Sprain or Mareks?

[Jaimie-22]

I am still quite new and worried sick about one of my girls, so looking for a bit of advice please.

My bearded Silkie is roughly now 11-12 months old and started to lay in Dec then went broody in Feb. whilst broody I lifted her out of the nest box twice a day for food and water. One evening about three weeks ago she was fine then next morning couldn't stand/walk on one leg. As she was broody and moving around a great deal I left her to rest in the hope it would heal, but it didn't so took her to my vet who isn't a chicken expert.

He suspected a severe sprain but was concerned by the way she was limping with the affected foot practically upside down, he was worried she was also damaging the toe nerves. He decided it was too risky to splint do just rest.

She appeared to be getting a little better -limping with her foot flat instead of bent under but now she limps both ways and a few of her toes feel completely lifeless. There are no lesions etc on the foot or leg. She had been like this three weeks now and yesterday I read a thread on Mareks and got even more worried. She wasn't vaccinated.

I tried to video her but its not very clear, any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

 

[realsis]

A vitamin defiency can also cause symptoms like these. You might want to try giving her a very good poultry multi vitamin and see if her symptoms improve with some time on the vitamins. If she doesn't improve with time on the vitamins I wouldn't rule out Mareks. The only way to know for certain it's mareks is through testing. But if the vitamins after some time is given do not seem to help, it's quite possible she does have it. But I would defiantly try the vitamin therapy and see if she improves. Sometimes a defiency can present it's self like this as well. I hope this helps and wish you the best.

 

[ten chicks]

Difficult to really tell from video,but whenever i see leg issues that are not healing,i recommend checking for tendon issues. To do this get your girl,hold her in front of you(easier to do if she is on the ground,standing)use your thumbs and feel down back of her leg from hock(leg joins body)to shank(scales start)press down while doing this,you are feeling for a slipped tendon. It will feel springy/loose/wobbly,compare to her other leg if unsure.

If you feel slipped tendon,press down you should feel it snap back into place,this might have to be done several times a day until it heals,or you can press tendon into place and then wrap to keep it there. If you need to wrap leg,just be careful wrap is not too tight as you do not want to cut off circulation. Tendon issues can be painful.

 

[Jaimie-22]

Thank you. I've just ordered some multi-vits and I'll try feeling the tendons later on when it starts to get a bit darker - she might be a little more agreeable when she's half asleep!

She's come out of the broodiness this week but just comes out into the run and sits quietly by herself in a corner most of the day. She is eating and drinking though.

 

[Jaimie-22]

Unfortunately Patti took a turn for the worse on Friday and my vet put her to sleep Saturday morning. When he tested her for sensation on the affected leg all her toes and the entire foot were completely dead, and even though she was eating and drinking she was all just fluff and bone.

I am just praying that Selma, my white miniature girl doesn't come down with it - they were inseperable.

 

[subhanalah]

Did you have a necropsy done to rule out Marek's?

 

[Jaimie-22]

No I couldn't. My vets wouldn't do it (they are mainly cats & dogs) and I didn't know anywhere else that would do it here.

 

[subhanalah]

I know it may be difficult, but if this happens in the future you can do it yourself. From my understanding, a bird showing symptoms of Marek's it's very easy to visualize the evidence even for a layman. (This is assuming you don't have her remains, if you do, there is an article on doing at home necropsies.)
I'm very sorry for your loss. I hope it was an isolated case and doesn't affect your other.