Bone infection

[Dani loves ducks]

Hello. I ended up taking my duck, Sally, to the vet yesterday after battling an (inherited) leg infection for over a month. She came to me this way and I had treated with surgeries, Epson salt baths, ointments and disinfection, and oral antibiotics. I struggled getting ahead of this infection, which lead me to the vet. (I wish now that I had taken her right away, right upon receiving her, but I was discouraged to go that route immediately and to try to treat it on my own.)
Anyway, the incredibly sad prognosis from this vet is that the infection has gone into her bone, that it is extremely aggresive, and untreatable. She has recommended euthanizing Sally in order to avoid death by sepsis.
I made the appointment to do so on Tuesday with sadness in my heavy heart. She's a great duck!! I have her on antiinflamatories in the meantime, and she continues to swim, eat and drink.
Anyway, now I'm looking stuff up on the internet and I'm wondering about amputation, but the vet said it would have to be the entire leg and that this is a hard life for a duck, who needs both feet.
Is there anyone out there with experience with either aggressive bone infection/ and or amputation? Thank you.

 

[KaleIAm]

Thank you for the hugs. I'll check out the site.
I just went through this with my dog a few weeks ago, so the pain is still fresh and now it's being refreshed with Sally. I'm not sure if it will comfort her to be on my lap as she's so used to me having to "do something" to her in treating this infection. I will hold her if that is something that might help her, but I'm not sure if it will.

I'm so sorry about your dog.

I understand, everytime one of my ducks passes away I cry about all my other ducks that I have lost, too. It is so very hard.

You sound like a wonderful duck owner. I know you'll do what is best for her.

 

[Dani loves ducks]

I should add that it was a hard road in helping Honey and I call her my "forever patient" because she requires extra care every single day. There are a lot of people that don't have that much time and I completely understand. If I didn't run my business from home, I don't know if I would have been able to give her the time necessary. There are some drawbacks to having a duck like this. I have a large pond and acres for them to free range but Honey isn't fast enough to get away from anything and she can't fly. Some of this is because she's a Pekin but her handicap is the majority of it. Because of this, Honey and her flock have taken over my fenced in yard. I tried letting her flock free range with everyone but her and a buddy, but they stayed at the fence line for the entire day and only put themselves at more risk trying to remain a flock.
There are pros and cons to both sides of this and what worked for one may not work for the next. If you feel it's more kind to have the duck euthanized, that's what should be done. Only you know what is necessary. I wish you the very best and I'm sending you lots of virtual hugs.

I greatly appreciate your kind words. Euthanizing her today would not have been ok, and so I cancelled the appointment. I see another vet on Thursday and I will continue to see that she is comfortable and happy, eating, drinking, and swimming (I have to place her in the pool, and then take her out). From weighing in all the pros and cons, I feel good about seeking a second opinion on her bone infection and I will know more Thursday from a different vet who has more experience with ducks/chickens. Day by day is how we're taking life right now. Always!

 

[Dani loves ducks]

SALLY IS FINE! The second vet we went to said that he would not euthanize a healthy duck. The infection is being treated with Baytril for ten days and in the meantime, Sally had adapted to her bum leg. She remains happy and healthy. Thank goodness I saw the second vet. Thank you for recommending it here on this site!!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! We are all thrilled, esp. Sally's husband, Harry.

 

[KaleIAm]

I'm so sorry to hear about your duck. I've lost three of my ducks by euthanasia at the vet when their illnesses had progressed to the point of being untreatable. They were able to pass away gently, on my lap, with no pain. It is always a very hard choice. I feel like the pain I spared them was my gift to them.

I don't have experience with bone infections, but my duck almost needed part of her foot amputated so I almost bought her a wheel chair. If you aren't sure the best thing is to let her go yet you might consider amputation and a wheel chair for ducks.

https://www.handicappedpets.com/blog/duck-wheelchair/

In my experience with mammals they do a lot better than humans with amputations. But I was horrified when my vets suggested amputating part of my duck's foot, so I understand the reluctance.

*hugs*

 

[KaleIAm]

It’s always so hard to say goodbye to these lovely, beautiful creatures in our lives. I’m sorry you had to go through that and I totally understand. I do want to ask you how did you know that they were approaching the end. I’m watching Sally like a hawk (excuse the pun) because the second I see her get lethargic or listless, I’m going to have to get her put down quickly. Because then she would be showing signs of going into sepsis, which is not how I want her to die. I don’t want her to die at all, but there’s only so much I can do. Is that what you were faced with? Or was it better planned?

