Marek's: Is leg paralysis permanent? When is it time to put her down?

[babayagaeggs]

My poor little pullet has been sick for about a month now: Her leg is paralyzed and I assume it's Marek's, even though she was vaccinated. She's alert and eating/drinking OK, but that leg is not moving. My question is, does Marek's permanently paralyze the leg? If so, I guess it's inevitable that I will need to put her down, unless there are any other solutions?

I'm not sure if amputation is an option, but I would consider it if anyone else has had luck. I know there isn't a cure, but I wasn't sure if there's a way to keep her alive without that leg. Thank you in advance!

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you give us some history of your chicken? How old is she? Where did she come from, how long have you had her, and where was she vaccinated? Mareks may be the reason for her leg to be like that, but could she have been injured? Did her leg always look normal when she walked. Hopefully, it is not Mareks, but here is some reading about it:
http://csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/Documents/vdl-mareks-disease-fact-sheet.pdf

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

 

[babayagaeggs]

Can you give us some history of your chicken? How old is she? Where did she come from, how long have you had her, and where was she vaccinated? Mareks may be the reason for her leg to be like that, but could she have been injured? Did her leg always look normal when she walked. Hopefully, it is not Mareks, but here is some reading about it:
http://csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/Documents/vdl-mareks-disease-fact-sheet.pdf

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

She's about five months old; I got her from a trusted hatchery that vaccinates their chicks. Never had a problem with them before, but I know Mareks can still occur despite vaccinations . I've also been giving her liquid vitamins, just in case.

Other chickens attacked her right around the time she lost use of the leg, and I thought that it might be an injury. But it's been a month and that leg is literally dead weight: There have been zero signs of healing that I would expect to see by now, and she does not move it at all. She was also walking a little funny in the time leading up to the attack: I almost wonder if the other chickens could sense she was sick, and that's part of the reason they attacked her.

Also, thank you for the resources! Reading those now.

 

[Eggcessive]

I suspect that she could have had a leg bone deformity or an injury that caused her hock tendon to rupture. There are several possible leg bone deformities such as twisted tibia, varus or valgus deformity, and those can occur in only one leg or in both. A ruptured tendon can occur with a sudden injury or from a leg bone deformity that gets worse. Here is some reading with pictures of various deformities:
https://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/leg-health-in-large-broilers

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...ctious-skeletal-disorders-in-poultry-broilers

https://www.researchgate.net/public..._of_the_Intertarsal_Joint_in_Broiler_Chickens

 

[babayagaeggs]

I suspect that she could have had a leg bone deformity or an injury that caused her hock tendon to rupture. There are several possible leg bone deformities such as twisted tibia, varus or valgus deformity, and those can occur in only one leg or in both. A ruptured tendon can occur with a sudden injury or from a leg bone deformity that gets worse. Here is some reading with pictures of various deformities:
https://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/leg-health-in-large-broilers

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...ctious-skeletal-disorders-in-poultry-broilers

https://www.researchgate.net/public..._of_the_Intertarsal_Joint_in_Broiler_Chickens

Thank you so much!

 

[Eggcessive]

There is always a chance that she might not have reacted to the Mareks vaccine, but I would watch her. There is a blood test that you can get from a Texas lab that costs about $38 total, if you still suspect Mareks. You trim a toenail and collect blood then send it in for a PCR Mareks test. Here is the info on that:
http://www.vetdna.com/application/forms/aviansubmittalform.pdf