Elvis has a gammy leg

[azygous]

The videos are encouraging. It confirms my hunch that plain rest is the best path for this young man. I don't see evidence of dislocation or a break.

I would, however, treat him for shock to be safe. That would be electrolytes in sugar water for today, and don't allow him to get chilled.

 

[Chicalina]

The videos are encouraging. It confirms my hunch that plain rest is the best path for this young man. I don't see evidence of dislocation or a break.

I would, however, treat him for shock to be safe. That would be electrolytes in sugar water for today, and don't allow him to get chilled.

That's very good to hear, thank you so much.
I've been ridiculously worried.

I'm planning on leaving him out at night, but tucked into one end of his hutch with no draughts. I put some vitamins into his water but will add some electrolytes too in the morning as it is night time here now. Good idea.

If this had happened to one of his arsehole brothers, I wouldn't be half as concerned! Little pint-sized hormonal horrors they are at the moment (except sweet Elvis) . He is the only one I've named, so of course I have to keep him!

 

[Chicalina]

Update

This morning, Elvis seemed to have worsened. His left leg is now also affected. He is walking on his hocks and has both feet turned inwards and scrunched. I think yesterday was a palsy, not an injury. Now it's both legs. I gave him a vitamin E capsule.

His breathing seems laboured though he is not panting. He seems frightened by what is happening to him

I think it must be neurological, but what? He was fine 2 days ago. No other bird I have is sick.

There are no poisons, no new birds to the flock (besides some tiny chicks 6 weeks ago who are all fine). His poop is normal, eyes, nares, vent are clear.

Any ideas?

 

[Chicalina]

Taken just now.

 

[Chicalina]

I've got him on this tonic (double dosed in his water) which has B vits in:

 

[azygous]

That's upsetting news. It does indeed point away from injury and towards a pathological cause.

Your "tonic" is fine, but what might really help is vitamin B complex. I recommend the B-100 as it has the highest concentrations of the B vitamins that could help Elvis. A thiamine deficiency could cause his symptoms. Give one-half to one tablet daily with the E.

The worst case possibility is an avian virus. I dealt with these symptoms in three pullets this past year. You might want to glance through the thread I made. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...update-now-another-pullet-going-lame.1432738/

 

[Chicalina]

Thanks so much @azygous. I've just ordered them for delivery tomorrow. How long should I give the B and E for?

I'm off to read your thread now.

 

[Chicalina]

My goodness @azygous, I've just spent the past 2.5 hrs reading your thread about May and June. I'm so sorry to hear about them both.

I can't get vet drugs here without prescription and my vets don't know anything about chickens, so I'm going to stick with the megadoses of Vits B and E and hope for the best. Elvis will either recover or not.

If I have Mareks in my flock, I will be so devastated. I'm trying to rehome several cockerels and they would have to be culled. Such a waste of life and of beautiful healthy birds. I'm not sure I could do it.

I've just looked up the stats and in the UK in my Region there have only been 10 diagnosed cases of Mareks since 2007, so it seems unlikely.

I'm hoping it's just a vitamin deficiency.

 

[Chicalina]

I've brought him indoors for the night in a comfy box with shavings to sleep on. It's getting colder and damp here at night, even though we are supposed to be midsummer.

Hardest bit was finding a safe space in the house to put the box where my chicken-chasing dogs can't get at.

He will go back out in the morning to his hutch with his food and water. I might make him some scrambled egg too.

 

[Chicalina]

OK so it's now 1 week since he went lame.

Day 1 he was holding one leg loosely and I thought it was a sprain.

Day 2 the leg was obviously paralysed and crabbed at the foot.

Day 3 the other leg was the same. Both paralysed and all toes curled inwards.

Day 4 and 5 the same. Day 6 he seemed to be more upright on his hocks than crouchy.

The first 2 days I gave him high dose Vit E capsules once a day, then from day 3 he also had high dose Vit B complex (half a tablet twice a day). Also a general chicken booster multivit in the water, which contains lysine. I was reading about lysine the other day, so maybe this helps.

I also noticed a flea on him yesterday so treated him with ivermectin.

I don't know if these doses are right. I have been doing physical therapy for a couple of minutes twice a day, just bending and stretching the legs and in particular unfurling and stretching out the curled toes.

He has been perky throughout. No signs of looking sick. Eating and drinking well. Comb red and erect. Wings not paralysed and being used for balance. He has been walking on his hocks or sitting down most of the time. He cannot balance well and falls in his food bowl head first a lot.

But anyway, this morning I saw an improvement!! He was putting his right foot flat on the ground with the toes spread out as they should be. Just one leg. And walking a bit taller on that leg. The other leg is still immobile with toes curled inwards, and not as strong so he is lopsided.

I made him some little hock boots to cushion his bones as he walks on his elbows. I think I did one a bit tight with the vetwrap because it was slightly swollen this morning. I took it off that leg, which happens to be the better leg anyway.

Elvis 2 days ago.

Elvis this morning.

Can you see the difference?

His swollen foot, which I'll check again when I bring him indoors tonight. I'm sure it was just tight vetwrap. What do you think about the pink stripe? I've noticed others in my flock with this who have pale or yellow legs. Now I'm looking closely at them I am noticing these minutiae. Is this a symptom of something?

He weighed 470g yesterday and I wish I'd weighed him last week to compare. He seems lighter to me.

His zest for life is strong, along with his appetite for scrambled egg!

I'm cautiously optimistic and hope I'll see more improvements tomorrow. Perhaps this is a vitamin deficiency after all? I'm eagle eyeing his brothers for any symptoms. Might dose them anyway.