Hello, i have a duck, she is about almost 2 years old. A few months agos she hurts left foot, but she still walk with right one. Then 1 weeks ago, she broke the right foot, i took her to the pet hospital, doctor took xray and said she broke her hips bone, they cannot do anything to help her except move her to another hospital to surgery. But they are not sure if after surgery she can walk again. Other than surgery she cannot recovery the hips bones by herself. So the doctor gave me the pain medicine to help her relieve pain. I let her used this pain medicine 2 days agos, she is eating fine, but she has diarrhea, so I contacted with doctor, he say stop using this medicine ( due the label of the medicine box also warming too, I attached the pictures of medicine below). After stop pain medicine she eat very less, just drinking. I guess she is pain because i hear she is breathing. So i have to let her use pain medicine again, so she can eat a little more. May i ask do you know any way to help her release the pain ? Any other pain medicine. I let her soak in Epsom salt, but doesnt help much.
My second question does duck can heal the hip bone later?
Thank you,
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If the vet says the bone needs surgery, then i highly doubt there is anything you can do at home.
Broken bones can sometimes heal without surgery, however, it takes 6-8 weeks. The bone may not heal in a good position which could cause chronic pain and suffering.
fractures near the pelvis can also prevent or impair normal elimination (going potty) and if her pelvic canal was affected, she may not be able to lay an egg which would cause her to become egg bound and is life threatening.
If the leg bone does not heal in a normal position, your bird may not be able to walk or swim. Since the happiness of a duck is to be able to be a duck, walk, run, swim, etc - inability to walk without pain is not good quality of life.
Metacam is a non steroidal anti-inflammatory. It is not specifically a pain killer. It helps with pain because it reduces swelling but compare it to you taking an aspirin for a broken bone - even with the medicine, the bird is still in pain.
additionally, birds are very delicate when under anesthesia. I did repair a broken femur on my duck after it was attacked by a mink. The duck survived surgery but died under anesthesia for a bandage change. They are fragile and sensitive animals.
if you do get the surgery, your duck will need 6-8weeks of cage rest to heal, likely will have a bandage and need vet rechecks weekly to have the bandage changed. She cannot go outside during this time and definately no getting a bandage wet. She will also likely be on daily medication and you cannot let the bandage get dirty.
Its a ton of work.
If you cannot commit to that level of care, you need to consider humane euthanasia.
I’m sorry you are in this situation.
i was devastated when my duck died during the bandage change after he had fought so hard through the surgery.
