My duck has a confirmed boken hip :(

[Rtodorov]

I took my duck to the vey today after my pekin duck continued to limp for 3 weeks. At first, she didn't bear weight, then she started to limp, and continues to limp but then she lays down to rest in between going from point A to point B.

For piece of mind...it is not humane to keep her how she is, correct?

She still eats and drinks normally, lays her 1 egg a day....

It is not a clean break and I dont want to be inhumane....

The vet said ducks live with broken legs all the time, and kf she is eating, drinking and laying....then don't be so quick to euthanize. I'm thinking about the bone alignment and cutting up tissue with movement and not knowing if she is in pain. I take her in the house for bathes and to help take weight off her leg so she can relax some.

Thoughts please? I need peace of mind. I'm leaning towards euthanizing her :'(

 

[casportpony]

Wow, I'm sorry, that looks pretty serious. @Folly's place, can you offer some advice?
I think it the duck were mine, and I couldn't do the surgery, I would euthanize. That or ask the vet If there is a way to align and immobilize it so it can start to mend.

If your vet is not an avian vet, maybe ask them to contact Dr Speer for a consultation.
https://www.medicalcenterforbirds.com/

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Thoughts please? I need peace of mind. I'm leaning towards euthanizing her :'(

Hi there and welcome to BYC!

Very sorry you face this decision.

I mean to be honest.. it really stinks that she already endured the pain for a while.. my brain was saying months.. but reading again 3 weeks.. It can be so hard to decide does this need vet treatment.. Thank you, for recognizing that limping means pain and taking your feathered friend in for a check.

VERY tough choice.. how old is she?

It does look very serious.. I would *probably* euthanize instead of knowing that she is hiding as much if her pain as she possibly can to not be seen as easy prey. Also understanding that even if surgery is possible, recovery is still challenging but the vet might be able to prescribe pain meds during that time if you do go that route. I could NOT afford to even if I had the desire.

As the vet said though.. she is eating, etc.. She can live.

Euthanasia.. would be the kind thing to do for the animal.. I think.. IF the human can accept it.

Sharing one of my reasons or thoughts on why.. even having a bone reset.. it still hurts for a LONG time to come.. maybe ducks will be faster as their life is also.. but even two years later I feel pain at time in my previously dislocated (not broken) elbow.. and during that time many sleepless nights caused by pain.

Was the vet able to tell if the bone was moving and causing damage to the soft tissue from bone shards like you are expressing concern about? or is it fused or set in it's location somehow?

That must have been excruciating!

You'll get support here no matter which difficult choice you make.

ETA: life can still be enjoyed with pain.

 

[KaleIAm]

I'm very sorry to hear about your duck.

My duck, Gingersnap, broke her knee, years ago. I also took her to the vet and had it confirmed with radiographs. My vet is an avian vet, experienced with ducks and actually said I could just do cage rest for 6 weeks. Another option was surgery, but my vet said that with how messy ducks are and the risk of infection she wasn't sure that would have a better chance of a good outcome. Gingersnap was also on calcium, anti inflammatory medication, and gabapentin for nerve pain. She was miserable for 6 weeks in a crate. We got 2 small crates, one for inside the barn at night at one for the aviary during the day. We picked Gingersnap up and carried her between the two. She made a complete recovery! At her checkups you could see bone filling in!

Your duck's break is in a different joint and your situation is different, but for Gingersnap euthanasia wasn't the answer.

 

[Rtodorov]

Wow, I'm sorry, that looks pretty serious. @Folly's place, can you offer some advice?
I think it the duck were mine and I couldn't do the surgery I would euthanize. That or ask the vet If there is a way to align and immobilize it so it can start to mend.

If your vet is not an avian vet, maybe ask them to contact Dr Speer for a consultation.
https://www.medicalcenterforbirds.com/

Thank you for your feedback!

I'm very sorry to hear about your duck.

My duck, Gingersnap, broke her knee, years ago. I also took her to the vet and had it confirmed with radiographs. My vet is an avian vet, experienced with ducks and actually said I could just do cage rest for 6 weeks. Another option was surgery, but my vet said that with how messy ducks are and the risk of infection she wasn't sure that would have a better chance of a good outcome. Gingersnap was also on calcium, anti inflammatory medication, and gabapentin for nerve pain. She was miserable for 6 weeks in a crate. We got 2 small crates, one for inside the barn at night at one for the aviary during the day. We picked Gingersnap up and carried her between the two. She made a complete recovery! At her checkups you could see bone filling in!

Your duck's break is in a different joint and your situation is different, but for Gingersnap euthanasia wasn't the answer.

Thank you for your reply, my concern is the alignment is so off compared to the joint itself

 

[KaleIAm]

Thank you for your feedback!

Thank you for your reply, my concern is the alignment is so off compared to the joint itself

Absolutely, your situation different than mine. You'll make the right choice for your duck.

I've euthanized 2 of my precious ducks. It was heartbreaking and done out of love. After doing everything the vets recommended nothing could be done to save them. Euthanasia is a gift.

 

[Rtodorov]

I'm just confused. The vet said that ducks live with broken legs...just looking for peace of mind. She is the best... but I have ti be humane...adulting sucks sometimes

 

[Miss Lydia]

I believe I would call an discuss this more with your vet. Maybe ask for meloxicam for pain if the vet thinks that crate rest would work. That's a very bad break so if you decide to give her a chance I would get her on a supplement of calcium like calcium citrate of cal gluconate. Forher bones and to supplement her since she is still laying.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

if pain meds are an option they will help. i would recommend just keeping her ana one friend separate while she recovers

 

[Rtodorov]

I believe I would call an discuss this more with your vet. Maybe ask for meloxicam for pain if the vet thinks that crate rest would work. That's a very bad break so if you decide to give her a chance I would get her on a supplement of calcium like calcium citrate of cal gluconate. Forher bones and to supplement her since she is still laying.

I will be getting the calcium supplement tomorrow and calling for pain meds tomorrow. It was offered yesterday when I took her but that conversation went over my head