help! duckling's leg, looks like it's being tied off.

[mrsTpratt]

i have 5, 3-4 week old muscovy ducklings and last night my husband discovered that one had a very swollen leg. it looks like something was wrapped around the leg so tight it's cutting it off, but i can not see anything nor can my husband. we have had the ducklings a week tomorrow and they did not come with leg bands nor did we put them on. i've tried googling it and calling vet but i can't find any help this poor little thing, it can barley walk and it's so swollen.


here's a picture that i got on monday and i didn't even notice till looking back now (i zoomed in on the leg) other then the line the leg looks normally here and was not swollen







and here's a picture last night





last night as well



it wraps all the way around like banned would. but even pulling the two side back a little we can not see anything.


i'm so scared to come home this afternoon to find the foot has fallen off!!

 

[LuvMyPolish]

Maybe there is a hair or fiber wrapped around it? When my soon was a baby we found something just like this on his toe. It was a stand if hair wrapped around it, had to search for it with sharp tweezers....snipped it of and looked better quickly. Good luck! That's sure what our looks like to me.

 

[sarahswank]

Considering the looks of that foot in the second photo, I would risk cutting into his skin a bit to get whatever is in there out! Other option is take him to a vet... even a non-poultry vet might help. You might have to hold down the duck without pain killers, but the vet should be able to carefully make a vertical insicion and cut across what ever is in there. It is clear there is already tissue damage, but you might be able to save his foot if you act quickly (try to get him to the vet tommorrow.)

 

[mrsTpratt]

we soaked it in warm water with epsom salt and tried to separate it as far as we could and get tweezers in there to cut if there was anything. we got pretty far but worrying it would cause more stress and trauma i didnt want to push any further. it almost looked like we were cutting it more. so we'll see if there's any difference tomorrow. at what point do you put a baby down? she's suffering, she's much smaller then the others and all she wants to do is sit in her bed. times like these it's hard to be a chicken and duck mama.... i'm so sad for her.

 

[fourwestboys]

Poor Thing, I agree it could be a fine hair. How is your little one?

 

[Sparrow]

She is probably failing to thrive due to pain and stress. Try whatever you must do to fix this problem before you end her life over it. Some good suggestions have been given, otherwise, find a vet who is willing to at least take a look.

 

[Zrcalo]

Take a very sharp razor and cut it diagonally. Yes. you WILL cut the duckling. But it will heal and will be fine.
Cut the duckling a little. Or risk it's life.

Your duckling will probably be fine once you cut it.

 

[fourwestboys]

Maybe a small amount of a chemical depilatory ( Nair ) to break down the hair. If your just to scared to cut into it. If someone has some opinion on if this will affect the little one in any way, feel free .

 

[fourwestboys]

This is a treatment used to treat tournequet toe in babies sometimes.
When babies get hairs wrapped around there little toes.

 

[mrsTpratt]

update*****

after trying to cut whatever is in there and feeling like we didn't get it, she's back to walking rather normal on both feet and the swelling has gone down! i've been giving her epsom salt soaks at night. i pray she's on the mend and this is not just a bandaid. thanks for all the support!