Renal adenocarcinoma found in a clinically lame marbled duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris)

Abstract

AbstractLameness is a frequent reason for captive waterfowl to be presented to a veterinarian. This case report describes unilateral right hindlimb lameness in an 11‐year‐old, female marbled duck kept at a zoological collection in the United Kingdom. Although the bird was euthanased after clinical and radiographic examination, both supported a diagnosis of degenerative joint disease, postmortem examination revealed a renal adenocarcinoma, which possibly put pressure on the nerves of the left hindlimb and may have interfered with the duck's mobility. This case highlights that coelomic issues may lead to lameness in avian patients and, as such, clinicians must consider changes in soft tissue structures alongside skeletal abnormalities when evaluating radiographic images in cases of lameness.