Duckling Leg Injury

3bird · Wednesday at 9:17 PM

ruthhope said:
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.

Thanks!

Miss Lydia · Thursday at 6:04 AM

How is the little one doing today with her wrap on?

3bird · Thursday at 7:46 AM

Miss Lydia said:
How is the little one doing today with her wrap on?

Duckling #1 (perhaps with help.from Duckling #2) undid the hobble on one side in the brooder. We are doing big duck chores now, but we'll be doing PT we ducklings soon, and we'll report back.

3bird · Thursday at 8:43 AM

Things seem to be deteriorating quickly. We're so frustrated that we can't get into see a vet and get some x-rays done. Another friend of ours thinks slipped tendon, which would require being set or leg braces ASAP. The duckling is already only really on its hocks today, which is worse than yesterday.

I'm not sure the hobbling really helps this situation if the duckling won't get off its hocks and onto its feet. We're thinking of constructing some sort of sling for her, so her legs can stretch out and her feet can be on the ground. I'm sure that will be an all-day Google rabbit hole. We're willing to go to the mat for this duckling, but we feel like we need some help.

Duckling 1 on her hocks 15 July 2022.jpeg

Miss Lydia · Thursday at 9:03 AM

That's not good. So your vet is the only one in this practice?

Maybe this will help? the kid gets on my nerves but the sling may work.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-sling-a-ducks-leg.1450307/#post-24133375

3bird · Thursday at 9:27 AM

Miss Lydia said:
That's not good. So your vet is the only one in this practice?

Maybe this will help? the kid gets on my nerves but the sling may work.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-sling-a-ducks-leg.1450307/#post-24133375

The other vet in the practice is not an avian vet. We're trying other vets within a couple hour radius.

I'll check out that link. Thank you!

3bird · Thursday at 11:34 AM

The shallow water PT seems to be the best PT at this point. Because the duckling is "walking" on its hocks only whenever it tries to get around today, the hobbling seems less successful (although we're going to try again this afternoon). In the shallow pool, the duckling actually seems to "water walk" on its feet.

The deep pool seems good because the legs really get a workout paddling, and with a hand for the duckling to stand on, we've seen a standing wing flap! I think we need to continue to experiment with water depth for the most effective PT.

3bird · Thursday at 4:17 PM

So we went ahead and made this:

...and we let the duckling try it out:

And advice?

Miss Lydia · Thursday at 4:20 PM

Looks good but I think the sling should be up just a little higher so the feet aren't overlapping. Is that possible?

3bird · Thursday at 4:34 PM

Miss Lydia said:
Looks good but I think the sling should be up just a little higher so the feet aren't overlapping. Is that possible?

Yes! I agree. We've been moving the sling up and down and front to back. When at the "proper" height, the duckling wasn't getting any traction, but I think the feet should just be on the ground.

Duckling Leg Injury

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