When to let go?

[AmourIsAGoose]

My nieces duckling, who I am raising, is about a 6 week old mallard. She has what looks to be a spinal curve, as well as she has what I believe to be niacin deficiency.

She walks pigeon-toed, but her left foot curves/is tilted, and her toe, closest to the outside, rests on top of her right foot. She also must be in pain, as she'd rather sit/stand on her hocks, which are already red, and irritated. When she walks, she tries to.. jump? to her right foot again, instead of walking with both feet.

She's been like this for about a week, and I tried to give her "Health Multiplier: Brewers Yeast" for the niacin, and for other helpful vitamins, but it doesnt seem to be working. Instead, ti seems to have gotten worse.
She's very sweet and trusting, but so tired, clearly. Her sister, and the outdoor ducks she's met, show nothing similar.
She eats duck food from TSC, treats like strawberries, and drinks water with the Health Multipler: Brewers Yeast in it. ( 1/6th of it in a gallon).
Her poop is very runny. Like water.
* I'd like to get this done myself. There are no vets willing to see a duck here.

She lives inside, and only seemed to start having leg issues about 2-3 weeks ago.
She's on a mix of pine pellets, and pine shavings.

Is this a "know when to let go", or a "she'll always be like this"?
Could this even be a "you're doing it wrong"?
Please let me know. My niece will be devastated if her "Banana Wanna" dies.

 

[Debbie292d]

Have you tried Vit E? A whole one per day for about a week to see if that helps the legs. Follow it up with some scrambled eggs for the selenium that helps the E absorb. I'd also try 1/4 of a Vit B-complex per day too. (both of these are the human versions you can pick up at most stores). If it shows any improvement, keep going another week, or more if needed.

Some probiotics might help her digestion/diarrhea.

I sure hope she shows some improvement!

 

[AmourIsAGoose]

Have you tried Vit E? A whole one per day for about a week to see if that helps the legs. Follow it up with some scrambled eggs for the selenium that helps the E absorb. I'd also try 1/4 of a Vit B-complex per day too. (both of these are the human versions you can pick up at most stores). If it shows any improvement, keep going another week, or more if needed.

Some probiotics might help her digestion/diarrhea.

I sure hope she shows some improvement!

Could you find anything like that on TSC website?
I'm very confused on how to help her, I'm not very good with products and numbers!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My nieces duckling, who I am raising, is about a 6 week old mallard. She has what looks to be a spinal curve, as well as she has what I believe to be niacin deficiency.

She walks pigeon-toed, but her left foot curves/is tilted, and her toe, closest to the outside, rests on top of her right foot. She also must be in pain, as she'd rather sit/stand on her hocks, which are already red, and irritated. When she walks, she tries to.. jump? to her right foot again, instead of walking with both feet.

She's been like this for about a week, and I tried to give her "Health Multiplier: Brewers Yeast" for the niacin, and for other helpful vitamins, but it doesnt seem to be working. Instead, ti seems to have gotten worse.
She's very sweet and trusting, but so tired, clearly. Her sister, and the outdoor ducks she's met, show nothing similar.
She eats duck food from TSC, treats like strawberries, and drinks water with the Health Multipler: Brewers Yeast in it. ( 1/6th of it in a gallon).
Her poop is very runny. Like water.
* I'd like to get this done myself. There are no vets willing to see a duck here.

She lives inside, and only seemed to start having leg issues about 2-3 weeks ago.
She's on a mix of pine pellets, and pine shavings.

Is this a "know when to let go", or a "she'll always be like this"?
Could this even be a "you're doing it wrong"?
Please let me know. My niece will be devastated if her "Banana Wanna" dies.

@Miss Lydia @ruthhope

I don't know much about Ducks, but if she were a chicken, I'd say she may have a leg bone deformity. Hard to tell.

I'd be sure she's getting Niacin which seems to be a problem in Ducks. You're giving brewer's yeast, but re-check to make sure you're giving enough. Here's an article that may be helpful for that. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.75862/

 

[Altairsky]

Could you find anything like that on TSC website?
I'm very confused on how to help her, I'm not very good with products and numbers!

They are vitamins for humans, you can find them in any store that sells medicines for humans.

 

[Miss Lydia]

You need to go to TSC and get this When one has a niacin deficiency already this is the best for helping them recover So get this asap start her on 1ml daily not in her water but over a tasty treat like mealworms you want to make sure she gets the whole dose and you can put some into her water but it will be diluted so the main dose needs to be orally over a small treat. Watermelon will work too but something she loves. It says injectable but we don't use it that way we use it orally. keep giving it to her daily until she walks well and for a week after to ensure she is going in the right direction. Many times we can have ducklings and all but one will do great for some reason there may be one that no matter how good the feed is and even putting Nutritional yeast or brewers yeast on it still will come down with a niacin deficiency but the liquid B Complex is the best for helping them get over it. If it is genetic the B complex may still help. I hope it is a deficiency and you see great improvement. Please keep in touch with her updates.PS you'll need a 1ml syringe to draw out the liquid some use a needle but it isn't necessary once you get the rubber stopper out.

