Limping duck - not bumblefoot

[silversealilies]

Hi all,

We have five 8-week-old Miniature Silver Appleyard ducks, and one of our girls has recently started limping. It's been going on for a few weeks now - we've had a look and there's no sign of bumblefoot, both feet look lovely and healthy. She definitely hobbles though - like she's walking with a cane to stay off her right leg. She swims fine, is eating fine, and can still get around - she's still up and about all the time, but just limps constantly. Any ideas or advice? Thank you!

 

[Isaac 0]

Welcome to BYC. Sorry to hear your duck is having problems.

Could you post a video of her walking, so we can get an idea of how bad the limp is? To post a video, you'll need to upload to a video platform like Youtube or Vimeo and copy/paste the link here.

Could you post a few pictures of the bottom of her foot pads? Sometimes Bumblefoot appears without a core (Podermatisis) basically just the inflammation of the dermal surfaces of the feet, it can sometimes be hard to recognize.

Could you post a few pictures of what she's being kept in? Hard grounds such as concrete or bare dirt can promote leg problems in ducks.

Do the joints bend properly on the leg? Do you notice any swelling, redness, inflammation, bruising, or anything abnormal?

What are you feeding her? Feeds formulated for chicks, and "scratch-grain" type feeds tend to lack niacin which can predispose the bird to a weakened leg structure.

 

[silversealilies]

Here's a link to a video of her limping:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/CFKMWXNAAe6ZPpWC6

They're kept outside, free range and can go wherever they want - they have a small pool on the patio that you see in the video, and a larger pool out on the grass. They spend most of their time in the grass outside or swimming.

They eat regular layers pellets, and eat all sorts of stuff they find in the garden - greenery and bugs and stuff.

There's no swelling or bruising that I can see, the foot and leg look exactly the same as the other leg/foot: https://photos.app.goo.gl/5DMSEMCMmsDaUbTE7

 

[Isaac 0]

Here's a link to a video of her limping:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/CFKMWXNAAe6ZPpWC6

They're kept outside, free range and can go wherever they want - they have a small pool on the patio that you see in the video, and a larger pool out on the grass. They spend most of their time in the grass outside or swimming.

They eat regular layers pellets, and eat all sorts of stuff they find in the garden - greenery and bugs and stuff.

There's no swelling or bruising that I can see, the foot and leg look exactly the same as the other leg/foot: https://photos.app.goo.gl/CFKMWXNAAe6ZPpWC6

Thanks for the video.

My best guess would be that strained or mildly sprained her leg. These injuries can happen a lot with ducks, for the reason that they're legs are anatomically structured differently from other poultry. They're good swimmers, but poor on land.

The limp should go away with time, and rest, but you may be able to speed up the healing, or alleviate the pain by administering B vitamins which supports healthy leg growth and structure. In addition, incorporating some calcium into her diet may prove beneficial. To help with any inflammation or swelling going on, you could soak her legs in an Epsom salt bath for twenty minutes, or apply whats called DMSO (Dimethyl sulfoxide) to her leg.

 

[Marty0Dent]

Hi, Just wanted to add my two cents..

I have a Crested Cayuga, he started limping just like what you are describing. My Vet told me exactly what Isaac said, gave me some pain meds just in case and sent me on my way. the limping only lasted about 5-7 days and went away on its own. She also said that as long as there is now lose of appetite or lethargy it is almost always just a pulled muscle, sprain, or twist.

Hope that helps!

 

[Isaac 0]

Should have mentioned, if the limp continues for a few more weeks, it might be best to take her to a vet, and they'll likely prescribe an NSAID to reduce the pain and swelling. If you have pain meds, more specifically Meloxicam, Carprofen, or ketoprofen on hand from a past vet visit you can use that.

 

[silversealilies]

Thanks everyone. Her limp has gotten progressively worse even today - she's really hobbling dramatically now. Would it be worth keeping her inside on her own for a few days to rest, or will she freak out being away from her bros and sister?

 

[KaleIAm]

What about crate rest?

My poor duck actually broke her leg, and her vet prescribed crate rest for 6 weeks - I believe was the duration. She was supposed to move as little as possible. We did keep the crate outside near the other ducks. And didn't let the other ducks go forage because then they would get too far from her. The other ducks thought it was a huge injustice but I figured they could deal with it since they didn't have a broken leg.

I'm thinking if your duck is limited in mobility she'll rest and heal? What do others think?

 

[silversealilies]

Hi all,

Just a quick update! Thanks for your help and advice. I waited a few more days and it wasn't getting better, so had the vet come out and have a look. He said he was 99% sure it's a soft tissue problem, not a break, so we waited another week and she's definitely getting better. Phew!

 

[Isaac 0]

Thanks for the update, glad to hear she's doing better.