Injured duck - trying to figure out how to help

[Ginna1]

I live close to a community duck pond and often go by to watch/feed them. I noticed a duck with what looked like a cut on it’s foot a few weeks ago. At that time it was holding it up an hopping on one foot to get around. I’ve been going by daily to feed it (duck food w/niacin), I bought some vetericyn plus to try to spray it on the cut (which I assume was the problem?) but it won’t let me get close enough to do this. I’ve thought about trying to catch it to put the spray on it’s foot, but I don’t want to cause it more distress if that’s not the right thing to do. Over the past week I’ve noticed it is putting more pressure on the foot, but is still limping. It has been swimming in the pond too. It looks almost like it’s skin is peeling and one part of the foot is red and swollen. Is this something that will or is healing on it’s own? Any advice on what’s going on here or what I should do? There is a wildlife refuge about an hour away from me that accepts injured animals, but if I take it there I have to surrender it to the refuge, I don’t want to take it away from it’s flock for something that will heal on it’s own!

Thank you in advance for any advice you have!!

 

[Anime2lover]

I live close to a community duck pond and often go by to watch/feed them. I noticed a duck with what looked like a cut on it’s foot a few weeks ago. At that time it was holding it up an hopping on one foot to get around. I’ve been going by daily to feed it (duck food w/niacin), I bought some vetericyn plus to try to spray it on the cut (which I assume was the problem?) but it won’t let me get close enough to do this. I’ve thought about trying to catch it to put the spray on it’s foot, but I don’t want to cause it more distress if that’s not the right thing to do. Over the past week I’ve noticed it is putting more pressure on the foot, but is still limping. It has been swimming in the pond too. It looks almost like it’s skin is peeling and one part of the foot is red and swollen. Is this something that will or is healing on it’s own? Any advice on what’s going on here or what I should do? There is a wildlife refuge about an hour away from me that accepts injured animals, but if I take it there I have to surrender it to the refuge, I don’t want to take it away from it’s flock for something that will heal on it’s own!

Thank you in advance for any advice you have!!

Catch that poor duck. That's a severe injury, which makes it highly vulnerable to predators. It's mobility is greatly diminished. That injury isn't going to heal before a predator gets it most likely. It honestly looks like the foot is dieing in the pics. Was that foot always so dark? Or did that happen after the injury??

 

[Ginna1]

I’m not totally sure, since I just noticed this a few weeks ago. It was waking around normally one day, and the next it had a visible cut, and it was pretty immobile for about a week, and over the past week it’s moving around more and swimming daily, but this is what it looks like as of today.

 

[RosemaryDuck]

It's difficult to tell because of the ducks coloration, but it looks like the foot is dying off. I agree with @Anime2lover , definitely catch if you can so you can assess the injuries and possibly take to a vet. If you're in Florida, Muscovy are considered an invasive species so I'm not sure how that would effect care/surrendering it.

Edit: Tagging some people in case they have any other advice. @Isaac 0 @azygous @Eggcessive

 

[Anime2lover]

I’m not totally sure, since I just noticed this a few weeks ago. It was waking around normally one day, and the next it had a visible cut, and it was pretty immobile for about a week, and over the past week it’s moving around more and swimming daily, but this is what it looks like as of today.

That duck needs a vet. It does look to me like the swelling has cut off circulation to it's foot. If it does lose it's foot it will not do well in the wild, but it could still have a chance in a captive flock. In my opinion this duck needs to be caught and vetted soon as you can.

 

[Saqqara]

It looks like necrotic tissue. If you could catch it, I would take it to the animal rescue. I am not an expert though, so maybe someone else can gibe you a better answer. Your a good person though.

 

[Anime2lover]

It's difficult to tell because of the ducks coloration, but it looks like the foot is dying off. I agree with @Anime2lover , definitely catch if you can so you can assess the injuries and possibly take to a vet. If you're in Florida, Muscovy are considered an invasive species so I'm not sure how that would effect care/surrendering it.

Edit: Tagging some people in case they have any other advice. @Isaac 0 @azygous @Eggcessive

Good choices, they usually have some good advice.

 

[Isadora]

It's difficult to tell because of the ducks coloration, but it looks like the foot is dying off. I agree with @Anime2lover , definitely catch if you can so you can assess the injuries and possibly take to a vet. If you're in Florida, Muscovy are considered an invasive species so I'm not sure how that would effect care/surrendering it.

Edit: Tagging some people in case they have any other advice. @Isaac 0 @azygous @Eggcessive

I don't think tags work if you do it in an edit. Needs to be in an original post

 

[Anime2lover]

I don't think tags work if you do it in an edit. Needs to be in an original post

@Isaac 0 @azygous @Eggcessive

 

[Ginna1]

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It's difficult to tell because of the ducks coloration, but it looks like the foot is dying off. I agree with @Anime2lover , definitely catch if you can so you can assess the injuries and possibly take to a vet. If you're in Florida, Muscovy are considered an invasive species so I'm not sure how that would effect care/surrendering it.

Edit: Tagging some people in case they have any other advice. @Isaac 0 @azygous @Eggcessive

Okay thank you. I’m in Texas and the bird refuge I can take it to takes all kinds of birds and ducks, I just didn’t want to pull it away from its family, or traumatize it trying to catch it if it was something that would eventually heal. I am new to the duck world, I wasn’t sure how all this works. I am totally willing to try to catch it and take it to the refuge, any suggestions on the best way to do that…let me know. Appreciate it.