lame duck

[2colegroves]

My duck became lame over night, every evening I call for my ducks and they go into there kennel, always willingly, but 2 mornings ago one of my ducks could only hop on one leg. I read a post that ducks get worms and makes them lame. my ducks range from 1 to 2 years old. I bought some Wazine 17 today, now trying to figure out the safe way to give it to them, I have one male 3 healthy females and one lame female. I don't eat there eggs, I just enjoy having ducks. They are all Pekin except one blue swedish. I keep putting my lame duck in the bath tub to see if she will improve.

 

[2colegroves]

If anyone has an suggestions, please help, I hope my duck walks again.

 

[Amiga]

Hi, I am not sure it would be worms, so let's give that at least another day. Do you have any other evidence of worms? Like weight loss?

If it was all of a sudden, it may be a pulled muscle or tendon. The bath is a great idea.

Take a look at both feet and legs. Is there any swelling, discoloration, or unusual warmth?

Have you ever dealt with bumblefoot? It's a local infection of the foot, and can become painful and advanced cases can get into the bloodstream. But if you catch it early, you can treat it simply. It takes weeks to get rid of, but all you need to do is treat the foot. No surgery or oral antibiotics.

added

Something you can do in any case is make Epsom salts compresses. Epsom salts is a laxative, so don't let her eat or drink it.

Put two tablespoons of Epsom salts in a third of a cup of warm water. Soak a clean washcloth or rag or even paper towels in the water. Wrap the cloth around the foot and leg and hold it there gently for five minutes, if you can do it. If you can do this twice a day it is good for sprains, splinters, bruises, or bumblefoot.

Bumblefoot needs a follow up. After the E.s. compress, wipe some triple antibiotic (different brand names, one is Neosporin) on the foot and leg. Do not use the kind with pain reliever, I have been told that hurts ducks.

Let us know how it goes. And welcome to the duck forum.

 

[Carcajou]

and good luck with nursing your duck back to health.

 

[2colegroves]

Thanks for the info, the first day it happened I put her in the tub and my husband went in the bathroom and poured Epsom salt in the tub, I have never heard of bumble foot, thanks I will try what you suggested, she has laid an egg twice in the box I am keeping her in. I mainly want to keep her away from my male duck, he is rough on the females sometimes. Thank you so much for the info, I love learning about ducks. Now I did try the Cayenne pepper in the ducks food and they did not like it. I had to dump it out and get more. The Cayenne pepper was another persons post to get rid of worms ....that they can not taste the hot pepper. They all go one bite and decided they didn't want to eat, they are starving every evening when I put them up for the night for safety, in the mornings they follow me to the front porch where I give them a treat of a few plain cheerios, lettuce, tomatoes or what ever I have for them, they love potato peelings and apple peelings. Then off to the creek they go. Sometimes during the day they come up to the porch and holler for me and I go out and visit with them. Love my ducks.

 

[2colegroves]

Thanks, I am worried about my duck walking again. Yesterday I put her in the tub and she stayed in there about an hour and decided to fly outta the tub. She don't try to bath or act her usual way in water. She don't even quack.
This is one of my last photos of my ducks, my male don't like my Blue Swedish duck, he drops his head and chases her and tries to bite her. Its usually when I feed them treats, he runs her away so the other girls can eat. She just comes right back. lol!

 

[Amiga]

Oh, I hope she starts to improve.

I wanted to remind that Epsom salts is a powerful laxative, and putting it in the bathwater with her could cause problems. If she drinks it, she could get diarrhea and dehydrated. If you use the Epsom salts, do it as a compress, or put it in a small plastic bucket and hold her so that her legs are in it but she cannot drink it.

 

[2colegroves]

I am sure she drank the Epsom salt water, I won't do that again, she is still not using that leg, I was checking it out when I got her outta the bathtub, her good foot is cold her bad one is hot but I don't see anything wrong with it, I rubbed neo all over it before I put her in her box. HAS ANYONE EVER HAD A DUCK THAT SURVIVED WITH JUST ONE LEG?

 

[Amiga]

I recall seeing a number of stories here and elsewhere about ducks surviving without the use of one leg.

Hot can often mean infection. Consider a vet's help, or if there is someone in your area familiar with waterfowl (a land grant university, for example).

Keep up the compresses and antibiotic ointment. You might think about oral antibiotics, just in case (better to decide ahead of time and have it on hand, I think).

 

[2colegroves]

I have called all the vets in my area and none will treat my duck. I wish I could order antibiotics, she is not eating much at all, only lettuce. Thanks for all the help.