Is this Bumblefoot? Help! No weight-bearing after injury

[hhurrell]

Hello! My >1 year old female pekin duck hurt her leg last week when she got tangled in some briars. I tended to her wounds day-of and they seem to be healing nicely, but one week later and she still won't put weight on it and it sits out to the side. The toes are very swollen and she refuses to move the leg, even in water (might be broken toe?). Her Achilles is still attached and functional so it is not a slipped tendon, but I am wondering if it might be Bumblefoot. Her wounds are all scabbed over and healing nicely, but the swelling is still there, and there is no telltale big black scab. We have had her legs wrapped with a figure eight to keep the leg from splaying more, as well as doing intensive physical therapy with her, and yesterday she tried to take a couple steps on it which was good. We have her on round-the-clock baby aspirin for the swelling and pain, as well as vitamin supplements and manganese supplements. We have her separated in a pen in our heated garage. Based on her hesitance though, I am still wondering if it might be Bumblefoot and if I should go through with a course of antibiotics. I have never had a problem with Bumblefoot in any of my ducks, so I am no expert on diagnosing it. I have attached pictures of her feet and if anyone could tell me if this looks like Bumblefoot, that would be greatly appreciated.
THANK YOU!!!

 

[HuffleClaw]

I’m no expert by any means, but I’d say it’s safe to say that isn’t Bumblefoot.

It is however very swollen. Try soaking her foot in warm epsom salt water a few times daily..

 

[hhurrell]

So sorry, I don't think its bumble foot either. I would get some antibiotics to try. Is she still drinking?

She is still drinking and I have been adding some peas and carrots to her water to try to get her to eat. I'm going to get some antibiotics today and see if that helps.

 

[hhurrell]

Today the webbing between her toes seems to be stiff, her beak has lost color, and she has lost her appetite. Any hopes on a diagnosis with these new symptoms or is she just starting to give up?

 

[glassdragonfly]

So sorry, I don't think its bumble foot either. I would get some antibiotics to try. Is she still drinking?

 

[gtaus]

I have attached pictures of her feet and if anyone could tell me if this looks like Bumblefoot, that would be greatly appreciated.

It does not look like bumblefoot to me. It sure looks swollen compared to the other foot so no doubt it might be sore. I don't see any signs of infections, but antibiotics will probably not hurt. I'm thinking maybe she sprained her foot getting tangled up in the briars and I hope that the swelling will resolve itself over a few days.

I think you are doing about everything you can for her, and she will have a good chance of recovery. Will be looking forward to hearing more on the progress of your girl. Best wishes.

 

[sehfergy]

maybe some meloxicam from vet or aspirin in her water to help the inflammation? my duck is having walking problems & i brought her to the vet. would not recommend that unless they know about ducks which this one doesn’t. good luck, i hope your baby is better soon!

 

[hhurrell]

I have some meloxicam so I'll see if that brings the swelling down. Any recommendations for antibiotics, dosage, and where to find them?

 

[hhurrell]

Dawn recovered pretty good. She never regained full mobility of her leg and foot but was able to stumble around pretty good with the rest of the flock. We even tried some DIY prosthetic models, non of which she really liked. Had some discharge from her eyes that we treated with an antibiotic gel, but she never fully recovered from that so we were constantly cleaning her eyes. She was very happy, alert, and very sassy after recovery. Dawn unfortunately just passed last week after a bobcat dug into our duck house. We now have another duck, named Puppy, who now is exhibiting the exact same symptoms as Dawn did. Leg injury, loss of appetite, diarrhea, weakness, occasional gasping. We initially disinfected all wounds (minor compared to Dawn, just some then foot pads), treated with antibiotic, gave electrolytes, wrapped and stabilized her hurt leg. She still has some movement of the leg, and we now have to force feed her. We unwrap daily for baths and some PT (we cut some holes in a reusable shopping bag for her legs to go through so we can hold her up to help her walk around). She has no interest in standing or eating, and refuses to move her leg (about 4 days after injury). The gasping is new compared to Dawn. Read an article on Botulism in ducks and she seems to present with many of the symptoms: loss of appetite, diarrhea, weakness in the legs, paralysis of leg with trauma, respiratory distress. Another symptom mentioned was the eye discharge, which Dawn exhibited. Does this look like botulism? I know this toxin acts fast so I figure Puppy would be deteriorating faster than she is by now, but it is so strange that they both exhibited the exact same symptoms like this. I'm so clueless here: two ducks, exact same injury and symptoms 1 year apart, and still no definite or clear diagnosis.

 

[hhurrell]

I read that preparation H actually helps bring down the swelling and tried that and this morning her foot is so much less swollen and much more mobile. However, I fear she's on her way out. She seems a little listless and keeps laying her head down and has no interest in food or water, so I did a Nutri-drench this morning hoping that would perk her up. Is there anything I can do to make her more comfortable?