pull off the foil and use a syringe or dropper to pull out 1 ml . It maybe an infection but goodness with the antibiotic you'd sure think it would have taken care of it. Sure can't hurt to try the liquid B complex. Also check out Oxine ah it is great for respiratory issues.

 

[EvaluationUnit]

I'll give the liquid b complex a try and see if we can grab some probiotics for his water as well.

I looked into Oxine AH, but it seems more like a disinfectant for their coops/runs/etc rather than something you'd administer on them like Banixx. Can you tell me more about how you would work with Oxine AH?

 

[Miss Lydia]

https://www.shagbarkbantams.com/the-many-uses-of-oxine-ah-animal-health/

 

[EvaluationUnit]

I suggested Oxine AH to my vet, who is going to look into it. She also suggested liquid B complex (actually suggested poly-vi-sol, which I have on hand already). We are likely going to continue antibiotics since they seem to be working for him, but I'm thinking a round of probiotics might be helpful for him.

I'm wondering if he's just gotten so heavy that his leg can't adequately hold him. I'm giving him plenty of pool time and he's solo so he doesn't get picked on or trampled.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Does your vet think he’s over weight? If so maybe losing a couple pounds may help. If you have a way to weigh him I’d keep track of his weight every couple days.

 

[EvaluationUnit]

She did not specifically mention that he looked or seemed overweight, though one of the vets did note that he was "steadily gaining weight". He is only 4 months old, after all, so they've been seeing him since he was smaller. Unfortunately I don't have a scale I could weigh him or even myself on. Is this a common problem with Pekins?