Duck’s limping

[Maryam.]

Hi,
I have a female duck called Cookie and she’s an indoor duck.
A while ago I noticed she mostly leans on one of her legs and usually tucks the other in her feathers Then I found a small bumblefoot, and started treating it with an antibiotics ointment, an anti inflammatory ointment and a vit AD oral supplements(a vet prescribed) right away which now seems much better but the swelling is still present.
Today I found her tucking the same leg in her feathers while she’s standing more than before, I put her in the bathtub and right after that she started limping and leaning on her left leg. Although she still walks and chases me everywhere. I can see no swelling and no cut. She lives indoor so I’m kinda sure she hasn’t tripped or injured her leg.
She’s also got a little bit more sleepy than before which I think her molting is starting.
I would be grateful if you can help me with the possible reasons for limping.
Thanks!

 

[Ratchnick]

How old is your duck?

 

[Maryam.]

How old is your duck?

She’s 3 years old

 

[Isaac 0]

Would you mind taking a video of her, and uploading it a video platform like Youtube or Vimeo, and copy/paste the link here?

It looks like she is a Pekin, correct?

This breed really wasn't ever supposed to be kept as pets, there more meat birds, and are supposed to be butchered early on in life. So because of there super-fast growth, and heavyweight they are often the ducks you'll see the most problems with, and just like in your case, there often leg-related problems.

May I ask when these problems started occurring?

What kind of medications do you have her on?

What you're feeding her?

And, what kind of surface's she's on most of the day?

I notice her nails are trimmed, so that's going to tell me she's likely lacking exercise. With meat ducks, excessive amounts of time on their feet, and not in water, can be conducive to arthritis especially in older ducks.

 

[Maryam.]

Would you mind taking a video of her, and uploading it a video platform like Youtube or Vimeo, and copy/paste the link here?

It looks like she is a Pekin, correct?

This breed really wasn't ever supposed to be kept as pets, there more meat birds, and are supposed to be butchered early on in life. So because of there super-fast growth, and heavyweight they are often the ducks you'll see the most problems with, and just like in your case, there often leg-related problems.

May I ask when these problems started occurring?

What kind of medications do you have her on?

What you're feeding her?

And, what kind of surface's she's on most of the day?

I notice her nails are trimmed, so that's going to tell me she's likely lacking exercise. With meat ducks, excessive amounts of time on their feet, and not in water, can be conducive to arthritis especially in older ducks.

Hi, thanks for replying
I’ve never posted a video before, I will try to do so
Today I found she has a little swelling on her right leg’s ankle but No redness. Although I spent most of yesterday with her I have no idea if she has tripped or sth

Yes, she’s a pekin but not heavyweight.
She didn’t used to live indoor though, I brought her inside since we lost her sister.
She started limping yesterday but I felt she’s a bit uncomfortable since 2weeks ago which I found a small bumble foot and started ointments right away.
She’s not on remedial medications just vitamin supplements and probiotics. For her leg just topical ointments.
I feed her two different types of chicken pellets, vegetables, boiled eggs, mealwormms...
I have also mixed wheat, oats, corn and other ingredients of duck feed that I found on internet for her since there’s no specific duck feed where I live.

She has blankets, pillows and our house has tile floors but covered with carpets. She has a little but a deep pool which she uses it a few times a day.

 

[Maryam.]

What causes swelling in their legs?
Somebody please help! I have no idea what going on with Cookie’s leg
She walks and even run but she limps.
She’s obviously in pain

 

[Isaac 0]

My apologies, I'm just now seeing you replied back.

Any luck with the video, it's helpful to see what you're seeing.

As far as the basic treatment for her, you could start soaking her legs in Epsom salt (Magnesium Sulfate) water for fifteen minutes or so a day to help reduce any swelling, and relieve the weight off her legs. I'm not sure if you can acquire this in your country, but you could also get some DMSO Gel (Dimethyl Sulfoxide) and apply a generous coat to her leg. B vitamins especially niacin, may also help. But, overall, she's going to need rest to get better.

If the swelling worsens, that may be a sign of an infection, in which case, antibiotics, and an NSAID would be preferred.

 

[Maryam.]

My apologies, I'm just now seeing you replied back.

Any luck with the video, it's helpful to see what you're seeing.

As far as the basic treatment for her, you could start soaking her legs in Epsom salt (Magnesium Sulfate) water for fifteen minutes or so a day to help reduce any swelling, and relieve the weight off her legs. I'm not sure if you can acquire this in your country, but you could also get some DMSO Gel (Dimethyl Sulfoxide) and apply a generous coat to her leg. B vitamins especially niacin, may also help. But, overall, she's going to need rest to get better.

If the swelling worsens, that may be a sign of an infection, in which case, antibiotics, and an NSAID would be preferred.

Hey,
The fact that I can’t find a reason for the limping is really bothering me. I’ve been reading different forums on BYC and still have no idea.
I’m gonna try to found DMSO gel, I also giving her a few drops of Bcomplex syrup everyday.
I’m soaking her in epsom salt
a few times a day and then apply Tetracycline ointment or Vetanyl ointment(it’s an anti inflammatory) to both her legs, it’s the right leg that hurts but I apply to both just in case she’s leaning so much on the left and it might hurt.
If it was a break or sprain should I have noticed it by now? I mean is the pain too much or ducks react when we touch ther legs?
Cause she’s walking and chasing me all day although I tried to limit her being on her feet. The swelling is too slight I could barely catch it, no redness and the temp is the same as other parts of the leg. There are discoloration at the bottom of her feet which I think it’s because the pressure, is that abnormal?
And there’s something more I gave her levamisole for worming the very day she started limping, is there any possibility that it could be related to that? I had a rescued duck from park at my house and they’ve shared water once or twice then I saw a big worm in that ducks poop the next day! I’ve never seen an actual worm in a duck poop, that’s why I gave levamisole to Cookie.
I added levamisole to her water 5PM, I saw her limping 3hours later I’m wondering if it’s just a coincidence... can edema happen? Can it be so hard to caught?
I also tried a traditional remedy for the swelling
I have no idea where the pain is coming from. I can see the bottom of her feet has been under pressure due to the reason you’ve mentioned tolerating her weight most of the day but no bumblefoot. She’s also panting so much not sure if it has to do anything with this.

 

[Isaac 0]

Judging from the picture, it appear her right foot is pointed inwards, overlapping onto of the other foot, correct? Is she tripping over her foot when she walk's?

 

[Maryam.]

Judging from the picture, it appear her right foot is pointed inwards, overlapping onto of the other foot, correct? Is she tripping over her foot when she walk's?

It looks normal, it just looks like this in this picture.
The legs seem normal , except for the swelling and that she places her weight mostly on the left leg which it seems like she doesn’t have balance while she’s standing. I’m afraid she develops bumblefoot on the left foot.
Yes, she still limps a bit.
Do you think it has to do anything with the dewormer? did I make a wrong call?