Bird with hurt leg...any ideas?

[chickie1]

I have a peacock that thinks he is a chicken, does that count?

Snowpea is about 1 1/2 - 2 years old, and yesterday he got into a scuffle with a coyote. Amazingly, there are no obvious wounds, though the coyote pulled out mounds of feathers. I brought him to the vet today, who said she couldn't find any broken bones. He is not putting weight on one of his legs though, and sits back on his haunches or flopped to the side. If he tries to get up and move, he tips to the side and does a face plant.

She gave him a steroid shot, and said if he was going to improve, it would be about 2 days.

That was this AM, I just went out to check on him and his hurt leg is very cool, much cooler than the other. She mentioned that it was at the apppontment too, but I didn't feel it myself so I have no baseline.

I don't know if we should be doing something else for him, or if this is just the beginning of the end. Anyone with any experience with hurt legs? Is having it feel cool normal due to swelling, and not a completely bad omen?

TIA!!

 

[dlhunicorn]

sorry but as this may be tied in with the medication I really feel you should contact your vet again.

 

[plymouthrockFarm123]

mabye something cutoff its circulation that would explain y it is cold and it is probably numb so he cant feel it and walk on it. thats just a GUESS tho

 

[PoultryPedia]

Might it be helpful to apply some heat to help stimulate circulation? Maybe hold a "rice sock heatpad" (old sock filled with uncooked rice and warmed in microwave about 1 1/2 mins) on his leg for 10 mins or so at a time a few times a day? Don't know if would need to apply ice pack (such as pack of frozen veggies) after to prevent swelling???

 

[plymouthrockFarm123]

i agree that would work

 

[chickie1]

speckled hills, that sounds like a fantastic idea. Isn't heat alternated with ice good for swelling in humans? Off to google!

My vet was closed when I posted this last night, but I did find an emergency vet with some limited knowlege of birds, but no other idea than wait and see, and let the steroid do its work.

I went back out to check on him though, and his leg was much warmer. I think the first time he may have been laying on it, and had just rolled over when he heard me open the door...he definately wasn't laying on it when I turned on the light. The vet said that would block circulation even more, so to check him a lot to make sure he is not doing that.

Dh is going to put up a perch a couple inches off the floor tonight to get him putting equal weight on both legs.

Fingers crossed! He is not the friendliest bird to us, but I think he was attacked while diverting the coyotes attention away from the rest of the flock (the peacocks are VERY protective of the chickens) and I would feel awful if he can't get over this

 

[chickenzoo]

I have found with my own peacocks that as brave as they are, when it comes to injurys they are BIG Babies!t sounds to me like he may have strained or pulled a muscle in his leg, and we all know that takes longer to heal then broken bones.I would try to massage that leg as much as possible with out stressing him out. Again consult with a vet for more indepth info.

Happy Healing