Advice on Disabled Duck

[Lorielus]

I'm really sorry to report that she had to be put down - the vets were as unequivocal as I've ever seen them about anything.

They spent a solid hour examining her, did a couple of xrays and an ultrasound and found she's had sciolosis, with the effects worsening with age and putting pressure on her lungs and her pelvis. They also found she's had a bad femur break at some point which hasn't had proper care and hadn't healed properly, with the hip now being dislocated.

It's more than a little heartbreaking after so little time with her in such a terrible state, and I'm a little torn on what to do next. It's clear she hasn't had proper care in her last home, though I don't know if that was ignorance or actual neglect, so I'm not sure whether I should contact the SSPCA to report them. I'm going to give it a couple of days for the emotion to fade a bit before I decide.

Thanks again for all the advice, I really appreciate it.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I'm really sorry to report that she had to be put down - the vets were as unequivocal as I've ever seen them about anything.

They spent a solid hour examining her, did a couple of xrays and an ultrasound and found she's had sciolosis, with the effects worsening with age and putting pressure on her lungs and her pelvis. They also found she's had a bad femur break at some point which hasn't had proper care and hadn't healed properly, with the hip now being dislocated.

It's more than a little heartbreaking after so little time with her in such a terrible state, and I'm a little torn on what to do next. It's clear she hasn't had proper care in her last home, though I don't know if that was ignorance or actual neglect, so I'm not sure whether I should contact the SSPCA to report them. I'm going to give it a couple of days for the emotion to fade a bit before I decide.

Thanks again for all the advice, I really appreciate it.

I am so very sorry. That poor duckie....

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am so sorry. Poor little one had so many thing going against her it's heartbreaking.
You saw the circumstances where she came from use that as you guide to what you should do. You tried your best to help her in the short time you had her Bless you for that

 

[ruthhope]

Sad for you and the duck. You did your best and gave her love and kindness at the end of her short life -- you couldn't do more than that.

The scoliosis was unlikely to be related to the fractured femur. The poor duckie was blessed with poor genes as well as poor care prior to you.

Thank you for all you did for her

 

[Fritzjen77]

Hi all,

I fear this might be futile but I want to try everything before the inevitable.

I've adoped a couple more ducks from an person wanting to re-home them. One is the picture of health and the other one was described as "a bit of a limp but gets around ok". This latter duck does not have "a bit of a limp" but is instead heavily disabled - I can't tell if her legs have no function at all or there's simply no strength in them, but she is dragging herself around a little on her belly via a combination of her beak and her wings. In the two days we've had her, she's moved maybe a grand total of about 5 metres. She is eating and drinking and going to the bathroom, but fairly meagre amounts of all three (albiet she's obviously not exactly working up an appetite) - she's not skin & bone but is definitely underweight. She's missing some feathers and those she does have are in bad condition and don't look oiled, so the poor girl is in a sorry state.

Unfortunately, given the difference between the "bit of a limp" description and the reality, I was a bit too shocked to have the wherewithall to ask for a history of how long she's been like this, etc. All I know is she's at least 7 (but could be considerably older).

Given we're in Scotland and heading into winter - this is not a good condition for any duck to be in as the freezing winds and rains are quickly approaching. I'm buiilding a wind break to keep the worst off but short of keeping her inside (she's partially-domesticated but not to the point where inside would cause anything but blind panic) or keeping her closed in the coop they use for overnight I'm not sure what other adaptations I can make.

I am taking her to the specialist vet on Friday, my instinct being the advice will likely be to put her down, but I just wanted to reach out for any suggestions or advice anyone might have from experiences bringing a duck back from the brink, if such a thing has ever been possible.

Many thanks as always!

I am taking care of my disabled muscovy "duck" inside. I bit the bullet and thought if I]she is healthy and can still enjoy life, than I will give her the best live possible.. now she is my only one, and I have the time and means.
When I first realized how dire her situation was, she was terrified of me, but I preserved and realized she loves .. loves!! Warm baths, so the more she gets of those, with a blow dry afterwards and now in a baby poo of sorts in soft bedding, she is happy, very affectionate and chirps and is adorable.
I think trusting your instinct and the time you have for such a duck, should help you make any touch decision. I wish you luck, this can be heartbreaking

 

[BelovedBirds]

I'm really sorry to report that she had to be put down - the vets were as unequivocal as I've ever seen them about anything.

They spent a solid hour examining her, did a couple of xrays and an ultrasound and found she's had sciolosis, with the effects worsening with age and putting pressure on her lungs and her pelvis. They also found she's had a bad femur break at some point which hasn't had proper care and hadn't healed properly, with the hip now being dislocated.

It's more than a little heartbreaking after so little time with her in such a terrible state, and I'm a little torn on what to do next. It's clear she hasn't had proper care in her last home, though I don't know if that was ignorance or actual neglect, so I'm not sure whether I should contact the SSPCA to report them. I'm going to give it a couple of days for the emotion to fade a bit before I decide.

Thanks again for all the advice, I really appreciate it.

I'm so sorry for your loss

 

[Pumphrey]

Hi all,

I fear this might be futile but I want to try everything before the inevitable.

I've adoped a couple more ducks from an person wanting to re-home them. One is the picture of health and the other one was described as "a bit of a limp but gets around ok". This latter duck does not have "a bit of a limp" but is instead heavily disabled - I can't tell if her legs have no function at all or there's simply no strength in them, but she is dragging herself around a little on her belly via a combination of her beak and her wings. In the two days we've had her, she's moved maybe a grand total of about 5 metres. She is eating and drinking and going to the bathroom, but fairly meagre amounts of all three (albiet she's obviously not exactly working up an appetite) - she's not skin & bone but is definitely underweight. She's missing some feathers and those she does have are in bad condition and don't look oiled, so the poor girl is in a sorry state.

Unfortunately, given the difference between the "bit of a limp" description and the reality, I was a bit too shocked to have the wherewithall to ask for a history of how long she's been like this, etc. All I know is she's at least 7 (but could be considerably older).

Given we're in Scotland and heading into winter - this is not a good condition for any duck to be in as the freezing winds and rains are quickly approaching. I'm buiilding a wind break to keep the worst off but short of keeping her inside (she's partially-domesticated but not to the point where inside would cause anything but blind panic) or keeping her closed in the coop they use for overnight I'm not sure what other adaptations I can make.

I am taking her to the specialist vet on Friday, my instinct being the advice will likely be to put her down, but I just wanted to reach out for any suggestions or advice anyone might have from experiences bringing a duck back from the brink, if such a thing has ever been possible.

Many thanks as always!

I was going to look into a cart for my hen when we weren't sure if she would walk again after a horse kick left her with a femur fracture and she had a pin put in. There are some videos on you tube that show how to make a cart for a chicken