Can Quail Get Arthritis?

[AniaOnion]

I have a lovely Quail hen named Baba Yaga. She came to me from the a Wild Bird Care Center where she was dropped off some time ago after being found wandering in the wild. They estimate that she is between 2 and 3 years of age, and I'm pretty sure she is the layer in my duo.

Recently she started limping a bit on and off and when I took a closer look, her knee seemed swollen though she is still able to move it and walk on it. At times it gets very red, but at others it goes away mostly. She had a bit of scaling as well, which the center says she's been getting on and off, and which doesn't seem too bad, or at least not enough to suggest a mite infestation.

I've been treating with epsom salt soaks for the leg, followed by it being covered by vaseline. It's helped reduce the redness and she is walking better but sometimes it gets red again and the swelling never seems to really go down. I'm starting to wonder is this is some form of arthritis. She is still eating and watering fine, and even before this she had a tendency to like to sit and "sun" bathe.

I've attached a picture of the swelling if anyone has any ideas or suggestions.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Wow, that's pretty good swelling!

I do think a quail could get arthritis... but will add that gout in two forms are possible at least in chickens so I don't see why not in game fowl.

One is caused by too much calcium in the diet (usually non layers), and the other is caused by too much protein... Both can impact kidney function, and usually some sort of predisposition to it genetically.

Epsom salt... magnesium absorbs into the muscle... not sure it will help this, but you know your results better than I.

Are you using aspirin or something to help with inflammation/pain?

Wish I could be more help. Hope she does well with you pulling for her!

 

[AniaOnion]

huh, I would have thought that Kikimora would be the one with the swelling in that case since she is the non-layer (as far as I know) and also obsessed with the cuttlebone.

I haven't tried aspirin yet cause I didn't know it was safe. What's the best dosage?

I also only give them extra worms about once a month, would that still be considered too much protein?

If it is gout, what would I need to do to help?

 

[AniaOnion]

Update:

So it turns out Kiki is the one who has been laying, though she moulting at the moment so that's stopped for a bit.

Baba Yaga went to the vet today. They have given me antibiotics and metacam but if it is gout, the metacam may turn out to be fatal. They are saying she might need the leg amputated since the swelling has pushed the ligament out of place which is why she has trouble with moving the foot right and since once infection sets into the joint, apparently it's nearly impossible to eliminate.

If there is any kidney damage though and if we confirm gout, then she may only have a few months to live and the surgery wouldn't be really helpful and euthanasia might be the more charitable option since it would mean she's in a fair amount of pain.

I'm hoping that the antibiotics help and this all turns out to have been something solvable. I have to find a third quail just in case though to act as a companion should the worst happen...

 

[DK newbie]

Thanks for the update - I really hope she gets better!

 

[AniaOnion]

Baba Yaga has been doing a bit better since the antibiotics. She's a bit more vocal and active which I think are good signs. The inflammation isn't really going down though. There is pretty much NO question that she needs the surgery.

The estimate I just got from the vet though is about $2000. I'm on disability and there is no way I can afford that. I might try to see if I can crowdfund it as well as the $200 kidney test...

This is breaking my heart. She is the sweetest birb. She cuddles with me sometimes and is so adorable...

 

[DK newbie]

That's too bad
If surgery is necessary though, it might be better for her to be put down. Even for humans who know it's for a good cause, surgery can be very hard. My aunt who had a brain tumor had surgery done to remove it twice. When it came back the 3rd time she didn't want to go through all that again (the 2nd time the operation made her partially lame). She's dead now, but it was her choice.
Animals don't know why they have to suffer and the operation might not even solve the problem. Keeping that in mind, it really might be the most humane option to put her down. For a quail that rarely uses its wings, being unable to use her legs properly must be such a huge handicap.