Wobbling Pekin

[elr262]

Hi all!

I had a runt pekin.. we got 3 at the same time, and the runt is just now taking off.
Yesterday i noticed he was having some balance issues.. and not walking well. It looks to me like he’s pigeon toed… I’ve read so many threads on here about the vitamin B.
So today, I ran to the store to get the bottle pictured. Cut up 2 strawberries, and put the VB on top and swirled it around. He ate every single bite!

I read about wry neck too, but I just don’t think that’s the case. He definitely does a lot of time laying down.. even while foraging.
Today, he got knocked over by a khaki campbell and stuck on his back, couldn’t get up, and i had to flip him over. It’s hard to watch.

Is there more that I need to be doing? Is he going to make a full recovery? We’re new to the duck life… And he just has me so worried.

Pictures attached and thank you in advance!!!

 

[KathiQuacks]

He’s got some bowed legs from a niacin (vit b3) deficiency, yes. It’s more common in Pekins & other large breeds. The lying down and getting stuck upside down is likely related. The vit b complex is great for treating leg, balance, and even motor issues, good you’ve started it. Keep it up, 1 ml per day. I think I’ve read it may take a week until you see improvement?

I’d think some swim time might help too, allowing him to get around & exercise without putting pressure on his legs.

 

[ruthhope]

I've had two jumbo pekin ducklings with acute serious niacin deficiency this spring. I give each 1ml Durvet high level Vit B compound orally daily to treat their symptoms and continue until they are fully feathered even if the symptoms resolve. My ducklings doubled in size in 5 days in their 3rd week of life from the time when I started the Durvet. They both developed spraggle leg. The slightly smaller one responded to 3 days in a figure of 8 hobble bandage. The slightly larger one didn't respond to 5 days. I started intensive swim therapy -- building up to 30 minute sessions 3 or 4 times each day. They both move normally in water. But the slightly larger one still has a bowed tibia leg bones and cannot walk normally. Your duckling is developing a bowed tibia on one side. Keep going with the Durvet -- make sure it ingests the dose every day [ I gave 1ml twice a day as there was inevitably some that didn't get eaten. I now give it in their water that they drink first thing in the morning before they have their first swim. 5 mls in half a gallon of water, transferred in 2 cupsful amounts into a small plastic food container with two holes cut in the lid. I find that there is less wasted water when they drink from the little food container. After they have had their morning 2 cupsful from the container, they have swim, preen, and rest, swim, preen and rest. They have free access to a big tub of plain water between swim sessions. By late afternoon, they get two more cupsful of Durvet infused water in their food container so that most of it is drunk and not splashed around. Sadly, the one that was slightly bigger is never going to walk normally but it can get around on the soft pine shaving litter in the duck house and on grass. I am going to have to ensure it gets good long swim sessions throughout its life as it can be "normal" in the water.

I think you should continue Durvet at least until your duckling is fully feathered 7-8 weeks. I advise that you look up spraggle leg and consider putting a figure of 8 bandage round your ducklings legs [using Vetwrap or similar] as yours still has a good bit of growing to come, you may be able to rectify your ducklings bowed leg by figure of 8 bandaging and lots of swimming.

 

[elr262]

He’s got some bowed legs from a niacin (vit b3) deficiency, yes. It’s more common in Pekins & other large breeds. The lying down and getting stuck upside down is likely related. The vit b complex is great for treating leg, balance, and even motor issues, good you’ve started it. Keep it up, 1 ml per day. I think I’ve read it may take a week until you see improvement?

I’d think some swim time might help too, allowing him to get around & exercise without putting pressure on his legs.

Thank you for the info! We’re on day 5 of 1ml of vitamin B, plus i put 5ml in their gallon of water. Wobbles, as we’ve named him (he got his drake curl today!) has improved so much. Still wobbles a little.. but hasn’t been falling near as much, and has been keeping up with the others! I’m going to keep this up and hope the improvement continues!
Thanks again!!