The Little Lame Duckling (with update & new pic)

[Miss Lydia]

@fawnda is the dislocation at the hip? Any way a vet is possible.

 

[fawnda]

@fawnda is the dislocation at the hip? Any way a vet is possible.

It is. It seems to pop in and out at this point. She is one week old yesterday. She seemed ok when I got her at 2 days old, although the leg in question was turned inward about 20 degrees. She ran around like a nut despite the turned in foot. She was about a 1/3 smaller than the other 3 ducklings I got, definitely runty, but she seems vigourous despite the small size. Then I went out to their brooder this past Sunday and there she was with her leg turned in about 90 degrees at times and you could see it was out at an awkward angle at her hip. She could stumble around a bit, but very clumsy and of course, it make your stomach turn to see the odd angles her foot achieves. I wasn't sure if it wasn't spradle leg at first, so we tried tethering it to her good leg around the ankles with a pipe cleaner. She was able to stand good that way, but it was of no help when she tried to walk. I've taken it off at this point, not helping and maybe making it worse I've been doing warm 20 minutes tub sessions and she loves those and paddles and paddles away. She's almost like a normal duckling then. She doesn't seem to be in any discomfort usually

 

[fawnda]

It is. It seems to pop in and out at this point. She is one week old yesterday. She seemed ok when I got her at 2 days old, although the leg in question was turned inward about 20 degrees. She ran around like a nut despite the turned in foot. She was about a 1/3 smaller than the other 3 ducklings I got, definitely runty, but she seems vigourous despite the small size. Then I went out to their brooder this past Sunday and there she was with her leg turned in about 90 degrees at times and you could see it was out at an awkward angle at her hip. She could stumble around a bit, but very clumsy and of course, it make your stomach turn to see the odd angles her foot achieves. I wasn't sure if it wasn't spradle leg at first, so we tried tethering it to her good leg around the ankles with a pipe cleaner. She was able to stand good that way, but it was of no help when she tried to walk. I've taken it off at this point, not helping and maybe making it worse I've been doing warm 20 minutes tub sessions and she loves those and paddles and paddles away. She's almost like a normal duckling then. She doesn't seem to be in any discomfort usually

There is an Avian vet over an hour away, I live in rural Iowa.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am not sure you can fix this but ducks can live with problems as long as it isn’t painful. I am sure the water therapy is helping since it’s taking pressure off the leg. What breed? Once she gets mature is when pain and hard to get around maybe a problem. Still might be fixable if a vet sees her now. I know it’s not always feasible though.

 

[fawnda]

I am not sure you can fix this but ducks can live with problems as long as it isn’t painful. I am sure the water therapy is helping since it’s taking pressure off the leg. What breed? Once she gets mature is when pain and hard to get around maybe a problem. Still might be fixable if a vet sees her now. I know it’s not always feasible though.

I'm going to try and take her to a vet that's a little closer, about 45 minutes away, and see if anything can be done for her. If they think it's hopeless, I guess I'll ask them to euthanize her Maybe there's hope, maybe not. I want to see what they say at least, it will help me feel at peace about it if the prognosis is poor. Poor little peanut, the other ducklings are growing so much more quickly, she was so small to start with too. She's a Cayuga, btw......funny, but my other female Cayuga also has some weird joint issue, which I'm pretty sure is congenital in her case, but not as severe as this. She just has an odd gait and prefers to not walk much.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I think that would be best for her an you. Thinking of you both. And please know most of us have been through things like this and we know it’s heartbreaking. But there is always hope! Let us know please

 

[fawnda]

I think that would be best for her an you. Thinking of you both. And please know most of us have been through things like this and we know it’s heartbreaking. But there is always hope! Let us know please

The closer place actually does not see ducks They list that they see birds, but when I asked, she shouted back to someone and I heard her say they don't see "barnyard animals" Dumb, she's still a bird! So anyways, I called a place that's over an hour away and got an appointment for tomorrow evening. They see "exotics" and zoo animals and just about anything you can think of, lol. Hoping the exam is not too horribly expensive

 

[Miss Lydia]

I hope not either, but at least you'll know after the examine if she can be helped.

 

[fawnda]

I hope not either, but at least you'll know after the examine if she can be helped.

This is a good vet, they are the vet for the local zoos and a parrot rescue, so I know she'll be in good hands and can trust their analysis. I have to figure out how to keep her toasty warm for the long car ride there and back though.......I was thinking I'd bring another duckling for company and warmth, plus one of those microwavable rice things and put them in a little cooler with lots of towels. I don't have a hot water bottle. Any suggestions?

 

[Miss Lydia]

That sounds like it would work. And if it’s still toasty warm by you that will help also.