Sick / Injured Duck.

[awyman]

My year old duck became injured about 2 weeks ago. Something happened to one of her legs, but nothing appeared swollen, cut, or anything. She stopped walking, but could drag herself around. I separated her into a pen, and monitored her for a week. I started doing water therapy with her, but it didn’t seem to help. I just kept a close eye on her for a couple more days. But a recently I noticed she started to get shaky and her feathers started to deteriorate and become brown. I checked her, no mites. So I did my research, I think she had wet feather. I then tried treating her with a dawn dish soap bath. It seemed to help her feathers, so I’m going to try to do that weekly. While I cleaned her in the water, and scrubbed her feet, I saw a large swollen area with a scab. So I’m assuming she has bumble foot. I’ve only treated bumble foot in chickens. How do I treat it with ducks? She’s still shaky, unable to walk, & her eyes started to leak yellow fluid. Plus she’s losing quite a bit of weight. She’s still eating and drinking and I’m making sure she gets plenty of outside time in the grass. But I don’t think she is getting to forage like she used to. She usually grazes 2 acres of fields, swaps, and her pond. So I’m not sure she’s getting enough nutrients. Does anyone have any recommendations on what I could feed her to help? I’m trying to find a vet that treats ducks. She’s gone down hill so fast, but she still has a good bit of energy. Can someone please help me? Or is to late?

 

[Show Sebright]

You treat bumble foot the same for ducks. Can you send a picture? You should try to keep it covered. You can feed her normal layer feed. Maybe try to wet her feed sum, she might like it wet.

 

[Isaac 0]

Sorry to hear about your duck!

Could you post a few pictures of the Bumblefoot so we can see how bad it's progressed? Combining that and her symptoms we can make a somewhat clear diagnosis of how bad it's progressed and how you will need to proceed as far as treatment goes. From what it sounds, she has pretty severe Bumblefoot, the infection may possibly be spreading to the bones causing Osteomyelitis, which can be treated with a few antibiotics, Clindamycin, Cephalexin, and Baytril being a few to name, which can be obtained without a prescription. It can, however, be difficult to treat, so if a vet is an option I would suggest taking her there, but if there isn't I suggest you start treatment immediately.

Birds with Bumblefoot often develop other problems (Like your's) because they are unable to practice hygiene, so they're more inclined to get wet feather, sticky eye, etc, all of these need to be addressed as well, but I want to mention that dawn soap will rid the natural oil's out of their feathers, so its best not to use it more than once.

What also concerns me if how much weight she is losing in such a short period of time, if she were mine, I'd weigh her now, and if she loses 5% of that over the next few days start tube feeding her. Let me know if you're willing to do that, and I can let you know what you'll need to buy.

 

[Show Sebright]

Sorry to hear about your duck!

Could you post a few pictures of the Bumblefoot so we can see how bad it's progressed? Combining that and her symptoms we can make a somewhat clear diagnosis of how bad it's progressed and how you will need to proceed as far as treatment goes. From what it sounds, she has pretty severe Bumblefoot, the infection may possibly be spreading to the bones causing Osteomyelitis, which can be treated with a few antibiotics, Clindamycin, Cephalexin, and Baytril being a few to name, which can be obtained without a prescription. It can, however, be difficult to treat, so if a vet is an option I would suggest taking her there, but if there isn't I suggest you start treatment immediately.

Birds with Bumblefoot often develop other problems (Like your's) because they are unable to practice hygiene, so they're more inclined to get wet feather, sticky eye, etc, all of these need to be addressed as well, but I want to mention that dawn soap will rid the natural oil's out of their feathers, so its best not to use it more than once.

What also concerns me if how much weight she is losing in such a short period of time, if she were mine, I'd weigh her now, and if she loses 5% of that over the next few days start tube feeding her. Let me know if you're willing to do that, and I can let you know what you'll need to buy.

I don’t like tube feeding but I have done syringe feeding and water. Vet is need most likely. She will get through this and get all better.

 

[Isaac 0]

I don’t like tube feeding but I have done syringe feeding and water. Vet is need most likely. She will get through this and get all better.

Tube Feeding is one of, if not the most useful thing a Bird Owner can learn to do. Sticking a tube down a birds throat may seem hard, and a lot of the times daunting to a new bird owner, but when done correctly it can be quite easy, especially with practice, and of course, it would be better for a vet to do it, but a vet is not NEEDED. Its VERY useful, and especially beneficial to a bird in this kind of state. You are not going to be able to administer 30ml+ fluids by dripping fluids into her mouth. It would take forever, you'd likely aspirate the poor thing, and cause way too much stress.

 

[Isaac 0]

I really want this duck to make it too, but I don't think we should get the OP's hope's up, this bird is in a critical state and needs to be taken care of soon.

 

[awyman]

Thank you guys so much! I’ll get you pictures first thing in the morning. Still trying to get a vet that will treat her. I’ll get pictures of her eyes, foot, and just a picture of her in general. Thank you so much for your help and advice. Hopefully we’ll get through this!

 

[Isaac 0]

https://vetswift.com/dir/vets/west-virginia/birds/

Try calling a few places. Hopefully, she'll be alright!

 

[awyman]

Here are some pictures of her.

 

[awyman]

Called a vet today that’s 45 minutes minutes away from me. They can possibly squeeze her in on Thursday. I’d really like to start her on something so she can start feeling better. Any antibiotics I could give her?