Quail with injured foot

[el dorado quail]

That's so crazy! Gald you were able to figure it out before things got worse

 

[DK newbie]

Urgh, so glad you found out! I read about something similar on here a few years ago but didn't connect it with the strange swelling at all Hairs are even more dangerous than pieces of string and such, because they can be nearly invisible.

 

[maadroj]

Unfortunately the chick is still having complications as a result of this. I'm posting photos in case anyone has treatment suggestions. It seemed to improve for about a week, but the toes are still swollen and appear to be dying at the tips. I soaked the foot in Epsom salt water for 20 minutes today, sprayed it with theracyn, and swabbed it with bacitracin. I'm separating the chick, which I hate to do because I think emotional/mental well-being is important to recovery and quail chicks need their siblings, but it was only getting worse in the brooder with everyone else.

Will a 5 week old chick be ok without a heat plate, though? They roost at night but still nap under the heat plate during the day.

 

[Ebony Rose]

It's possible that it's infected. Bird pus is totally different than human pus; theirs turns into a cheesy lump. And that one toenail / tip of the toe may die off if the circulation was cut off for an extended amount of time. For the most part, the coloring of the toe looks good, but the very tip, by the toenail, where it's all black and kind of gooey looking... that part might be lost.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Really really long toenails on them; do they have a sand box to dig in to help file those down?

 

[DK newbie]

The middle claw isn't long - I'm pretty sure it just seems that way because the flesh around the end of the claw has rotted away. Nothing can be done about it and the claw will probably fall off eventually - the sooner the better, then the bird can heal properly. The claw next to it might be a little long because the other toe is too sore for the bird to do any scratching.

 

[maadroj]

It's possible that it's infected. Bird pus is totally different than human pus; theirs turns into a cheesy lump. And that one toenail / tip of the toe may die off if the circulation was cut off for an extended amount of time. For the most part, the coloring of the toe looks good, but the very tip, by the toenail, where it's all black and kind of gooey looking... that part might be lost.

How would you recommend treating this? Do I need to try to drain the pus?

 

[Ebony Rose]

I am at a loss on how to treat it. Is there a chance that you could telephone a vet and perhaps get some (free) advice? If the lil squirt were human, they'd be carting them back into surgery for an amputation of the necrotic tissue. I'm not sure that I could managed that at home; I'd be afraid of making matters worse. I'm going to link a site that deals with necrotic (dead) tissue, the site is for HUMANS with necrotic tissue, but some of the principles should still apply. https://www.woundsource.com/patientcondition/necrotic-wounds

I sure hope your little one gets to feeling VERY soon.