hurt foot!

[lilstar]

Kids came in saying they saw the one of the ducks "hopping". I went and investigated and yep.. she's very reluctant to put any weight on her left foot. I brought her inside to get a good look. Her foot and leg are very warm to touch. I looked the best I could but I was scared to cause her pain by being too hands on. I didn't see any place that looked like the skin is broken, but there is some swelling in one of her toes. I got a couple pics.



Not sure how obvious the swelling is in that pic. Does the heat mean infection? What can I do for her? All I could do tonight was make sure she had some food and water that she doesn't have to move to get to, and sprinkled a little bit of save-a-chick electrolytes/vitamins in case the extra boost could do her some good.

 

[Amiga]

The top foot (her left?) looks like the middle toe is having trouble, and I am not sure if the inner toe may be a little out of joint . . . . I am not entirely awake yet.

Could you get her into a lukewarm bath deep enough to float in? That will take weight off the foot, and increase circulation.

I would start with Epsom salts compress (it is a laxative so I don't just put it in the bath water) after the bath time, soak a clean rag or paper towels in a few tablespoons of Es with a quarter cup of warm water, then wrap that around the foot and the leg, and hold it for five minutes or as long as you both can stand it.

Then follow with triple antibiotic ointment top and bottom.

Twice a day to begin with would be good.

There was no leg band that did not get removed?

 

[lilstar]

Thanks, I'm doing that. She tolerates it well, thank goodness! This is the duckling who hatched in my hand on easter <3. She's not particularly fond of being captured but calmed quickly on my lap inside. She's a nice little lap bird. Her companion outside was quacking very loud! Each loud quack resulted in Luckyducky looking around almost frantically. So sweet how bonded they are. If there's infection, will the external ointment be enough to take care of it?

 

[Amiga]

If you catch a foot infection early enough, the topical seems to take care of it.

But it is tricky to determine early enough.

So far I have been able to get foot infections under control and gone using topicals. Romy's toe became swollen on top overnight, so I took her to a vet I know who has chickens (lots of similarity between chicken and duck bumblefoot from what I have heard), and she was able to get a tiny tiny splinter out of Romy's toe, and the Es and topical ointment did the rest.

Keep an eye on the whole leg while you treat the foot, and just go with your instincts. She may end up needing oral antibiotics, I don't know how to be sure one way or the other at this point.