Help! Mangled Duck Leg from Snapping Turtle

[kamoore]

Please help! Yesterday, we noticed our juvenile duck pleading for help in our pond. He/she had a snapping turtle attached to its leg. I ended up shooting the snapping turtle. Today I went down to the pond to feed and check on the poor thing. It’s leg is badly mangled - it’s lost it’s color - now grey and hanging there. I have called the vet and there’s nothing they can do. We live in a very rural area. So it looks like I’m on my own to try to save this duck if possible.

I need step by step intructions please. I’d imagine I need to clean it with saline but after that I’m clueless. Wrap it? Remove the dead part of the leg? Antibiotics? I plan on catching it and letting it rest in a dog crate inside our garage. I will try to get some photos uploaded once I catch the duck.

Any help is appreciated! Thank you!

 

[WolfGirlMagic]

Yes to antibiotics! For sure! It is yard to give any other info until I see what you are dealing with.

 

[WolfGirlMagic]

I would not wrap it at this point because that may help nasty things feater

 

[WolfGirlMagic]

*fester

 

[WolfGirlMagic]

If you can get betadyne solution I would also clean with that.
Dilute what you buy with water until it looks like tea.
Then ask the vet if you can get away with silver sulfadiazine cream or look for it somewhere. I would liberally apply the creme to the wound 3xs daily.
Penicillin injections you would need to give 0.10cc per pound of body weight.
It must be injected into the muscle of the breast (harder with ducks) or thighs. Inject once a day at the same time. Clean the I injection sight with betadyne solution, and ALWAYS draw back on the needle after inserting before you push in the medicine.
If when you pull back the plunger you see blood, then that means you are in the vein. DO NOT INJECT. Move the needle and only inject when no blood fills the syringe. Plunge slowly.
Always alternate where you inject the bird. Never in the same leg or side of breast 2 days in a row.

 

[kamoore]

Thank you for responding! I’ve been checking all day for a response. It’s pretty bad. Has an awful smell to it too. What is the name of the antibiotic I would need? I have a Tractor Supply and a Southern States nearby. Hoping they carry it?

 

[kamoore]

Thank you! I’ll head out now to go look for the supplies. I’m hoping the duck pulls through.

 

[WolfGirlMagic]

Penacillin G for livestock and horses fast acting.
Use the smallest gauge needle as well.

 

[WolfGirlMagic]

Thank you for responding! I’ve been checking all day for a response. It’s pretty bad. Has an awful smell to it too. What is the name of the antibiotic I would need? I have a Tractor Supply and a Southern States nearby. Hoping they carry it?

I see no hope for saving the leg...
If I'm not mistaken I actually can see bone and maggots on one of the photos...
Is it just the foot and ankle with damage, or are there breaks farther up on the leg?
I want you to palpate all the way up the leg to the hip. Check for any more potential damage higher on the leg.
In the mean time I will try to think out a game plan

 

[kamoore]

The foot is a goner for sure. I’m concerned how to go about making sure it heals? Abutate? Will it fall off itself(that’s prob a silly question as I’ve never dealt with this before)?

So after cleaning him up and getting a good look and feel, it looks as if the ankle and foot are dead. Leg is good and he moves it. Bone is visible as you had mentioned. Will the maggots stay away as long as I’m cleaning it? I did not see the silver cream at tsc... possibly at Walmart with first aid section?

Also gave him a dosage of penicillin.

Thanks again for all your help