deformed leg on keet. help!

[nipper75]

I bought a meet from agway on Saturday bc I knew it was injured. his leg is just hanging there and he is not Anne to bear weight on it. he hops around on the good leg, eats and drinks well. I started to. give him vitamin b complex today along with a band aid wrap. I'm unable to post pics using my phone but I was able to upload to my profile. please help me!!! Thanks

 

[PeepsCA]

Looks like the tendon has slipped to the outside of the hock joint, out of the tendon groove... sometimes this can be from an injury, sometimes it's a genetic defect and the groove that holds the tendon over the joint just isn't deep enough to hold the tendon in place (or was never there to begin with). And as the keet grows/gains weight it becomes obvious leg issue really quickly...



Unfortunately there's usually no fixing this issue at this keet's age... it is sometimes fixable if you catch it as soon as it happens when they are newly hatched, but even then it's not always possible to fix.

You can try moving the tendon back into place and then wrapping a thin (16th of an inch wide) strip of duct tape around the joint 3-4 times over itself in the opposite direction the tendon wants to slip, to try and keep pressure on the tendon and hold it in place, but it may not work... and handling the joint and tendon is going to cause the keet a lot of pain.

This condition is painful for the keet now (and will only get worse), and it most likely won't ever be able to keep up with the rest of it's flock, won't thrive as it should or live a normal Guinea life because of the constant pain. Even if it is getting around ok now, it's still in pain and will always be in pain, every day of it's life...

(And if it is a genetic issue and it manages to breed eventually the same issue will probably show up in a number of it's offspring... which you definitely do not want happening).

I know it's not what you want to hear/read... but IMO that keet would be better off if you put down. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful... or provide more positive info

 

[nipper75]

Thanks for replying. I really do appreciate it. he doesn't seem to be in any pain because I've been feeling it and stretching the limb. I have him with a few users that are a few days old. I think they think he is their mother and are cuddling up. I'm referring to it as "him" I don't know what it is yet.

 

[Barbiejo]

I also had a peep with the same issue,she has since grown and is now 5 years old. She adapted very well to her crippled leg and keeps up very well with the rest of the flock. She is not in any pain that I can see and seems very happy. I do baby her with special treats but she does let the other girls know that they are hers. She has no use of that leg and actually uses the back of her foot for stability. So good luck in whatever your decision is.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Hello:

Keep the young one active and stretch the leg every day. Try to put the leg in your hand and just hold it straigth for about 5 to 10 minutes.

Keep it away from any other keet if they are picking on it. Other wise let it play with them.

I have had many a Guinea get crippled from injuries or genetic deformity. They can live a productive life, they just gimp about.

Remember these guys can fly a good distance and my one Guinea that I called "gimpy" just flew to keep up with the rasp.

Hope this helps:
Guinea G.

 

[Barbiejo]

Oh my gosh I call my crippled hen Gimpers, she has become my favorite hen over the years!