Peeling, scabby, sore duck feet! Advice very welcome please.

[Miss Lydia]

Not sure swimming would be very good.

 

[blackandtan]

I don’t know about duck feet particularly, but in terms of general wound care:
-no more swimming
- black tissue appears dead, will probably continue to fall off
-looks like there is some pink granulation tissue (healing) there, which is a good sign
- IF she was mine, I’d wash her feet in an antiseptic solution, pack with polysporin (or neosporin or other antibiotic ointment) then wrap her feet, keeping toes gently separate and change bandages daily
I don’t think webs will grow back, but I can’t see that being a problem for a pet duck’s swimming, I’m sure she’d manage a tub or little pool

Like I said, I’m no expert but I do know how soft their little feeties are and I think bandages and ointment will provide the best environment for healing
Best of luck!

 

[Team PJ]

I'd wondered that about the webs it looks so so sore.

We live in the South West of England. I'm not sure she'd have been exposed to anything cold enough to give her frost bite... she came inside just before the first really cold snap happened about a week ago.

 

[Team PJ]

Thank you all for the advice... I'll look up the ointments/balms recommended.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I wonder if warm Epsom salt soaks would help too? Just don’t let her drink the water it’s also a laxative.

 

[PirateGirl]

I agree that it looks like extreme frostbite. Webs will not grow back. Depending how deeply the tissue is damaged she may or may not lose toes entirely. Your biggest issue is going to be watching for signs of infection. Infection could go systemic and if it develops I would highly recommend a vet for antibiotics. Also with frostbite it is crucial not to allow her back in cold temperatures until fully healed or the problem can be made worse.

 

[Jpat]

I don’t know about duck feet particularly, but in terms of general wound care:
-no more swimming
- black tissue appears dead, will probably continue to fall off
-looks like there is some pink granulation tissue (healing) there, which is a good sign
- IF she was mine, I’d wash her feet in an antiseptic solution, pack with polysporin (or neosporin or other antibiotic ointment) then wrap her feet, keeping toes gently separate and change bandages daily
I don’t think webs will grow back, but I can’t see that being a problem for a pet duck’s swimming, I’m sure she’d manage a tub or little pool

Like I said, I’m no expert but I do know how soft their little feeties are and I think bandages and ointment will provide the best environment for healing
Best of luck!

Great post!

 

[aart]

I'm not sure she'd have been exposed to anything cold enough to give her frost bite... she came inside just before the first really cold snap happened about a week ago.

....and what temps were those?
I can't imagine anything but frostbite that would make the skin peel off like that.
You don't use any lime on the ground do you?

We live in the South West of England.

Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[PirateGirl]

It only has to be below freezing for frostbite to occur, not crazy extreme temps, so just below 32* F or 0* C. It does not necessarily take a long period of exposure and under the right conditions frostbite can occur in less than 20 minutes.

If not cold, then maybe a burn, from heat or chemicals could cause something like that. Either way, I'm thinking something environmental as opposed to disease.

 

[Ratchnick]

I can't fathom a ducks foot getting frostbite at or just below freezing. I have seen post where people have their ducks at -40 and they don't have frostbite.