12 Year Old Male Turned into Quasimodo Overnight

[EweSheep]

Can chickens get arthritis like humans can?

Steroids or corizone might work LOL!

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Talked to my professor and he said that it could be a cracked vertebrate, but it probably wouldn't be from breeding.

He said to try to give some antibiotics as it might be a bacterial infection of some sort. I'm going to try that, then, if that doesn't work try the vitamin therapy.

He also said it might be a tumor that is putting pressure on the spinal column, which would cause him to hunker down and make him seek a more comfortable position.

What I don't understand, is why does this bird still have his breeding drive if he's in pain?

 

[silkiechicken]

Animals are odd like that. Had a hamster so driven to get into the girls cage, he dug his foot pads to shreds and rubbed the top of his nose bare trying to get in to her cage after getting out of his.

 

[Demeter]

silly hamsters

 

[natalie1136]

Quote:
I just think he looks like an old man, but he needs a cane. I am sorry about his stroke though. I can't stand it when i have a sick one.

Natalie

 

[ams3651]

Quote:
wow, what a legacy that would be!

 

[Nostalchic]

Wow that's a really old rooster, and he looks great. My observations:
He is walking with a pretty normal and symmetrical gait, alert, interested in food, clearly, but unable to hold his head in a normal upright position. I would suspect that he has an injury to his cervical spine or the muscles around his cervical spine, but not affecting the transmission of impulses to his legs etc. so not what a "central lesion" - stroke, damaged spinal cord, etc. would look like. He could have some cervical stenosis (narrowing of the outlets of the nerves from the spinal cord causing pain) or muscular injury. He's pretty active, considering. Aren't animals amazing? If he's eating and active and otherwise himself, I would doubt any problem with the gut, etc.