Pekin Duck Drake Leg Deformed...Why?

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whiteybird

whiteybird

Songster
Feb 16, 2013
136
10
124
Sarasota, FL
Hi All,

I've been away from my FL home in MA at my parents house since late June, and apparently over the summer my drake began to have serious issues moving around. We bought him at TSC in early April with 2 others - one got sick and died within a week, the other is healthy as an ox (so it seems). He always tended to be not so good on his feet, but for a long time I attributed that to being klutzy instead of an actual issue since he seemed to be healthy in every other sense. When they got older he walked around ok but if you chased him and the other duck she would run fine but he would often trip over himself.

So, after almost four months away, we come back and poor Will isn't putting any weight on his left foot at all, using his wings to help limp around, and as such has raw skin and scabs on his wings where it hit the ground. I thought he may have a small bumble in the left foot, but after a long pool swim the spot was gone. After a lot of peeking around a wet and not super happy duck I realized his left knee is deformed which makes his foot twist in towards his right so the outside hits the ground instead of the bottom of his toes. I can feel a bone on the inside of his left knee which shouldnt be there. His left knee is clearly larger and differently aligned than his right.

So my first guess was a niacin deficiency - but why would that happen to only one leg and not both? There is no evidence of a bumble, so although I don't have any experience with that I feel confident enough to rule that out. My third guess would be an incorrectly healed bone...which seems the most likely.

Is there a way to ameliorate this? Or is he doomed for? He seemed to tremble in his bath, which I wonder is from pain...I hate the thought of that. I haven't tried an epsom compress yet, but what good will that do for this situation?

ANY comments or thoughts would be appreciated!

thanks

sarah



beow pic is taken with him on his back in my arms (underside of knee)









 
He needs a vet, and some TLC. Epsom salt compresses may actually help just a little bit regarding inflammation and pain.

It looks like a few things could have happened. He could have had a B vitamin - niacin - deficiency early on. But supplements really help while ducklings are growing. He could have had -and still may have - an infection in the leg, and that can cause troubles, including, perhaps a form of arthritis. There could have been an injury as well.

I would want to talk to someone who is creative and compassionate - there may be some kind of bracing, with some anti-inflammatory and perhaps antibiotic treatment for him. I don't easily give up on ducks, and with the latest progress in prosthetics for waterfowl, I feel there are more options than ever before.
 
Amiga said:
He needs a vet, and some TLC. Epsom salt compresses may actually help just a little bit regarding inflammation and pain.

It looks like a few things could have happened. He could have had a B vitamin - niacin - deficiency early on. But supplements really help while ducklings are growing. He could have had -and still may have - an infection in the leg, and that can cause troubles, including, perhaps a form of arthritis. There could have been an injury as well.

I would want to talk to someone who is creative and compassionate - there may be some kind of bracing, with some anti-inflammatory and perhaps antibiotic treatment for him. I don't easily give up on ducks, and with the latest progress in prosthetics for waterfowl, I feel there are more options than ever before.
Click to expand...

X2 I sure would try a Super B complex vitamin with him this will cover it all. He maybe in pain and the Epsom salt compresses or soaks may help bring down the swelling sure worth a try. Was there someone caring for your ducks and they never told you the drake was having a problem? Also we should never chase ducks they are not built for running with someone chasing them. Their legs are meant more for swimming. If you have a good relationship with your vet you might get a prescription for Metacam which is an inflammatory and pain reliever. And if you can a Vet visit.
 
Vet isnt much of an option right now unless as a very last resort. My bf's mother was taking care of our house/chickens/ducks/cat/frog but she works 8-6+ mon-fri so there was little she could do. She told us about him but there wasnt really anything I could do long distance either, and he only had major trouble getting around as of the last week, maybe two.

When I say chase I mean walking after them...theyre skittish so they dont want to come to me on their own. I never ran after them...poor choice of words.

I do feel that if there was a way to splint his leg or something so that his weight wasnt so much on that joint and the side of his foot that it would help him get around...I did a quick google image search for 'duck broken leg' and saw some very creative apparati that looked helpful.

