Dry gangrene?

[cluck92]

Hi there I just joined this site today and was referred to the duck section. I have five ducks at home-3 Indian running ducks and 2 Rouen ducks. I am worried about my Indian running duck because his leg is swollen and the foot is turning dark colored. Is this dry gangrene? Is there anything I can do at home? He still drinks and eats and somewhat gets around but I think the leg may be broken. I've contacted multiple vets but it's going to be expensive and I don't have a lot of money for pricy vet bills. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[Amykins]

When in doubt, VET! I know it's rough, but when it rains, it pours. :/ Without a photograph it's hard to say, it could be bumble foot, it could be a plethora of different ailments.

 

[Amiga]

How old is the duck? Is there something wrapped around the top of the leg, cutting off circulation?

Feel the leg - does the bone feel broken? Is the leg warm or cool?

After checking for something cutting off circulation - if that's not it, and in any case, get the duck into a tub of lukewarm water deep enough to float in - watch closely, look for clues. Warmish water and movement help improve circulation.

If the leg is very warm - it is likely infected. Get some duramycin10 antibiotic and start giving it to him according to directions.

Are there bumps on the bottoms of the feet, any scabby looking things? could be advanced bumblefoot. In that case, you could try the non-invasive method here from Haunted55

On July 1st, I found one of my Pekin ducks with what I would consider a bad case of Bumblefoot. Both feet were involved and I'm ashamed to say, the only way I found it was she was limping. One foot had 7 and the other had 3. I was able to grab her and bring her into the house and put her into a warm bath to clean and soak. Two water changes later and softened feet, all I had time to do was paint the bumbles with colorless iodine, grabbed the wrong stuff, and put her into a dog crate in my house until I could get everything ready to operate and get them gone. Did I mention the thought of this scared me half to death?

Sad to say it took 6 days before i was able to get everything together and someone to help out with the 'cure'. The following pictures are what we found after the bath we gave before the planned surgery to remove these things.




















As can be seen, there really wasn't much to operate on, even though I was prepared to do just that. No matter how much squeezing or prodding or soaking, there just wasn't anything more to come out, it was all on the scabs that were covering the sores. The swelling was down from the 'marbles' I saw when I first found them. I poured betadine over the ones I had opened and painted the ones that I hadn't again with the iodine and put her back into her crate with clean bedding.

the next pictures are of the same Pekin and anothe duck, Dottie the Mallard, who was also found limping.












As can be seen in the first two pictures, the bumbles have been dramatically reduced on the Pekin with just the iodine application and the smaller ones totally gone. The last four pictures are of the Mallard who is still under going the iodine applications.

As can be seen, this is how the left and right foot look tonight on the Pekin duck. The heels being the worst are still showing infection and need for more treatment. tomorrow, I will again give a bath and pull/cut out the scabbing and treat with straight iodine this time. These spots are now flat or as flat as they should be considering the part of the foot they are on. I will still touch up the places that had the spots before as well.

 

[cluck92]

Thank you so much for your help. I will feel his leg when I get home and examine it for bumps or something cutting off circulation maybe hidden under the swollen part of the leg. Will take some pictures and update tomorrow. Thanks again. Duramycin, will that have to be prescribed by a vet or can I get that at tractor supply?

 

[Amiga]

I beleve TS sells it.

 

[cluck92]

This is a picture of the underside of the ducks foot. Leg and foot are both cold and feel like the other leg, perhaps a tad colder. Didn't find anything tied around the leg, found a very small what could be a little cut on the underside of the foot. Orange part of leg is still swollen. Did not seem to hurt when I touched the leg or foot. All the ducks are staying in the coop with that duck today by choice...usually they are all outside.

 

[cluck92]

Front side of foot

 

[Amiga]

You need a vet. It looks to me, with that definite line below which the foot is dark, there is something wrapped around the leg. At this point, it may be buried in the skin.

I think it would ideally require surgery.

Ducks are very resilient. I would also get the duck on antibiotics.