Limping d’Uccle pullet

[Drarig99]

Two weeks ago, I found out my 8 months old d’Uccle pullet limping. There’s no improvement since then. Nothing’s broken, there’s no visible injury. I tried giving her vit.E + selenium in case she had a deficiency, but it didn’t help. I treated her with Ivomec but it did nothing. She started laying about a month ago and is still laying, she’s eating very well, she’s in a good mood otherwise. Something else I can watch for? I feed my girls half growing/half laying pellets.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She's so cute!

It could be a leg injury - any swelling at the hock? Have you looked on the bottom of the foot for scabs, are the scales on her legs smooth and not raised up or inflamed?

You can try Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) for her size 1/4 tablet of human B-complex daily or you can use poultry vitamins like Poultry Cell at 1cc per 3 pounds of weight.

Restricting her activity may also help, if you can cage her within the coop near the others for at least part of the day, just to see if she gets better.

With leg issues it can be hard to know what's going on unless there is obvious swelling or pain at a joint. Disease like Marek's could also be a possibility as well.

Just curious about the Ivomec, what dosage did you use - did you inject it, apply to the skin or give orally? Did you repeat in 10-14 days?

 

[Drarig99]

Thanks for the reply. There’s no swelling, non scab or anything, but I think her foot is a bit warmer than the other one.

Unfortunately, I have Marek in my flock, so I know it could be a possibility. But she feels pain if I pinch her toes, and her limping is very different from the ones witch had legs paralysis.

I did put 2 drops of Ivomec at the base of her neck. She should have her second treatment tomorrow, but I was wondering if I should give her an other dose as the first one didn’t do anything.

I’ll try Vitamin B2. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for the reply. There’s no swelling, non scab or anything, but I think her foot is a bit warmer than the other one.
Unfortunately, I have Marek in my flock, so I know it could be a possibility. But she feels pain if I pinch her toes, and her limping is very different from the ones witch had legs paralysis.
I did put 2 drops of Ivomec at the base of her neck. She should have her second treatment tomorrow, but I was wondering if I should give her an other dose as the first one didn’t do anything.
I’ll try Vitamin B2. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

I would go ahead and repeat the Ivomec as scheduled. I would not expect it to do anything for limping since it's an antiparasitic used to treat lice/mites and certain worms. But it's always best to finish a course of treatment once started. You won't have to worry about lice or mites for a while though!!

Try the Vitamin B2. You can also give a weak aspirin solution to see if that helps as well. If it's sprain or injury that may ease it a little. 81mg Aspirin (1 low dose Bayer) to 1 quart of water. Sweeten with a little honey to make it more palatable, but I would also make plain water available too, some birds just will not drink Aspirin water and you don't want her to get dehydrated.

Marek's can be frustrating, the signs and symptoms seem to be all over the place, but I agree, the way she is holding it up, it looks like it's painful to her. Can she "fold" it up? I wonder if she has a tendon slipped out of place - feel her normal leg at the back of the hock and compare it to the hurt one - you should be able to feel if a tendon has slipped out.

 

[Drarig99]

I would go ahead and repeat the Ivomec as scheduled. I would not expect it to do anything for limping since it's an antiparasitic used to treat lice/mites and certain worms. But it's always best to finish a course of treatment once started. You won't have to worry about lice or mites for a while though!!

Try the Vitamin B2. You can also give a weak aspirin solution to see if that helps as well. If it's sprain or injury that may ease it a little. 81mg Aspirin (1 low dose Bayer) to 1 quart of water. Sweeten with a little honey to make it more palatable, but I would also make plain water available too, some birds just will not drink Aspirin water and you don't want her to get dehydrated.

Marek's can be frustrating, the signs and symptoms seem to be all over the place, but I agree, the way she is holding it up, it looks like it's painful to her. Can she "fold" it up? I wonder if she has a tendon slipped out of place - feel her normal leg at the back of the hock and compare it to the hurt one - you should be able to feel if a tendon has slipped out.

I'll isolate her tomorrow and see if she can stay calm. If she doesn't, I may have to let her join her friends.

When you say "fold" it up, you mean her toes? No, it doesn't seems to fold or curl.

I'll try Aspirin and Vitamin B2, plus will give her her second Ivomec treatment. Thanks afain for four help. I really appreciate it!

 

[Drarig99]

I wonder if she has a tendon slipped out of place - feel her normal leg at the back of the hock and compare it to the hurt one - you should be able to feel if a tendon has slipped out.

From the manipulations I did, it didn't looks like she has a slipped tendon, but I'Il look again tomorrow.