Duckling Leg Injury

Miss Lydia said:

I wouldn't leave them on for swimming. And as long as the little one doesn't work them down where he could get tangled up all other times keep them on. I looked online and couldn't find anything. Maybe the others can.

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I'm not finding much either. We just did some poking and prodding. The biggest challenge is that if we hobble at or above the joint, the ducklings undercarriage starts to get involved.

The duckling sure likes its swim time and it paddles pretty well.

We started another thread specific to more aggressive, corrective measures (and specifically hobbling) here. I'll continue to post general update on this thread too though. Thanks for everyone's help.

I"ve never had to do it so I really don't know.

Such good exercise for the little ones to build up those leg muscles.

3bird said:

@DuckyDonna and @ruthhope , Do either of you have pictures or videos of hobbled legs that you think show good technique? We've got vetwrap and are ready to give it a go. Would you leave it on all the time (e.g., in brooder at night, swimming, etc.)? How often do they need to be changed? Any tips, tricks or strategies would be much appreciated. Thanks!

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By the time I saw this, you had already started another thread with a photo and video of your duckling hobbled. You did good there!! I haven't seen any instructions for high hobbling like you needed to use. Your photo and video will be out future teaching resource!

ruthhope said:

By the time I saw this, you had already started another thread with a photo and video of your duckling hobbled. You did good there!! I haven't seen any instructions for high hobbling like you needed to use. Your photo and video will be out future teaching resource!

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We'll see. I worry we are dealing with a slipped tendon that needs to be set. Thank you for your help.

3bird said:

We'll see. I worry we are dealing with a slipped tendon that needs to be set. Thank you for your help.

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I'm actually worried you are dealing with dysplastic hips -- where the sockets are not fully formed. But, IMHO, the only way to manage that in a duckling is to have the head of the ducky femur pressed into the socket stimulating further development of the socket. So your hobbling is the best thing.

I think slipped tendons are more likely around the ducky knee joint or ankle joint

ruthhope said:

I'm actually worried you are dealing with dysplastic hips -- where the sockets are not fully formed. But, IMHO, the only way to manage that in a duckling is to have the head of the ducky femur pressed into the socket stimulating further development of the socket. So your hobbling is the best thing.

I think slipped tendons are more likely around the ducky knee joint or ankle jointThank you.

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Thank you. So how would you suggest hobbling?

3bird said:

Thank you. So how would you suggest hobbling?

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The way you are doing. Using narrow strips of vet wrap high up round the thigh bones then under the ducklings belly and up round the other leg -- high up on the thigh bone. I have a vision of using a figure of 8 wrap under the belly but that is probably not feasible/necessary. The photo and video you posted seemd to me to be good.

In infants there are plastic spints for mild hip dysplasia but human infants don't need to walk like a duckling needs to. More severe hip dysplasia maybe operated on but the infant is then put into a cast, a "hip spica". That is again not possible in a duckling.

The very best you can do is keep your little fluffy walking and with the hobbling, hopefully improve the gait. Keeping the duckling walking is vital and your support for that has been excellent.