Nothing about him felt hot, his leg, foot, or otherwise, so i don't think an infection is running rampant. I do have Duramycin 10 if you think I should medicate him, and I do have epsom that I can use for a leg compress.

What should I do about his wings? Obviously finding a way for him to move around without using his wings is the first step, but after that, should I just clean the area and put neosporin on it to help it heal? Or should I look into wing wrapping?
 
whiteybird said:
Vet isnt much of an option right now unless as a very last resort. My bf's mother was taking care of our house/chickens/ducks/cat/frog but she works 8-6+ mon-fri so there was little she could do. She told us about him but there wasnt really anything I could do long distance either, and he only had major trouble getting around as of the last week, maybe two.

When I say chase I mean walking after them...theyre skittish so they dont want to come to me on their own. I never ran after them...poor choice of words.

I do feel that if there was a way to splint his leg or something so that his weight wasnt so much on that joint and the side of his foot that it would help him get around...I did a quick google image search for 'duck broken leg' and saw some very creative apparati that looked helpful.

Nothing about him felt hot, his leg, foot, or otherwise, so i don't think an infection is running rampant. I do have Duramycin 10 if you think I should medicate him, and I do have epsom that I can use for a leg compress.

What should I do about his wings? Obviously finding a way for him to move around without using his wings is the first step, but after that, should I just clean the area and put neosporin on it to help it heal? Or should I look into wing wrapping?
Click to expand...
Yes wash his wings real good with the Epsom salt water then after they are dry put some neo on them just make sure whatever you use doesn't have pain relief in it. Vet wrap is a good tool to have but you have to be careful when wrapping not to get it too tight. TSC has it on sale at times,also if you can figure out a way the flexiable stuff that goes around water pipes to keep them from freezing may work it's soft but you'd dif have to use vet wrap around it to keep him from nibbling on the foam. If no heat maybe hold off on oral antibiotics and see if rest, water therapy and Epsom salt Compresses help. FYI Epsom salt is also a laxative so don't let him drink the water. Also a good poultry vitamin in his water will help boost his immune system. If you can get a Super B complex vitamin then open it and add to his drinking water and not use a poultry vit just yet. It's amazing how well they can over come injuries and health problems if given the chance, but we all have to know when it's time to stop trying to, that's when it's up to us since we are the ones living with them. Keep us updated please.
 
Ok thanks for the info! What is the best way to wrap the wings? Is there really only one 'good' way to do it, and should I assume it's how you wrap for angel wing? I found a great post with pictures on that.

On vitamins, I do have water soluble poultry vitamin powder, but not specific B complex. Can I buy human B vitmains and mix into the water or do I have to buy poultry specific B?
 
whiteybird said:
Ok thanks for the info! What is the best way to wrap the wings? Is there really only one 'good' way to do it, and should I assume it's how you wrap for angel wing? I found a great post with pictures on that.

On vitamins, I do have water soluble poultry vitamin powder, but not specific B complex. Can I buy human B vitmains and mix into the water or do I have to buy poultry specific B?
Click to expand...
Human super B complex and I'd wrap with vet wrap just the wing though it will help cushion where he is putting it down on the ground too. in the mean time go with the vits you have so he's getting some into his system. A friend who has used the super B says it works alot better than just singling out one B vitamin.
 
Ok I bought Vit B complex at Walmart yesterday - I didn't get the super complex because I thought the regular complex was a capsule...its not. Oh well. I crushed it up and put in their water, will have to do for several days or weeks before I expect to see any change in the ducks, if there will be any.

I sat him in a fish bucket for at least 10, maybe even 20 minutes in warm epsom salt water, dried him off, and wrapped vet wrap around his leg. Don't think it was too tight, but I'll check periodically. Hopefully it sticks!

I haven't done anything with the marks on his wings yet. I think I can cover with neo and use wrap on his wing, but I'm still trying to visualize how that'll work.




