Rooster Limping

[Eggcessive]

How is your roosters getting along? Has he been avoiding too much use of his leg and letting it rest? Are symptoms better or worse? It can take several weeks for a soft tissue injury to get better.

 

[Mebrou]

How is your roosters getting along? Has he been avoiding too much use of his leg and letting it rest? Are symptoms better or worse? It can take several weeks for a soft tissue injury to get better.

I don’t really notice a whole lot of improvement. Definitely doesn’t seem worse though. However, tonight will be the first night since his meds have run out so we’ll see how he does. I’ve had him in a crate for a week and a half. Vet said 10-14 days. I take him out throughout the day to hold him and get him off his legs. I just started taking him in the front yard to get some sun and grass. I also let him dust bathe and he seemed to really enjoy it (and he needed it). Not a lot of moving around though, just some grazing here and there. He saw the ladies at one point and tried to go after them lol I had to catch him before he went far. It’s encouraging to know it could take several weeks. I was starting to get a little down about it. I’ll keep you updated as we progress. Thanks so much for your expertise!

 

[Mebrou]

Update: still no improvement. Took him back to the avian vet. All bloodwork is very good. Vet said symptoms don’t align with mereks or gout and definitely not bumblefoot. Put him on antibiotics to see if that helps. We’re halfway through treatment but no change. Vet will speak to an avian specialist to see if they have any answers. Truly bizarre. Unfortunately all his toes on the bad leg are curled at this point. Not sure if they are sore from stepping on his tips for support or something else is going on. At this point I’ve been letting him out in the yard everyday and he forages and relaxes. Not sure it’s humane to keep him around if there’s no treatment Hoping to hear back from the vet any day. Keep you posted.

 

[Eggcessive]

Did you treat him with any B complex vitamins as recommended earlier? Usually when toes are curled under that is nerve damage, a B2 riboflavin deficiency, or Mareks.

 

[Mebrou]

Yes, I do that daily. Also tried nutri-drench here and there. I’m at a loss.

 

[Eggcessive]

Well, time will tell if it is Mareks, hope not. If nerve damage from an injury, then it may or may not get better with rest.

 

[Mebrou]

Well, time will tell if it is Mareks, hope not. If nerve damage from an injury, then it may or may not get better with rest.

Vet said his symptoms didn’t align with Mareks. I’m wondering if the curling is due to supporting himself on his tippy toes for so long they got sore/possibly dislocated. They curled one by one. After scouring the net I found a post you commented on regarding Mycoplasma synoviae and the symptoms seem to align. It was mentioned that it typically impacts the left leg which is true in his case. And a vital detail I didn’t think to mention was that for the first time ever our flock got hit with the pox and respiratory issues- more than likely MS/MG. He had bubbles in his eye for a couple days but after some honey garlic he was fine with no further symptoms- hence the correlation oversight. A month or so down the road and the limping began. That being said, any thoughts? He’s perfectly fine and alert other than the limp/swollen hock. I may mention this to the vet and see if she’ll prescribe some of the antibiotics mentioned in the post. My roo has only been on amoxicillin clavulanate potassium which didn’t help at all. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!!

 

[Eggcessive]

Well, Mareks can cause a lack of immunity (wbc production) against common diseases. So it is possible to suffer other infections with Mareks. No one can give you a diagnosis, but the state vet is a good source when looking for answers. That is why it is good to get a necropsy if you lose one, and keep the body cold , not frozen, and get it to them asap.

 

[Mebrou]

Okay, very bizarre, but after a couple weeks with the curled toes they just uncurled. I’m still waiting for the vet to advise on whether or not she thinks we should attempt a different antibiotic based on the possibility of it being a different infection, or if it’s more humane to put him down. Such a conundrum I’ve found myself in. I just hope I’m doing the right thing

 

[Eggcessive]

They may have become uncurled due to your treating with riboflavin in the vitamins. Treating here and there must have been enough to treat riboflavin deficiency. Is he walking normally?