PLEASE HELP!! (Video) Dizzy, unbalanced, "drunk" duck. WHAT'S WRONG??

[jz]

My 1.5yr old muscovy drake was fine this morning. Now he is unable to maintain his balance and his head and body are wobbling back and forth nonstop. He is slow, can barely walk, and won't drink. He is pooping normal. He is inside with me now.
My local vet is off today (what luck), and I'm scared a vet wouldn't know what was wrong anyway

SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP. I LOVE THIS DUCK SO MUCH!!!


Here are two videos of the problem:

Thank you for any help/advice you can give! I will be reading similar threads and calling vets offices in the meantime.
Julie

 

[hiddenflock]

Maybe he has a hurt wing or leg. Have you examined him for injuries, or maybe something stuck in his foot?

 

[jz]

Hi hiddenflock,

Thank you for your reply! I checked him over but the way he is acting makes me think it is internal and systemic, like a toxin or a disease :/

I hope someone has some ideas. I just got off the phone with a vet that wanted $700 just to look at him! Outrageous!

Also, the duck is not opening his mouth, I think that is a symptom.

 

[mommasachs]

I don't know what wrong but HUGS! I hope he feels better soon.... poor baby. I know you are worried... I hope you find your answers.

 

[Aeropennchick]

Your duck is acting as if he has had a seizure. The post-seizure phase (called the postictal phase) causes neurologic deficits like loss of balance, lethargy, and loss of vision.

If that is in fact what happened, your duck should start to act normal again soon. If that happens, keep him in the house and monitor him to see if he has any more. Also look for things he may have eaten that could have caused it - lots of toxins can cause a seizure.

If it turns out to be seizures and you can't find a toxin, it may be a neurologic disorder that is causing it and there may be nothing you can do. My dog has them, and acts just like your duck afterward. Her only treatment is a pill I give her when she has one to prevent her from having any more. Her seizures are "focal," she just stares and nods her head for a few minutes, not a whole body fit like you might think.

My vet told me that as long as they aren't happening very frequently, there shouldn't be any real problem. I was scared to death but at this point she's only having one every other month or so, and is certainly otherwise in good health.

 

[jz]

Thank you everyone so much for your help!!!

My boyfriend reported that he started improving while I was at the fish store getting charcoal. I crushed up the charcoal and a little epson salt and put it inside some cherry tomatoes anyway just in case - thank god he ate them or I would have had to force feed or tube feed him. He is drinking well and is 95% back to normal, just walking slower than usual. I suspect it was botulism or some kind of toxin- I found an old plastic bowl filled with some nasty water with traces of duck food. They must have been drinking from it while they had food in their mouth. It was foul. I will be much more careful to check their enclosure next time. I feel so lucky! I will also keep an eye out for seizures, I didn't even know ducks could have seizures!

This forum is such a blessing to people who love their birds. All of the vets offices were incredibly unsympathetic and didn't take me seriously at all (although one bird rehab center was very kind). They just don't understand how a duck can be as loved as a dog or cat. You guys are truly a comfort when no one else will help.

Thank you again everyone! Hopefully this will be the end of this problem.
Julie

 

[Aeropennchick]

Yay! I am so happy you found the source! Hopefully this is all over for your little guy. He's lucky to have such a great mom!

 

[jz]

Thanks I just posted some videos of him in another thread for fun:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/652410/funny-videos-of-mcintosh-the-duck