runner duck with sore lower abdo

[Anonymous]

Can anyone offer any advice? I have a young male (I am pretty sure- curling tail etc) white indian runner who has lost his feathers around the lower part of his abdomen. The skin looks sore and a bit bloody. I wondered if , with all this extremely cold weather and the fact that they keep lying down in the snow, it could be some sort of frostbite?
If not, does anyone have any other suggestions? He is very bright in himself; eating and drinking normally. They haven't had access to pond water for a few days though as it is frozen absolutely solid as is the hose I use to refill it. They do, of course have clean drinking water topped up a couple of times a day. Not sure it's relevant, but I have just wormed them with their second dose of Flubenvet.
I'm not sure whether it's swollen or not as runners seem to look a bit of and odd shape anyway.
I am about to bring him into the house and have a better look.
Thanks, in anticipation!

 

[Anonymous]

I brought him in and let him preen himself in the bath and it didn't look nearly so bad once he was cleaned up. I think the blood was coming from his legs; his skin seemed a bit cracked. He's back out with his pals and they didn't seem to notice his absence.
Gill

 

[Anonymous]

Glad it isn't as bad as first imagined.
It does sound as if he's got badly chapped skin,but,I don't know if ducks can get this.
Maybe smearing some vaseline on his legs would help to keep them waterproof,but to heal any sore area's first I would apply sudocrem.Available from chemists and supermarkets in baby section,it's a nappy rash cream.

 

[Tim]

If it gets any worse, perhaps you could post a photo of the area in question so we can see it...

Good Luck, let us know if it doesn't get better.

Tim

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Tim and Lydia for your advice. I will keep an eye on him but it doesn't seem to be bleeding any more. I think I have some sudocrem somewhere. I smeared some calendula cream on the sores . We'll see how he goes.
Hopefully the warmer weather that's meant to be arriving soon will help!
Gill

 

[Anonymous]

Mmmm,warmer weather,what's that again .
Glad he's no longer bleeding,it can be so worrying.Hope he continues with a full recovery.