Should I remove this scab in his hock joint? How?

[JanvierUK]

My boy Elliott, a 4 year old Salmon Faverolle, has been limping and I found a scab (I think it's a scab) where his scales meet his feathers. I've read the description of Toots' cancer (@azygous) and whilst the spot doesn't look the same, the leg shaking and difficulty perching is very familiar.

Is it a good idea to try and soak off the scab? Are there creams or salves that might do the job? I'm in the UK, and my access to veterinary medication isn't as good as it appears to be in the US.

It appears to be dry, I don't see pus under it. He flinches when I try to lift the scab, and stays off that leg most of the day.

 

[Debbie292d]

Initally, I was thinking the start of SLM (scaly leg mites) but that area from what I can tell looks pretty sore.

Hopefully @azygous can come see, but what I would do if he was mine is soak his leg in warm Epsom salt water for about 10 minutes, then cover the area with a triple antibiotic ointment (without painkiller). The soaking alone might take that scab off, but if not, I'd just leave it. That ointment should keep the area moist and prevent any potential infection. You shouldn't need to cover it. I'd check it a couple of times a day and redo it.

I would also give him and all of them a vitamin boost by putting Poultry Cell, Nutri-Drench, or whatever vitamins for water you can get there. I'd do that every other day for a week.

 

[azygous]

It may be a wound or it may be a skin cancer. Either way, it would be best to clean it out as best you can. To remove a scab, put undiluted dish detergent on it and leave it for ten or fifteen minutes. This will render the scab into a soft jelly, easy to then scrub away.

Rinse well and put an antibiotic ointment on it and watch it. If it heals, good, but if it doesn't heal but gets bigger, you have a squamous cancer. This is what a leg cancer looks like. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...e-not-injury-confirmed-to-be-a-tumor.1543307/