HELP! Duckling with a swollen hock joint

[Jonathan and Briana]

Hello! My husband and I just bought four ducklings at Tractor Supply about a week and a half ago. They are healthy except for one. She was doing great until Sunday, she started acting lethargic so we gave her some electrolytes and some save-a-chick probiotics. It didn't seem to help her. We noticed on Monday that she has a swollen joint. It was hot and red so we bought some antibiotics for her and her joint is still swollen but the redness has gone away. We are also giving her a nutri drench. She is barely walking now. We do have brewers yeast in there feed for a niacin supplement. We are wondering if there is anything else that someone might suggest. This is our first time owning ducks.

FYI: Antibiotics are a last resort for use, because of the swelling, redness, and heat coming from the joint we figure that she has an infection.

The first image is the swollen joint and the second image is the normal joint.

 

[staceyj]

Hello! My husband and I just bought four ducklings at Tractor Supply about a week and a half ago. They are healthy except for one. She was doing great until Sunday, she started acting lethargic so we gave her some electrolytes and some save-a-chick probiotics. It didn't seem to help her. We noticed on Monday that she has a swollen joint. It was hot and red so we bought some antibiotics for her and her joint is still swollen but the redness has gone away. We are also giving her a nutri drench. She is barely walking now. We do have brewers yeast in there feed for a niacin supplement. We are wondering if there is anything else that someone might suggest. This is our first time owning ducks.

FYI: Antibiotics are a last resort for use, because of the swelling, redness, and heat coming from the joint we figure that she has an infection.

The first image is the swollen joint and the second image is the normal joint.

Your narrative posted but Your photos didn’t post. Could you try again?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Welcome to BYC!

Sounds like you're doing just about everything possible. Pending pictures, I would allow her to swim for short periods so that she can exercise the leg a bit. You could try letting her swim in epsom salt water, if you feel up to making sure she doesn't drink it (it's not poisonous, but it can cause diarrhea in large amounts.)

 

[Jonathan and Briana]

Sorry this is my first post. I hope it works this time.

 

[Jonathan and Briana]

Welcome to BYC!

Sounds like you're doing just about everything possible. Pending pictures, I would allow her to swim for short periods so that she can exercise the leg a bit. You could try letting her swim in epsom salt water, if you feel up to making sure she doesn't drink it (it's not poisonous, but it can cause diarrhea in large amounts.)

Thank you! We tried it last night but all she wanted to do was lay down and drink the Epsom Salt water. We kept her in the bath for about five minutes (trying to stop her from drinking the water as much as possible) but she didn't want to use that leg much.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Thank you! We tried it last night but all she wanted to do was lay down and drink the Epsom Salt water. We kept her in the bath for about five minutes (trying to stop her from drinking the water as much as possible) but she didn't want to use that leg much.

Was she standing or floating? I've rarely found a duckling that could resist the urge to paddle, even if he had only one useable foot with which to do it.

 

[Jonathan and Briana]

Your narrative posted but Your photos didn’t post. Could you try again?

The pictures should be up now.

Was she standing or floating? I've rarely found a duckling that could resist the urge to paddle, even if he had only one useable foot with which to do it.

We did it in a bathroom sink so she could still touch, but she would stand on the other foot and wouldn't use the swollen one.

 

[staceyj]

You could also mix it in a coffee cup and use a wash cloth or strip of towel as a warm compress on it a few times daily.

@WVduckchick, do you have any ideas here?

 

[Jonathan and Briana]

You could also mix it in a coffee cup and use a wash cloth or strip of towel as a warm compress on it a few times daily.

@WVduckchick, do you have any ideas here?

We will start doing that with her. Thank you!

 

[sylviethecochin]

The pictures should be up now.

We did it in a bathroom sink so she could still touch, but she would stand on the other foot and wouldn't use the swollen one.

Try putting her in deeper water. See how she reacts.