Wood duckling won't walk on one leg?

[jlesz]

Hi all,

I want to preface this by saying that I work for a licensed wildlife rehabilitation clinic. We have been raising a wood duckling (at least we think she is a wood duck) for about a month now. We believe she is around 5 weeks old. We started out feeding her a non-medicated chick starter, dried mealworms, and veggies. She started to develop a limp on her left leg a few weeks ago, which is when we learned about niacin deficiencies and began to supplement brewers yeast into the chick starter. She hadn't improved at all, so a few days ago we switched to adding a very small amount of a niacin capsule to her water. She still has not improved and will not put any weight on her left leg. We try to exercise the leg as much as possible by letting her graze outside and swim in her pool. She can swim in the pool great, just can't walk around without limping and stumbling. I'm running out of ideas on how to help this poor girl, and was hoping someone here could help! I've attached a picture of her resting with her leg out for reference. Thank you!

 

[Isaac 0]

Can you post a video of her walking on the leg? Upload your video to Youtube or Vimeo and then copy/paste the link here. Some more info would be helpful, does the leg feel hot, have you check the bottom of her foot, any swelling, around the hocks and can she put any weight on the leg? Could you post a picture of the niacin capsules you are using, and how much are you giving her? Is she eating/drinking?

 

[jlesz]

Can you post a video of her walking on the leg? Upload your video to Youtube or Vimeo and then copy/paste the link here. Some more info would be helpful, does the leg feel hot, have you check the bottom of her foot, any swelling, around the hocks and can she put any weight on the leg? Could you post a picture of the niacin capsules you are using, and how much are you giving her? Is she eating/drinking?

I will try to get a video up tomorrow! The leg is warm, but not any warmer than the other leg. I haven't seen any swelling on the foot/leg. She very rarely puts weight on it. She can occasionally limp on it, but for the most part she avoids putting any weight on it. We have 500mg Niacin capsules that we have been breaking apart and putting a pinch in her water. She is eating and drinking perfectly fine!

 

[Isaac 0]

Ok, I'll look at the video tomorrow then.

 

[TomCahalan]

A pinch is not enough, not even for a healthy duck. Ducks need a huge amount a niacin, and your duck is already severely deficient. Ducks and humans need about the same amount of niacin per day. That's not per pound, that's per individual. Get some niacin in liquid form (such as B vitamin complex) and put it directly into his mouth.

 

[Isaac 0]

I didn't see that the are only putting a pinch in the water. I'd like to watch a video before we make a definite diagnosis, Wild ducks don't get B3 deficient often and her symptoms aren't matching up either.

 

[jlesz]

Hi everyone, thank you for your help! This is all new to me so any advice is greatly appreciated. I truly want the best for this little duck. I took a video of her walking this morning and attached it below. Let me know what you think.

 

[Isaac 0]

That doesn't look like a B3 deficiency to me at all, I would say she either broke her foot/toe or its severy sprained. Do you have a vet near you?

 

[jlesz]

Hmmm interesting. Any idea how something like that would have happened? We have had her since she was a few days old, and she was walking fine up until a few weeks ago. Yes, we do have a vet in the area. Will try to set up an appointment

 

[Isaac 0]

Hmmm interesting. Any idea how something like that would have happened? We have had her since she was a few days old, and she was walking fine up until a few weeks ago. Yes, we do have a vet in the area. Will try to set up an appointment

Don't wood ducks jump out of trees when young, it's possible she broke/sprained her leg then.