 

[AmourIsAGoose]

My nieces duckling, who I am raising, is about a 6 week old mallard. She has what looks to be a spinal curve, as well as she has what I believe to be niacin deficiency.

She walks pigeon-toed, but her left foot curves/is tilted, and her toe, closest to the outside, rests on top of her right foot. She also must be in pain, as she'd rather sit/stand on her hocks, which are already red, and irritated. When she walks, she tries to.. jump? to her right foot again, instead of walking with both feet.

She's been like this for about a week, and I tried to give her "Health Multiplier: Brewers Yeast" for the niacin, and for other helpful vitamins, but it doesnt seem to be working. Instead, ti seems to have gotten worse.
She's very sweet and trusting, but so tired, clearly. Her sister, and the outdoor ducks she's met, show nothing similar.
She eats duck food from TSC, treats like strawberries, and drinks water with the Health Multipler: Brewers Yeast in it. ( 1/6th of it in a gallon).
Her poop is very runny. Like water.
* I'd like to get this done myself. There are no vets willing to see a duck here.

She lives inside, and only seemed to start having leg issues about 2-3 weeks ago.
She's on a mix of pine pellets, and pine shavings.

Is this a "know when to let go", or a "she'll always be like this"?
Could this even be a "you're doing it wrong"?
Please let me know. My niece will be devastated if her "Banana Wanna" dies.

I figured I'd update this.
Banana seemed to be in far too much pain, she was euthanized around 7:30pm, August 30th.
* She was buried on the property, under a tree.

 

[Loving my girls]

I figured I'd update this.
Banana seemed to be in far too much pain, she was euthanized around 7:30pm, August 30th.
* She was buried on the property, under a tree.

Bless you for managing to do the right thing, it’s so hard I know but be comforted in the knowledge that she is no longer in pain

 

[BelovedBirds]

My nieces duckling, who I am raising, is about a 6 week old mallard. She has what looks to be a spinal curve, as well as she has what I believe to be niacin deficiency.

She walks pigeon-toed, but her left foot curves/is tilted, and her toe, closest to the outside, rests on top of her right foot. She also must be in pain, as she'd rather sit/stand on her hocks, which are already red, and irritated. When she walks, she tries to.. jump? to her right foot again, instead of walking with both feet.

She's been like this for about a week, and I tried to give her "Health Multiplier: Brewers Yeast" for the niacin, and for other helpful vitamins, but it doesnt seem to be working. Instead, ti seems to have gotten worse.
She's very sweet and trusting, but so tired, clearly. Her sister, and the outdoor ducks she's met, show nothing similar.
She eats duck food from TSC, treats like strawberries, and drinks water with the Health Multipler: Brewers Yeast in it. ( 1/6th of it in a gallon).
Her poop is very runny. Like water.
* I'd like to get this done myself. There are no vets willing to see a duck here.

She lives inside, and only seemed to start having leg issues about 2-3 weeks ago.
She's on a mix of pine pellets, and pine shavings.

Is this a "know when to let go", or a "she'll always be like this"?
Could this even be a "you're doing it wrong"?
Please let me know. My niece will be devastated if her "Banana Wanna" dies.

I'm sorry I didn't see this sooner.
My girl had a pretty severe niacin deficiency when she was a similar age. She was unable to walk or swim properly.

I remember not long after I'd noticed, I spent extra time with her, holding her, and she was so tired she was lying on my lap, neck and head stretched out, just lying there while I stroked her. Not only a few weeks prior I had named her Sprightly, due to how much energy and love for life she had.

I was so afraid she would die, or have irreversible deformities.
I couldn't even access the life saving B complex from tsc, so I had to find niacin capsules online and add them to her water.

Her legs went from bowed to straight, and her pigeon toed feet turned straight, and over time she healed fully and gained her energy back. It took a few weeks, I kept her on niacin until she was about fully grown. But she'll be 3 years old in December and she has strong legs, you'd never know she ever suffered.

I don't say all this to make you question whether you made the right decision, as sometimes they are too far gone for help, especially if they stop eating and drinking. But if it ever happens again I'd encourage you to persevere with them, the pain is temporary, and you'd be surprised how quick something so severe can turn around.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I figured I'd update this.
Banana seemed to be in far too much pain, she was euthanized around 7:30pm, August 30th.
* She was buried on the property, under a tree.

I am so sorry, we all know the heartache in making that decision, but you made the right one.