So...my bf pointed out a dark spot on Kate's back, I think just above her oil gland. The skin is a little raw and it's clearly been damaged in some way but it doesn't look terrible...not deep. I don't think it's terribly old but I'm also not an expert on wounds. When I checked Will I found a ~5" long gash of the same quality along Will's right side, running from his lower right back around his tail towards his lower belly. I'm guessing this is why he's been shivering.




Does this look like anything familiar? There are a lot of small duck feathers around the ducks' run and just outside the door but I assumed they'd fallen out naturally and had been spewn out the door by the chickens, who like to toss the pine in there. I still think the wounds and the knee issue are unrelated...I remember Will walking slightly pidgeon toed since birth so I'm guessing he was either born that way or he didn't get enough niacin (which still doesn't make sense, bc I would think it would affect both legs, not one).

I'll be putting them on a round of antibiotics for a few days...I'll rinse the areas with betadyne and cover wiith neo this afternoon.
I'm guessing it's a chicken...I would think a predator would have a) gone for the neck first and b) would have killed them. Could the chickens be picking on them?
 
whiteybird said:
Ok I bought Vit B complex at Walmart yesterday - I didn't get the super complex because I thought the regular complex was a capsule...its not. Oh well. I crushed it up and put in their water, will have to do for several days or weeks before I expect to see any change in the ducks, if there will be any.

I sat him in a fish bucket for at least 10, maybe even 20 minutes in warm epsom salt water, dried him off, and wrapped vet wrap around his leg. Don't think it was too tight, but I'll check periodically. Hopefully it sticks!

I haven't done anything with the marks on his wings yet. I think I can cover with neo and use wrap on his wing, but I'm still trying to visualize how that'll work.




So...my bf pointed out a dark spot on Kate's back, I think just above her oil gland. The skin is a little raw and it's clearly been damaged in some way but it doesn't look terrible...not deep. I don't think it's terribly old but I'm also not an expert on wounds. When I checked Will I found a ~5" long gash of the same quality along Will's right side, running from his lower right back around his tail towards his lower belly. I'm guessing this is why he's been shivering.




Does this look like anything familiar? There are a lot of small duck feathers around the ducks' run and just outside the door but I assumed they'd fallen out naturally and had been spewn out the door by the chickens, who like to toss the pine in there. I still think the wounds and the knee issue are unrelated...I remember Will walking slightly pidgeon toed since birth so I'm guessing he was either born that way or he didn't get enough niacin (which still doesn't make sense, bc I would think it would affect both legs, not one).

I'll be putting them on a round of antibiotics for a few days...I'll rinse the areas with betadyne and cover wiith neo this afternoon.
I'm guessing it's a chicken...I would think a predator would have a) gone for the neck first and b) would have killed them. Could the chickens be picking on them?
Click to expand...
That looks like a pred may have gotten hold of it. are they inside a fenced area preds especially raccoons will slip their arms thru fencing unless hardware cloth and grab hold of their prey which may be what happened to Wills leg he got grabbed maybe the pred tried to pull him through the fence. Alot of Pekins walk pigeon toed. Getting the wounds cleaned out real good and be sure to use the antibiotic according to directions most say 5-8 days. And maybe rethink how they are being housed at night if left loose inside a pen with welded wire or chicken wire then preds will have a field day. Locked inside at night is best.
 
Miss Lydia said:
That looks like a pred may have gotten hold of it. are they inside a fenced area preds especially raccoons will slip their arms thru fencing unless hardware cloth and grab hold of their prey which may be what happened to Wills leg he got grabbed maybe the pred tried to pull him through the fence. Alot of Pekins walk pigeon toed. Getting the wounds cleaned out real good and be sure to use the antibiotic according to directions most say 5-8 days. And maybe rethink how they are being housed at night if left loose inside a pen with welded wire or chicken wire then preds will have a field day. Locked inside at night is best.
Click to expand...

x2

Defiantly looks like a predator, the gash could have been from a fence, claw, or even a bite.. More likely a fence or a slash with a claw.
 

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