Extremely lame duck...Help

[chickadoodle]

Hi all, My khaki campbell x runner duck approx 10 months old is hardly able to walk. She was always lame on her left leg, no hot spots or swelling, just a slightly increased waddle. About 10 days ago she came out with a definate increased lameness in her other leg, so much so that it quivers and she is very reluluctant to put any weight on it. She struggles to get into and out of the pond. She spends more time on the pond now she is hurting.She lives with a runner duck who treads her daily. She still eats and lays an egg every day. I have taken her to my usual vet who has prescribed MELOXIDYL .15 ml once a day. He says he canot feel any brakes and feels that the problem is in her hip joint, as when manipulated.she quacks. He recommends an xray in 10 days. He also said he had not seen many ducks and was interested in her condition. Has anyone got any advice? I dont mind paying for an xray etc, but her quality of life is being compromised, however, she has not lost weight and is still laying! I would hate to see her decline and goodness knows what her indian runner mate would do without her??? Advice appreciated. Thankyou.

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Hiya, sounds like you are doing all the right things, the x ray may show a fracture in her hipnor ribs which can cause kamdness. I have one with a broken rib at the mo from treading damage. Have the x ray, in the mean time can you keep him from treading her for 4 weeks so she can heal. Chicken wire is great as they can still have visual contact. She needs a break from treading x

 

[foxy]

Sorry to hear about your duck. Firstly I would for the time being separate her from her drake, he will not be helping her problem, by treading will be causing discomfort and aggravating the problem.

She obviously has an inherent weakness in one leg by your description, so she would naturally be favouring that leg, now she may have an infection or just a sprain in her good leg I imagine she will need some recuperation time. In my experience runner ducks do take a while to recover from lameness and it does help keeping them separate from the main flock to rest. With my duck I kept her with another female for company away from drakes and gave her 15 mins a day in a warm bath in order to stretch and exercise her legs without the problem of trying to get in and out of the pond. They just had a small clean run with a trug of water during the day.

The medication your vet has prescribed is an anti-inflammatory, this will help any swelling and relieve symptoms.

Good luck with your duck and please keep us posted.