Rooster's severely infected shanks! What should I do?

[OvertheHenHouse]

Just found this thread. His legs look so much better - you did an awesome job on those and should be proud of what you've done. I'm glad he's with a vet now and you're doing the blood work. I look forward to hearing how he's doing.

 

[fishnet1971]

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Great Job!!!! keep us posted. I bet that's a load off your mind now that you know what's going on. You can make a plan of action.

 

[FrenchToast]

More people should be as compasionate as you are towards their chickens. Please keep us all posted. Good luck ! And yes you should be very proud. You are a good role model for the rest of us and newbies to BYC !!

 

[consciousvoice63]

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That is the same thing I told myself when the bill came in. It's okay my father already payed for the veterinarian office visit. Now I have to pay him back by working with him and doing good in school, which is not a problem at all.

I'll include the results in another post so that everyone can see the information. Be sure to check it out.

 

[consciousvoice63]

According to the veterinarian, the blood results did not detect gout or could not positively provide an answer as to Denice's condition. I was a little upset that the blood test didn't find anything, but I knew that a single test was not going to spontaneously find a cure to his ailment . The veterinarian told me that he may be anemic, and is loosing large muscle mass throughout his body. She noted that he might not be properly producing blood because his body is greatly affected by the disease and is therefore loosing muscle.

 

[rbaker0345]

If you can't afford the vet, I would try wrapping with ichthamol dressing. Soak his leg, all the way up to his thigh in a warm , strong epsom salts solution, then dry off with a clean towel and just slather the ichthamol all over his legs. Next, wrap with gauze and then finally wrap with vetrap. Ichthamol and vetrap are both available from a feed store, or a Tractor Supply in the horse section.

 

[consciousvoice63]

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I can't afford to do more tests on him to find out what he has, because I'm not sure if there will be any useful results. But I can afford pain medication for him.

I already bought an antibiotic cream and have gradually been applying it on his legs. Although, I haven't been soaking his legs in an epsom salt solution. I have a question: how will the salt help, won't it just irritate his legs more?

 

[consciousvoice63]

Hey everyone, Denice is doing okay as he is happily eating and walking around. I changed the chick starter food weeks ago that I was feeding him and is now eating regular scratch feed and vegetables slices. His shanks are getting better each week, but the bump abscesses are permanent. I'm going to buy him pain medication for when he is in a lot of pain, which might be during the cold temperatures. It will last for about two weeks and it's going to cost $18 dollars.

Since winter is approaching, I'm going to make Denice as comfortable as I can throughout this season, so he won't be as vulnerable to catching something. I'm also going to make several adjustments to our coop, because the doors of the coop are all open to drafts. I hope everything goes well this season with my chickens.

 

[consciousvoice63]

If anyone has any questions about Denice feel free to ask me.

 

[consciousvoice63]

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Hmmm...