Moscovy Duck Will Likely Lose Both Feet - what to expect?

[Ratchnick]

Certainly post pictures, how cold did it get?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sounds to me as though your taking as good of care of him as you can and to have him inside will help. As far as how well he’ll do is something you’ll have to just watch for. If infection doesn’t set in and you do all you say hopefully he’ll have a very spoiled life. My old Muscovy drake didn’t lose his toes to frost bite but once he turned 10 he was becoming pretty lame. So I carried him to his area in the mornings and to his private bedroom in the afternoon I did this for close to 2 yrs. he was happy with this set up an so was I. He had his girls with him and he was separated from the other drakes who would pick on him. As long as they show us they want to live an enjoy life I feel we should do all we can to help. I hope your boy recovers enough to be able to get around inside his home with you. If not then I’m sure do what’s best for him. Mean while take it a day at a time. And enjoy him.

 

[TheSmallestEgg]

Sounds to me as though your taking as good of care of him as you can and to have him inside will help. As far as how well he’ll do is something you’ll have to just watch for. If infection doesn’t set in and you do all you say hopefully he’ll have a very spoiled life. My old Muscovy drake didn’t lose his toes to frost bite but once he turned 10 he was becoming pretty lame. So I carried him to his area in the mornings and to his private bedroom in the afternoon I did this for close to 2 yrs. he was happy with this set up an so was I. He had his girls with him and he was separated from the other drakes who would pick on him. As long as they show us they want to live an enjoy life I feel we should do all we can to help. I hope your boy recovers enough to be able to get around inside his home with you. If not then I’m sure do what’s best for him. Mean while take it a day at a time. And enjoy him.

Thank you so very much for your kindness. I really appreciate it. I love to hear about your guy and how you gave him 2 more years of happiness. They live as long or longer than some dogs and are often just as affectionate and loving. I love my guy, so I want to be ready to compensate in areas he needs me to. He can definitely scooch around, but I'm guessing that'll be exhausting for him to do for longer than short bursts. All I can do now is hope he loses less tissue than more. All my best

 

[TheSmallestEgg]

Certainly post pictures, how cold did it get?

Not nearly as cold as temperatures you've described, but he'd been sitting in wet snow so that might have something to do with it. Single digits, wind chill and little to no sunshine for probably a month. Im attaching some pics. Forgive the quality, he's not really in the mood for me to mess with his feet, but he does sit basically back on his knees right now, as to not put pressure on them. From what I can tell currently, he's able to move maybe one toe on each foot. The rest of the feet are stiff and immobile. One of the toes is even strangely twisted out. He can move his legs just fine, and swims well, but I've watched him try to scratch his face with his feet in the water and the toes don't move or change positions at all.

 

[Ratchnick]

In humans frostbite usually causes blistering. Also i don't think frostbite causes loss of movement after the area is rewarmed. All said the feet look pretty good, i assume they are normally black? I have seen my ducks do the floppy head scratch thing too. Its possible the crooked toe is hurting him.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I can't tell it's frost bite either. The frost bite I've seen is blistered also. It maybe just isn't showing up good in the pictures. I'd give him as much water therapy as you can [warm water] maybe doing this will get his feet to working again. How long as this been going on?

 

[TheSmallestEgg]

I can't tell it's frost bite either. The frost bite I've seen is blistered also. It maybe just isn't showing up good in the pictures. I'd give him as much water therapy as you can [warm water] maybe doing this will get his feet to working again. How long as this been going on?

Its been about 5 days since he's stopped walking. But he's been weird on and off for about a month. Originally he was just sort of puffed up. Then he was in for a while and was fine. Then it looked like he had been sitting in one place for too long again so we put him in again. Then after another while he bounced back and went out. Now this. My boyfriend and his family have been raising birds for many decades. He's definitely got more experience than me but of course, we certainly don't know everything. To him the toes look dead. The feet and toes don't move and just feel locked in and stiff. He used to try and balance on the feet a bit but no longer. It reminded me of how the frost bite in chickens toes would turn them black and would eventually fall off. I know that the blisters usually form quickly after rewarming. Would there still be blisters if the frostbite is deep?

Alternatively, what in the world could it be? Just feet. Not legs. It's not even like he's in pain at all. It legitimately seems like he can't feel them. I'll come home and examine them again and take more pictures. Like I said, if this turns out to be something else entirely, that's probably the best case scenario.

 

[Ratchnick]

The deep frostbite causes blisters and tissue death.

 

[TheSmallestEgg]

The deep frostbite causes blisters and tissue death.

Well folks, here are some better pictures. His webbing is completely fused together. I couldn't separate his toes if I tried. The toes are completely stiff and there's purple blisters in various places throughout, underside included.

From what I read, Moscovys are not mallard derived and they do not have the same circulatory system advantages other ducks have, so they are more susceptible to frost bite.

Its antibiotics and socks from here on out, I think.

 

[Ratchnick]

Those pictures look much worse. So sorry for your little guy.