Complicated duck foot injury.

[Miss Lydia]

As far as losing the toe I think she'll adapt as Amiga has said. It's amazing how well they adapt, I haven't ever seen one but have read of ducks and chickens with out 1 leg adapting and saw a video of a chicken that lost her toes to frostbite doing great running around scratching. So that part should be fine,

Like A said the smell isn't good. It may fall off on it's own but what does the rest of the foot look like does it look like the infection is spreading up into the rest of her foot/leg? You might call around and see if you can find a farm vet ask about prices or consultation on the phone. If you live in an agricultural area there are probably those that make house calls. Maybe some bartering? But I really do understand about the expense of getting a vet involved.
Have you been soaking her foot in Epsom salt water also?

 

[Deleted member 94844]

Any update on Jill? I'm so sorry to read this turn... though I'd much rather lose a toe than a duck. I'm sure she will learn to cope just fine if that is indeed necessary. Disabled ducks are extra special, too

 

[Luminide]

Sorry about my late updating. We tried the salts, but she wasn't too keen on it. Got some more lovely scratches down my arm, but again- totally worth it to know that she isn't being weakened by infection.

Today I went to change her dressing again, and the tip of the infected toe sort of...fell off. Toenail and the joint closest to it. However- all the rest of the tissue looks so, so much better. Everything's pink and healing and the antibiotics appear to be working well. The fever in her leg has gone down and color is returning to her beak.

If at all possible, I'll post a pic tomorrow. I need a bit of help figuring out what to do with what's left. A toe separated from the other two doesn't sound safe/helpful when it comes to swimming. My mother suggested super gluing it to the toe next to it, or the shred of webbing in between. But that sounds so...silly. And slap-dash.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sorry about my late updating. We tried the salts, but she wasn't too keen on it. Got some more lovely scratches down my arm, but again- totally worth it to know that she isn't being weakened by infection.

Today I went to change her dressing again, and the tip of the infected toe sort of...fell off. Toenail and the joint closest to it. However- all the rest of the tissue looks so, so much better. Everything's pink and healing and the antibiotics appear to be working well. The fever in her leg has gone down and color is returning to her beak.

If at all possible, I'll post a pic tomorrow. I need a bit of help figuring out what to do with what's left. A toe separated from the other two doesn't sound safe/helpful when it comes to swimming. My mother suggested super gluing it to the toe next to it, or the shred of webbing in between. But that sounds so...silly. And slap-dash.

I think she'll compensate for her handicap it will just take some time to get use to it. But I have heard of using super glue or surgical glue which would probably be better for gluing wounds together.
Happy to hear your seeing good signs though. Yay!!!

 

[Deleted member 94844]

Is the webbing totally gone between those toes? If not, could it be sewn back together? DH is a big fan of the super glue technique and uses it for deep cuts all the time... but for something like this I think actual stitches would be preferable. If it has healed over, a vet would need to reopen the damage at the edges so that it could fuse together again. If it is gone, maybe you could make prosthetic webbing!

 

[Deleted member 94844]

I don't know why I didn't think of this before... you can get custom booties which would help with swimming! They can stitch between the bad toes so that the detached toe will stay in place and the neoprene will work as webbing.

Here's a link:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/121988655/completely-custom-neoprene-shoe-for-fowl?ref=shop_home_active

I'm ordering custom-fit booties for my ducks to wear until I can replace the evil gravel in the driveway. Nibby got a boo boo on his widdle toe

 

[Miss Lydia]

I don't know why I didn't think of this before... you can get custom booties which would help with swimming! They can stitch between the bad toes so that the detached toe will stay in place and the neoprene will work as webbing.

Here's a link:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/121988655/completely-custom-neoprene-shoe-for-fowl?ref=shop_home_active

I'm ordering custom-fit booties for my ducks to wear until I can replace the evil gravel in the driveway. Nibby got a boo boo on his widdle toe

I need them for all 43 of my flock, we live on some of the rockiest ground known to man.

I hope Nibby's widdle toe is all better.

 

[Deleted member 94844]

I replaced the small pea gravel with larger 3/4" gravel because they were eating it... also hoped the rougher gravel would keep them out of the driveway, but they continue to walk on it. Have noticed some minor abrasions, redness, and early signs of bumblefoot which I've been treating... but it won't resolve completely until I replace the gravel. My fault for getting the pretty granite gravel that matched my hardscape instead of the tumbled rocks that would be easier on their feet. Trying to decide whether to replace with decomposed granite or another type of gravel. Would really like to install sand-set cobblestone, but that will be $$$$$.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I replaced the small pea gravel with larger 3/4" gravel because they were eating it... also hoped the rougher gravel would keep them out of the driveway, but they continue to walk on it. Have noticed some minor abrasions, redness, and early signs of bumblefoot which I've been treating... but it won't resolve completely until I replace the gravel. My fault for getting the pretty granite gravel that matched my hardscape instead of the tumbled rocks that would be easier on thir feet. Trying to decide whether to replace with decomposed granite or another type of gravel. Would really like to install sand-set cobblestone, but that will be $$$$$.

I know that would be expensive, We have a lot of rough gravel around too put it down to keep mud at bay since all of our duck/chicken/geese house are right next to our house, so they have to walk on a bit of gravel too. I do worry about their feet and I am treating one of my chickens for beginning bumble, and her foot is looking a lot better but wish we didn't have to have the gravel down. I like the river rock around our pool setup because it's round no sharp edges but it's not realistic to put it out where we would need it and the only way we can buy it is in bags at Lowes or Home Depot.