Duck with broken leg

[Spiase20]

Hi everyone!

I wanted to thank everyone for their comments and support.

Lily has been through a lot, but she has pulled through! After 2 months of keeping her isolated in a crate next to her sister, doctor visits, and foot therapy, she is living her a happy duck life again with the rest of the other ducks.

She has extreme nerve and ligament damage from the break, so he doesn't have control over her webbed foot part. She can't flex it and just moves around by using her foot as a cane. We are trying to 3d print an effective permanent foot hold but that is taking time to do. Lot's of failed trails and finding the right design and material.

But until then, she is acting like all the other ducks and nothing holds her back. I am so proud of her. This whole experience has created a stronger bond between us.

We are also building a large duck enclosure with a pond inside so she can swim as much as she wants.

I laid a soft rubber mat in the coop so she doesn't hurt her leg from using it too much.

Here are a few pictures since this all has happened.

 

[Miss Lydia]

What an awesome update. Lily looks great so happy she has recovered and can be with her flock again. Thank you for updating

 

[Duckfarmer1]

Wow!! You are VERY blessed!! Unfortunately, I had a duck, with the opposite outcome. So count yourself very lucky! And enjoy every minute with her!!

 

[Isaac 0]

Glad to hear she is doing better! Good for you for taking care of her for such a long time. She looks like quite the happy duck!

 

[Kdbug49]

Yeah, we have a set limit already decided, but that is also including the possibility of amputation if it doesn't set.

I researched and discovered that ducks heal fast. I am hoping (along with the vet) that with the 3d printed cast/splint and wheel chair, that it will heal. We have a follow up x-ray in 2 weeks.

She has some pain meds to help and antibiotics. She is acting pretty normal other than the broken leg and is a lot happier that she is back home. The doctor and I don't think euthanasia is needed yet.

Has anyone have a duck leg heal without the surgery? Or last case scenario, how has a duck gotten along with an amputated leg?

Our runner duck Mini broke her leg in July. We did the surgery, it was about $1200 for the initial emergency vet ($300ish) and the surgeon ($900ish), plus about $100 every other week for rechecks and rewraps and $200 for the monthly visits with xrays - these were all home vet visits after the surgery so the added expense of a farm call. It took 4 months for the X-rays to show sufficient healing to remove the pin. However, when the pin was removed part of her femur came out with it - it had rejected the pin and died. The pin was put back in and we are now treating with honey and weekly vet visits, praying for bone growth or at least enough scar tissue to stabilize her leg. Her surgeon is worried her foot may also be beginning to die - she doesn’t appear to have feeling in it but it still bleeds when pricked so it isn’t dead yet. Her injury is above the knee (femur area) so your duck will likely have a better prognosis. She is still active and happy so we aren’t considering euthanasia at this point and are hoping if she loses the leg we can come up with some sort of prosthesis or cart so she can still get around. Would love to know your duck’s outcome!

 

[3xhhheather]

Just writing to check in on how everyone is doing now that some time has passed--one of my very first girls is at the vet right now with a confirmed broken femur. I'm, of course, out of town on a work trip, so the vet wanting an answer of a 50/50 chance during surgery or euthanasia is very upsetting. I want to do extreme isolation, antibiotics, and pain meds, but I'm waiting to hear back if that's even something to be considered in her case.