Duck limping question??

[Chikinzies]

I've read over a few forum posts but none really explain my situation. My drake has recently started to limp. Some days it's a light limp other days it's heavy. He seems to be getting around fairly decent without much bother. It's been around 2 weeks so far now with not much improving. Will it ever get better? Should I splint it. Its the knee joint so I'm not sure about how I would go about this. It's only a little bit swollen and when I lightly press it seems to hurt him. At first I guessed a sprain but I'm not sure.
Cheers

 

[Onlyducks]

When my ducks develop a limp, I put them in a small area, alone, for about a week or until they no longer limp. The smoother the area you keep them in, the better. I don't know why they limp, but it has worked with Rouens, Pekins and Muscovy ducks. The Muscovy actually climbed out of the "infirmary" to let us know she was all better!

Others here can probably tell you what to look for and possible causes. I just know if you don't put the duck in a small area until he/she heals, they only seem to get worse.

 

[Amiga]

Check closely for bumblefoot. In any case, apply an Epsom salt compress to the foot and the leg twice a day.

I put a tiny dab of Traumeel on the leg for limping (I do this at night so they don't rinse it off swimming).

If the leg is warm, that could be infection - and may require oral antibiotics.

If it's bumblefoot, then follow the E.s. compress with either a drop of clear iodine then wait 5 or 6 days and follow these guidelines

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.




or rub triple antibiotic ointment on the foot and leg.

 

[Chikinzies]

Ahh yes Its dark now but i will check tomorrow - Thankyou so much for the info!

 

[Chikinzies]

Yes I was thinking i should stop letting him out for a while around the yard but then i thought if it's a sprain a light walk could be good. The yard and pen are flat as well. Thanks!

 

[Amiga]

I think the best exercise is floating in lukewarm water and paddling around.

Ducks like that, too.

 

[tdd2]

+1.