Having a domestic duck as a pet can bring you years of companionship. Ducks, like any animal, can suffer injuries and problems throughout their lifetime. They may exhibit signs of limping, hopping, or immobility issues due to a hurt leg. Unlike large animals like horses, birds can completely recover from a broken or hurt leg if you get them the proper treatment as soon as possible.
Reasons Why a Duck is Limping
There are several reasons why your duck may be limping. How you treat their injury will depend on their problem. For example, ducks will limp due to foot or leg pain, so pinpointing the cause is critical before determining how to help them.
Some common problems that cause a duck to start limping include:
- Cuts or scratches on the bottom of the feet, causing pain
- Muscle strains, twisted ankles, or torn ligaments
- Broken leg,
- Vitamin deficiency
- Dry or cracked skin on feet or legs
- Leg mites
- Bumblefoot
- Infection or open sores on the feet
- Hip malfunction
No matter what the cause is for your duck’s limp, it is vital they receive the proper care and treatment to make a full recovery for a long and healthy life.
How Do You Treat an Injured Duck?
It can be disheartening to watch your pet duck limp around in pain. However, by examining your pet as soon as possible, you can figure out why they are limping and what to do to help them. You can take care of some simple problems at home, while others may need the intervention of a veterinarian.
Gently Examine Your Duck
Never pick up a duck by the feet. Their legs and feet are fragile and can sustain damage easily. Instead, hold the duck securely in your lap and monitor their breathing during the examination. If they are struggling to breathe or it is labored, they may have an underlying health condition that a veterinarian should diagnose.
Take a look at the underside and the tops of the feet for any scratches, cuts, abrasions, or swelling. If you notice anything abnormal, like scaly skin, dried blood, or open wounds, you should treat your pet’s foot accordingly. Also, examine their toes for any dry skin, cracked webbing, scabs, or other problematic issues.
You can gently move their toes and feet with your hands to see if your duck cries in pain or shows any signs of distress. For example, you may hear cracking, see swelling, or the foot and leg may feel warmer to the touch than the uninjured leg.
How Can You Tell if A Duck’s Leg is Broken?
Some tell-tale signs will indicate a broken leg in a duck. If you suspect a severe injury like this, you may notice these symptoms:
- A noticeable bend or break in the leg
- Only standing on the one good leg
- Uneven balance
- Constantly shifting their balance to the uninjured side
- Sitting more than usual
- Showing signs of distress, such as labored breathing, lack of appetite, or hiding
If you have any concerns about a possible break, you should consult your veterinarian, who can confirm if your pet needs treatment for a fracture.
Remove Them for Treatment
The treatment for your duck will depend on the injury and what is causing them to limp. You can treat minor cuts or abrasions with antiseptic and wrap the area with gauze and self-adhesive wrap until it heals.
Bumblefoot infections are more serious and will need proper antibiotic care to treat this staph infection so it does not spread to your flock. Never pick anything off your duck’s feet or toes. If they have dried mud or debris causing them to limp, soak the foot in warm water to help remove it without force.
How to Splint a Duck’s Leg
If you or a vet has confirmed a broken leg, there are ways to aid their recovery. These treatments will depend on the severity of the break.
Critical fractures may need an avian specialist to perform surgery and realign the bones for proper healing. They may use pins, screws, and metal plates to keep them in place while your duck’s leg heals.
You may be able to treat simple fractures at home with a splint. Align the leg as naturally as possible, and use supports on both sides of the leg. Try to ensure that the supports are long enough to reach the bottom of the foot, so if your duck stands on both feet, the splint will support its weight rather than the foot of the injured leg. Use self-adhesive wrap and secure the splint firmly but not too tight to restrict circulation.
Keep Them Immobile
Keep your domestic duck isolated and as immobile as possible until they make a full recovery. It is essential that your duck not try to run or jump in and out of a wading pool while they are recovering from a foot or leg injury.
While swimming is a terrific way for them to build up leg strength after becoming hurt, you should monitor their activities until they are well enough to return to the flock. You want to pick them up and remove them from the water yourself until they are well enough to hop in and out.
The Takeaway
Broken legs and foot injuries are common with domestic birds, especially ducks. Therefore, if you notice that your duck is limping or favoring one leg over the other, you must examine them for injury as soon as possible.
Even though a limping duck seems serious, they can make a full recovery when receiving the proper care. If you have any concerns about why your duck is limping or are unsure what to do when your duck has a hurt leg, a call to your veterinarian will be best.
The quicker you can treat a problem that affects your duck’s feet or legs, the faster they will recuperate and return to normal activities.