Duckling foot infection/injury?

[CVducks]

Hi, I have two 5-day old ducklings that I just picked up yesterday. One of the ducklings has been limping and after taking a closer look, his right foot appears to be swollen. The limping duckling seems to be in very high spirits despite the limp and is just as energetic (playing, eating, drinking) as the other duckling. I am wondering if anyone has had a similar experience as this and could offer any advice? Could this be a possible injury or maybe even an infection? And does anyone have any recommendations on what I should do?

 

[ruthhope]

Can you take a photograph of the underneath of the duckling's foot?

Ducklings' feet bones/cartilage are fragile, and I suspect this is an injury from trampling around with other ducklings. I would like to see underneath to be sure there isn't a puncture wound that might get infected [I don't really think there will be a puncture wound but in an older duckling that would be a first thought.]

What are you using for a brooder and what is the floor? I know some people use a box with hardware cloth bottom to reduce the mess around the ducklings. I think hardware cloth is harsh on tiny feet, and I do not use it . If your brooder is so constructed, I would cover the hardware cloth and put in a layer of pine shavings

 

[CVducks]

Can you take a photograph of the underneath of the duckling's foot?

Ducklings' feet bones/cartilage are fragile, and I suspect this is an injury from trampling around with other ducklings. I would like to see underneath to be sure there isn't a puncture wound that might get infected [I don't really think there will be a puncture wound but in an older duckling that would be a first thought.]

What are you using for a brooder and what is the floor? I know some people use a box with hardware cloth bottom to reduce the mess around the ducklings. I think hardware cloth is harsh on tiny feet, and I do not use it . If your brooder is so constructed, I would cover the hardware cloth and put in a layer of pine shavings

 

[CVducks]

First three pictures are of the swollen foot (right) last picture is the left foot for reference. I didn’t see any puncture wound, just swollen compared to the left and the duckling won’t put any weight on the right leg. My brooder is a large plastic tub with newspaper laid down and aspen shavings on top. If it’s infected i’m not seeing any wound and the foot doesn’t appear particularly red or warm to the touch. Could it be a sprain/strain of some sort or does it look infected?

 

[ruthhope]

I don't see a puncture wound. I think its unlikely to be infected. More likely to be an injury from activity. I would wait and see -- if it is eating and drinking and active, I would just watch, wait and see.

There are anti-inflammatory drugs, but I wouldn't use them in such a tiny duckling.

 

[RWSDucks]

Hello, I found a ferrell female duck (not full breed color) and her mallard mate who is by her that had a mussel clamped on her leg for what may have been for 2 days. I was able to catch her and take it off. She flew off but now is back, limping, standing one only one leg at times. I called our local shelter but because she is ferrell, if she gets treated and passes the test for release, she will be released to a local pond and feathers clipped. Any advice?