How To Splint A Ducks Broken Leg

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need help my duck has a broken leg

Thread starter Brandy Basinger
Start date Jan 30, 2013

Hi my name is Brandy and well my duck flew away from home and came back home but the problem i have is my duck came back home with a broken leg and i don't know what to do? can anyone help me please?! i really don't want to put my duck down but if there is nothing i can do to help him then i guess i have too!

i'm asking anyone that had a duck with a broken leg that can help me please!!!!!

Hi my name is Brandy and well my duck flew away from home and came back home but the problem i have is my duck came back home with a broken leg and i don't know what to do? can anyone help me please?! i really don't want to put my duck down but if there is nothing i can do to help him then i guess i have too!
i'm asking anyone that had a duck with a broken leg that can help me please!!!!!

Sorry to hear about your duck! There are lots of very knowledgeable people on this forum, I am sure that you will get good advice here.

What type of fracture is it? Is it a compound fracture (bone sticking through the skin)? Is the leg at an odd angle? If not, if it is just a simple fracture with swelling and pain, I think you'd want to immobilize the leg with a splint and apply an ice pack to reduce swelling.

Welcome to the duck forum, wish it were under better circumstances.

Last edited: Jan 30, 2013

Amiga

Overrun with Runners

Can you give a description of the leg? I think there is a block for uploading photos until after you have made a certain number of posts. So we can ask you some questions and each response will get you closer.

How is the duck behaving? Eating? Drinking? Pooping?

A quiet, warm, clean place with fresh water and food is what is needed for the moment.

You might also want to post something to the Emergencies section also.

Amiga

Overrun with Runners

70%cocoa wrote this reply last summer to someone whose duck had a broken leg
(I need to turn in . . . will check tomorrow)

Here's what Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks says about broken bones:

- treat broken bones within 24 hours after the accident (how long has your duck's leg been like this for?)
- gently pull apart the broken parts of the leg and align them in the normal position (sounds like this would hurt so I'd have someone hold the duck)
- Splint the leg using something straight and rigid - like two popsicle sticks. Put the supports on either side of the leg so they extend above and below the fracture. Hold them securely in place with strong tape (perhaps masking tape) wrapped around the popsicle sticks and the leg
- check the patient regularly to make sure the splint is staying in place and that blood is still circulating to the foot (feet the foot to see it's warm but not unusually hot compared to the other foot)
- splints can normally be removed in 14 to 28 days

Last edited: Jan 30, 2013

Thread starter
#5

well my duck flew away on the Jan-25-2013 and came back home on the Jan-27-2013 that's the day he got the broken leg. well i think it's broken he can't move it and it's the left foot but it turns in a little to the right foot. no there is no bone sticking through the skin. and my duck is behaving well like a duck he goes in to the pool with the other ducks. eating and drinking and pooping i don't know i think he is eating and drinking with the other ducks. i just want to help my duck and make him feel better. and are you sure by putting a splint and apply an ice pack to reduce swelling is going to work? and how long do i have to leave my duck's foot in to the splint till he feel's better?

Amiga

Overrun with Runners

Since we cannot be with you or your duck (even though we would like to be there to help), we can offer ideas and suggestions. The splint will probably help if and only if there is a break, and it is fairly recent.

If he is limping, there may be a muscle pull or sprain. If that is the case, then once or twice a day swims in lukewarm water will help. Also, an Epsom salts compress can really help with those kinds of things.

Have you examined the foot to see if there might be a splinter, or bumblefoot?

Amiga's given some good advice given how you've described the injury.

Last edited: Jan 31, 2013

well my duck flew away on the Jan-25-2013 and came back home on the Jan-27-2013 that's the day he got the broken leg. well i think it's broken he can't move it and it's the left foot but it turns in a little to the right foot. no there is no bone sticking through the skin. and my duck is behaving well like a duck he goes in to the pool with the other ducks. eating and drinking and pooping i don't know i think he is eating and drinking with the other ducks. i just want to help my duck and make him feel better. and are you sure by putting a splint and apply an ice pack to reduce swelling is going to work? and how long do i have to leave my duck's foot in to the splint till he feel's better?

Is he limping? Is there swelling? Is he using the leg while swimming?

Thread starter
#9

yes i did examined his foot and no there is no splinter or bumble foot. and no he is not limping at all he can't walk on the left leg at all he just lay's down or using his beak to get around. and no he doesn't use his foot when he goes swimming and yes there is swelling on his left leg. so i should put a splint on his leg? but will it help his leg though. and i want to tell everyone thank you very much for helping me out with this!

Amiga

Overrun with Runners

Gosh, I wish we could look at that leg. You say there is swelling. Check all the way up the leg. Is there anything wrapped around it? Fishing line, a leg band, something like that?

Please consider using the Epsom salts compresses. That should help the swelling. And lukewarm baths to help the circulation.

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