My duck can’t walk!

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I rushed a bit through my last couple posts, so I want to make sure everyone has all the information.

When I pick her up, she puts her belly/breast against my chest, her neck on my shoulder and usually “stands” on my hand. When we picked her up to examine her, she got in that position. She was putting weight on her right foot on my hand, but her left was tucked upwards between her and me. When we gently moved it down so we could see it, she yelled. Then she let us examine it and move every joint without a peep. But I could not get her to put weight on her left foot which is unusual. She is a super tough girl as evidenced by the number of times we or the vet have cut into her right foot trying to clear the infection. We were both surprised when she yelled because we were just moving her left leg.

Again, we have no earthly idea what she did to it which is the confusing part! She was getting stronger and healthy and then one day couldn’t walk! It’s so upsetting!

@WannaBeHillBilly thank you for the link! I’m not sure how we’d get that into the area we have the ducks...it used to be our dining room...but we’re putting our thinking caps on.

To everyone - how do you calm your ducks? We want to get her in the tub but all of our ducks are very skittish with new things and we don’t know how to make it not stressful for her. And we need the dogs to probably be outside and we’re getting a snow and ice storm tonight and tomorrow. Life is never easy!

That definitely sounds like she has somehow injured either her left leg or her hip. Cayugas are medium size birds and i wouldn't be surprised if she has done that to herself while hopping on her left leg to keep the right one off the ground. Think about: If we start to hop on one of our legs, there's a good chance that we injure ourselves too! - So not necessarily a fall or a mating drake.
I know you will hate to do that again, but if you could try to move the joints of her left leg separately. Please look at this picture https://abby-howard.tumblr.com/image/86927311188
and start from the bottom up with her toe joints, her heel and then her knee. Watch her reaction and try not to move her hip - my assumption is she has a hip injury or a twisted/pinched nerve at the hip. If she doesn't flinch on the lower three joints, i would wrap her left leg up to her body and let her rest for ~8-12 hours, then try if she's better. If not give her some free time and then bind up the leg again fo 6-10 hours.
Maggie, one of my Magpie ducks was suddenly limping and when i examined her, she was not even flinching when i touched her hip, but her pulse went fast as a drummers's solo. She got much better after just one day of rest.
Calming down ducks is a challenge, especially Cayugas are known to be skiddish. Dim lights, warmth and no hasty movements, talking constantly in a soft voice to her will help. And duck-crack (aka meal-worms) as reward is always helpful.
How many ducks do you have? - I would use one duck as company for her not more, if she even needs company. Dim dull environment, so that she gets sleepy and rests.

 

[Cayuga Lover]

@Miss Lydia we’ve used towels in the past so that’s not an issue. She does let me hold her without any issue but we certainly don’t care about a wet towel. I worry she’ll hate it and it will cause her stress and make things worse. Or she could absolutely love it...it’s so hard to tell.

@WannaBeHillBilly I thought about wrapping it but wasn’t sure is I should. We can test the joints and wrap it. She is resting a lot because she doesn’t want to move much and I don’t blame her, but she’s not resting with it wrapped. Maybe that will help. You make an excellent point and how it could be a problem because she favors her left leg so much.

She’s currently separated but in view of her two “ducklings” (who are grown now). That allows her to only move when she chooses, not when other ducks move or bother her. To get her on her with just one duck, we’d have to leave one of her duck friends alone, which they wouldn’t understand.

In total, we have four ducks in an outdoor run and house and three inside.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Only way to know is to try it. Stay right with her so she can’t launch herself out. Fill the tub about half full so she can float and take pressure off her legs

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

That's why i was askin the "How many" question. Understand that you don't want to separate the two ducknagers, and i wouldn't too. Three ducks inside should be doable, somehow. When you wrap her left leg up, make sure that she can breathe easy. - No i'm not sure if you should wrap under the wings or wrap the wings too. What do you think @Miss Lydia ?

 

[Cayuga Lover]

@WannaBeHillBilly you think we should flex her hip and wrap her leg up against her body? I’m just try to be clear on that. Will it make her hip worse if it’s wrapped and flexed?

@Miss Lydia you’re right! I have mom nerves I guess. If only she could talk to us!

 

[Cayuga Lover]

My husband just observed her moving a bit. She seems to be unable or unwilling to straighten her knee on the left and she’s keeping it out to the side, away from her body. Does that tell us anything?

 

[Miss Lydia]

A pic would help. Could she have gotten her leg or foot caught and injured her leg trying to pull it out.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Well if it is the knee, forget about the wrap! For an injured knee you need to keep all weight off. A swing where the foot can touch the ground just a bit and swim time in lukewarm water is best. Don't let her leg just dangle in mid air, that may cause pain too.
Its complicated! Just let her find a comfortable position and do the best to keep her in that position for extended periods of time.

 

[Cayuga Lover]

I just observed her walking. It does seem like her knee is the issue, but it’s super hard to tell. I really need a duck whisperer! She holds it out to the side a bit, but I think she’s just doing that so she doesn’t put weight on it. She kind of touches her toes when she tries to move around.

We’re letting her rest as much as she wants, which is a lot and we try not to make her move when we’re cleaning up and changing food and water. We hope to get her in a warm tub tomorrow...we’ll see due to the snow/ice and caring for our outside ducks and dogs....and driveway, and stairs, and walkways...I hate the snow! LOL

The vet is not out of the question but we use a mobile vet who is great and the only vet that will see ducks in our area, but she comes in an RV that can’t make it up our very long, steep driveway in the snow. We probably couldn’t get her here until next week, but it’s certainly an option.

 

[Dougdilman]

I just observed her walking. It does seem like her knee is the issue, but it’s super hard to tell. I really need a duck whisperer! She holds it out to the side a bit, but I think she’s just doing that so she doesn’t put weight on it. She kind of touches her toes when she tries to move around.

We’re letting her rest as much as she wants, which is a lot and we try not to make her move when we’re cleaning up and changing food and water. We hope to get her in a warm tub tomorrow...we’ll see due to the snow/ice and caring for our outside ducks and dogs....and driveway, and stairs, and walkways...I hate the snow! LOL

The vet is not out of the question but we use a mobile vet who is great and the only vet that will see ducks in our area, but she comes in an RV that can’t make it up our very long, steep driveway in the snow. We probably couldn’t get her here until next week, but it’s certainly an option.

Can you post a video?

its so sad to see animals hurt if only they could talk!