The way I have chosen to have their "goodbye procedure" for my ducks has been same day and not planned in advanced. I want to give them as much of their life as I can. We are very fortunate to have a 24/7 emergency vet, so I have no pressure to decide in advance. I waited until their disease got to the point where I felt like it was significantly interfering with their quality of life. With all 3 of my ducks it has been slightly different. For one she was standing in corners, staring at walls, not following the other ducks. She seemed disoriented and her personality was much different. With another her respiratory infection had progressed to the point that her breathing was difficult, and she was clearly uncomfortable. I felt unkind to keep her alive until she passed naturally. Another had stopped eating and was lying down most of the time because her condition was very painful.

I feel like some pain for my pets is ok. I have pain everyday and I'm ok with it. But for my pets when they can't eat, or move, and there is no chance of recovery I feel like it is time to let them go.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Hi. I'm so sorry! I've been where you are. My duck was at an avian vet on October 22nd 2020 and the vet only suggested euthanasia. I asked about amputation but she said no because that would cause her to limp and end up with bumblefoot on the other foot. I just couldn't agree to euthanasia so the vet gave me meds for inflammation and said that I'd be back to have her put down within a few days because sepsis would set in.
Do you have any idea how long your duck has had bumblefoot? What antibiotic therapy have you tried?

Honey Boo Boo (duck I was talking about) is pictured here in between the Buff Duck and Cayuga Drake. This wasn't taken too long ago.

This picture isn't so great. I was taking it because my Buff Duck looked to be a bit bloated in her abdomen and I'm watching it carefully. This picture was taken today. Honey Boo Boo is the white one on the end. Notice her foot is bandaged. I keep her foot bandaged at all times because she does have a slight limp and is prone to abrasion. I don't want her to have to battle bumblefoot again.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I should add that it was a hard road in helping Honey and I call her my "forever patient" because she requires extra care every single day. There are a lot of people that don't have that much time and I completely understand. If I didn't run my business from home, I don't know if I would have been able to give her the time necessary. There are some drawbacks to having a duck like this. I have a large pond and acres for them to free range but Honey isn't fast enough to get away from anything and she can't fly. Some of this is because she's a Pekin but her handicap is the majority of it. Because of this, Honey and her flock have taken over my fenced in yard. I tried letting her flock free range with everyone but her and a buddy, but they stayed at the fence line for the entire day and only put themselves at more risk trying to remain a flock.
There are pros and cons to both sides of this and what worked for one may not work for the next. If you feel it's more kind to have the duck euthanized, that's what should be done. Only you know what is necessary. I wish you the very best and I'm sending you lots of virtual hugs.

 

[Weeg]

SALLY IS FINE! The second vet we went to said that he would not euthanize a healthy duck. The infection is being treated with Baytril for ten days and in the meantime, Sally had adapted to her bum leg. She remains happy and healthy. Thank goodness I saw the second vet. Thank you for recommending it here on this site!!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! We are all thrilled, esp. Sally's husband, Harry.

Oh my goodness!!!!
That is so exciting! Wow! I'm so happy for you! Yay!

 

[Dani loves ducks]

I should add that it was a hard road in helping Honey and I call her my "forever patient" because she requires extra care every single day. There are a lot of people that don't have that much time and I completely understand. If I didn't run my business from home, I don't know if I would have been able to give her the time necessary. There are some drawbacks to having a duck like this. I have a large pond and acres for them to free range but Honey isn't fast enough to get away from anything and she can't fly. Some of this is because she's a Pekin but her handicap is the majority of it. Because of this, Honey and her flock have taken over my fenced in yard. I tried letting her flock free range with everyone but her and a buddy, but they stayed at the fence line for the entire day and only put themselves at more risk trying to remain a flock.
There are pros and cons to both sides of this and what worked for one may not work for the next. If you feel it's more kind to have the duck euthanized, that's what should be done. Only you know what is necessary. I wish you the very best and I'm sending you lots of virtual hugs.

These beautiful creatures are worth every second of our time!!! I'm blessed to have the time for mine!!!