HELP WITH PEKIN RESCUED WITH SEVERE BUMBLEFOOT

[wallysmom]

Hi I am a newbie with ducks but I recently rescued a starving horse and found a Pekin female with severe bumblefoot . I had to take her and try to help or she would have certainly died . Anyway , that was two weeks ago , and I followed all the bumblefoot rules of soaking , removing black scabs , flushing , neosporin and four days of pen g procaine and her feet look alot better but there is a wound with a black scab on her upper leg and the ankle is still swollen . she cannot stand yet but she tries to and she is getting stronger . she eats well and drinks well . I cleaned out the wound and removed the scab and dark smelly stuff came out . the wound appears to be getting better Could bumblefoot come out the top area of the leg ??? I have meloxicam 15 mg and tramadol 50 mg but I dont know what to give her Does anyone have any personal experiences to share , does it normally take so long for the swelling to go down ?? any advice would be greatly appreciated both by myself and the ducky , she is a sweetheart and I want to do what I can to help her, wallysmom

 

[Nyowpotopop]

Bumblefoot itself is mostly the inflammation and cracking of the feet. The secondary infections such as staph causes the black scabbing with pus and serious issues. It's very possible that in severe cases a simple malady can become quite serious. I have seen animals with common forms of mange that you would think were hairless or had some other more severe problem because of the level of neglect... But it was just normal mange. Some cases of Bumblefoot can take months to treat if similarly neglected.

As such I think it's quite possible that it spread especially if it's on the joint. Joints on animals are areas of pressure and load bearing which are what Bumblefoot effects so it makes sense that in severe cases it would spread to the next vulnerable area... And even that aside a simple cut could have cause the spreading of the infection. The infection may have spread to her bones as well causing the issue in the ankles.

Antibiotics and soaks are still the way to go. A licensed vet could tell you the correct dosage and could x-ray the leg to see how far the infection has spread because if it reached her bone marrow it could kill her. The best way to prevent that would be the antibiotics and keeping her in good shape with fresh food and water and a nice comfortable living space.

 

[Amiga]

I don't think I can add much more than Nyowpotopop has written.

Oral or injected antibiotics is how I would go, and I would get a vet's help. Good on you for the rescue!

Keep up what you are doing, in this case you are battling a neglected condition, but ducks can, with help, often recover, if slowly.

 

[wallysmom]

Thanks for your reply , the swelling has gone down some and her feet look great now but the infection has localized on the wound on her hock so I will fight it with the same treatment , there was no one that could take her to the vet and horse rescued was very expensive so I will do all I can for this poor duck , she deserves it !!! I have never owned a duck before but I love spending time with her they are wonderful little animals !! I will update how's she's doing and this site was key for her treatment , thanks to all. Wallysmom

 

[Nyowpotopop]

You're wonderful for doing what you you are. If you are careful with the treatment and it hasn't reached the bones you should be just fine. Looking forward to hearing how things go for you.

 

[Nyowpotopop]

So.... How'd things turn out for your poor little rescue? Any progress?

 

[wallysmom]

Thank you for asking , she appears to be slowly getting better no more heat , the leg wound looking better and she is starting to stand and walk a little some swelling in the ankles still but she still has a ways to go I love this duck and when she is strong enough I will get her a friend lol she's done well alone for now but I spend alot of time with her but she deserves to have a good home now and a good friend to share it with does anyone know how to tell the age of a adult Pekin duck ?? I will keep her progress posted and thank you for your advice and caring for her recovery

 

[wallysmom]

so my Pekin is doing alot better now all the swelling and everything went down !! She doesn't have flat normal feet and still has trouble walking . I got a friend for her a black Indian runner female and they get along well they stay together and she follows as best she can the runner duck . The runner duck has only been with me for a few days now but isn't eating well I feed mazzuri waterfowl food she drinks but doesn't seem interested in her food and I'm getting worried the person I got her from feeds stock feed so I know this feed is new to her could it be the new environment ?? any suggestions ?? She won't even eat corn she did have male ducks around her where she came from but I don't think anyone duck as a mate meanwhile the Pekin is a piggy and still eats her food !! I have never seen a Indian duck before but what beautiful animals ! I haven't eaten chicken since I took the Pekin a few months ago I can't eat it now lol

 

[toadbriar]

double check mazuri's site, they've had feed recall.