Duck Having Trouble Walking?

[Dunkin Ducks]

My duck is suddenly having issues walking. We made an appointment at the avian vet a couple of weeks ago because she was making a weird sound from her stomach, kind of like crackling. The vet would not give medical advice over the phone and the earliest appointment we could get is still a couple of weeks away but the problem has gotten worse very quickly. She seems uncomfortable with me touching her vent as if it is painful to the touch. She is eating, drinking, pooping, and laying eggs like normal. Just minutes after this happened, she’s walking around perfectly fine.

A little background info: she is a white call duck and she weighs 1 pound, 13 ounces (up 2 ounces since August). She is fed Mazuri Waterfowl maintenance diet. She lays 1 egg every day, and it is perfectly normal.

Tonight was the first time I saw her not be able to walk correctly which is a huge concern for me. As a duckling, she had seizures (caused by niacin deficiency) but this looks different so I don’t think it’s that but I could be wrong. Our emergency vets do not see ducks, and the avian vet appointment is still a couple of weeks out. Do you advise traveling into NYC to see an emergency exotic vet- or can this wait until our appointment with the usual avian vet?

Here is a link to a video showing what is happening:

Thank you so much in advance.

 

[KaleIAm]

Are you an established client at your local vet? They might be able to tell you if this is an emergency and if you should go in now or wait.

Can you separate her from the ducks that are chasing her?

 

[Dunkin Ducks]

Are you an established client at your local vet? They might be able to tell you if this is an emergency and if you should go in now or wait.

Can you separate her from the ducks that are chasing her?

She is an established client, but they are by appointment only and since their policy is "do not give medical advice over the phone", they wouldn't even let me explain what was happening until the appointment. I'm not happy with that response, but they're the only avian vet in the area. I might just have to call the vets in NYC when they open in the morning

I have her inside for the night. Those are my only two males, they typically chase the girls the first few minutes after they are let out of the pen which is what was happening here ( I just want to reassure you I don't think she is over mated)

 

[fatty and friends]

i already said something about it in the group chat, but did you

She is an established client, but they are by appointment only and since their policy is "do not give medical advice over the phone", they wouldn't even let me explain what was happening until the appointment. I'm not happy with that response, but they're the only avian vet in the area. I might just have to call the vets in NYC when they open in the morning

I have her inside for the night. Those are my only two males, they typically chase the girls the first few minutes after they are let out of the pen which is what was happening here ( I just want to reassure you I don't think she is over mated)

i already talked to you in the instagram group chat, but will the NYC vet let you do an over the phone appointment tonight until you can get her in tomorrow? maybe that way you can have more of an idea what’s going on

 

[KaleIAm]

She is an established client, but they are by appointment only and since their policy is "do not give medical advice over the phone", they wouldn't even let me explain what was happening until the appointment. I'm not happy with that response, but they're the only avian vet in the area. I might just have to call the vets in NYC when they open in the morning

I have her inside for the night. Those are my only two males, they typically chase the girls the first few minutes after they are let out of the pen which is what was happening here ( I just want to reassure you I don't think she is over mated)

I feel like, "you should go to the emergency vet." Isn't necessarily medical advice. But I understand, I don't love everything about my avian vet either, but I need them so I tolerate it and thank them.

If she were my duck and it hadn't stopped I would take her in to the emergency. If it comes back I would take her in. I'm assuming she's a pet?

 

[Dunkin Ducks]

i already said something about it in the group chat, but did you

i already talked to you in the instagram group chat, but will the NYC vet let you do an over the phone appointment tonight until you can get her in tomorrow? maybe that way you can have more of an idea what’s going on

They aren't open until 9am tomorrow morning, but I will call first thing

 

[Dunkin Ducks]

I feel like, "you should go to the emergency vet." Isn't necessarily medical advice. But I understand, I don't love everything about my avian vet either, but I need them so I tolerate it and thank them.

If she were my duck and it hadn't stopped I would take her in to the emergency. If it comes back I would take her in. I'm assuming she's a pet?

Yes I think taking her to the emergency vet will be my best option. She is acting perfectly fine now, but I would like to know what's going on. She is a pet, as well as a "pet social media creator" which is my job, so I am pretty much willing to do anything to make sure she is okay

 

[KaleIAm]

Yes I think taking her to the emergency vet will be my best option. She is acting perfectly fine now, but I would like to know what's going on. She is a pet, as well as a "pet social media creator" which is my job, so I am pretty much willing to do anything to make sure she is okay

I hope it isn't too far away and that they can find out what the problem is quickly.

Let us know how she does.

 

[Dunkin Ducks]

I hope it isn't too far away and that they can find out what the problem is quickly.

Let us know how she does.

I called the emergency vet and they were able to do a virtual appointment since we are so far away! She said it most likely was an egg moving through the system that just pinched a nerve and made it painful for her to walk for a few minutes before it cleared up. If it happens again, I can take her in for X-rays but they do not think its necessary at this point since she is acting normal otherwise and her poop is fine.

 

[KaleIAm]

I called the emergency vet and they were able to do a virtual appointment since we are so far away! She said it most likely was an egg moving through the system that just pinched a nerve and made it painful for her to walk for a few minutes before it cleared up. If it happens again, I can take her in for X-rays but they do not think its necessary at this point since she is acting normal otherwise and her poop is fine.

Thank you for the update! I'm so happy she is ok!