I had soaked his feet in warm epsom salt water 3 times a day for a week, and it didn't seem to do much good. For the record, it didn't take all 3 of us for the procedure, but it was sure nice having them both there. I cleared off, and disinfected one of my kitchen counters next to the sink. I took a couple big towels, folded them in half, and laid them on the counter to cushion him. When I finished with his foot bath, I stood him on the towels, then took another big towel, and laid it across his back, securing his wings, then gently pushed him down, and rolled him on his side, then onto his back, securing him in the towel, except his feet. He was pretty secure, and comfy. The one daughter mostly talked to him, and rubbed the side of his face, and held him with the other hand. I steadied my elbow on the counter, and grabbed his foot. I highly recommend steadying the arm/hand of the holding foot this way, so you have much more control in case they jerk. I guess all that frog dissection I did in high school was worth it.
Oh, I put Purina Flock Raiser in his feed dish. I thought that he might not want to stand as much to eat for a couple days, and wanted him to get the maximum benefit from less food. It's 20% protein, so I'll switch him back to his regular feed once I see he's standing, and eating normally. Today I have to get more vet wrap.
Another thing, I went into the local drug store, and asked for a disposable scalpel. You would have though I was going to harvest kidneys to sell on the black market from the reaction I got. Next, I went to one of the local vets. I was informed that scalpels are for surgery, and if my pet (they assumed it was for a cat, or dog) needed surgery, I needed to have it done by a qualified vet, and they would be glad to schedule an appointment. I explained I wasn't trying to spay an animal, just incise a bumble on a chicken's foot. They had no idea what that was, but would be glad to look, and evaluate the situation for me. I knew I was going to have to drive to the other side of the county to TSC to get a stupid scalpel. Recently, just up the road from where the vet's office was, they opened an Equine Hospital. I figured a vet's office dealing with livestock might be more understanding. Yup. Totally different attitude. It saved me a long trip. Being in the "city" I figured I would have trouble getting it. I have an old cartridge fountain pen. I bought another fountain pen too, and a bottle of ink. I went to the pharmacy, and asked for a syringe, showed them the pen, and ink explaining that filling the syringe with the ink, and putting it in the cartridge was the easiest way to fill it. It was not going to be used for anything else, and I only needed 1. Nope, I would have to have a prescription for syringes, and buy a package of them, not just one. Fortunately, my feed store carries them.
Oh, I put Purina Flock Raiser in his feed dish. I thought that he might not want to stand as much to eat for a couple days, and wanted him to get the maximum benefit from less food. It's 20% protein, so I'll switch him back to his regular feed once I see he's standing, and eating normally. Today I have to get more vet wrap.
Another thing, I went into the local drug store, and asked for a disposable scalpel. You would have though I was going to harvest kidneys to sell on the black market from the reaction I got. Next, I went to one of the local vets. I was informed that scalpels are for surgery, and if my pet (they assumed it was for a cat, or dog) needed surgery, I needed to have it done by a qualified vet, and they would be glad to schedule an appointment. I explained I wasn't trying to spay an animal, just incise a bumble on a chicken's foot. They had no idea what that was, but would be glad to look, and evaluate the situation for me. I knew I was going to have to drive to the other side of the county to TSC to get a stupid scalpel. Recently, just up the road from where the vet's office was, they opened an Equine Hospital. I figured a vet's office dealing with livestock might be more understanding. Yup. Totally different attitude. It saved me a long trip. Being in the "city" I figured I would have trouble getting it. I have an old cartridge fountain pen. I bought another fountain pen too, and a bottle of ink. I went to the pharmacy, and asked for a syringe, showed them the pen, and ink explaining that filling the syringe with the ink, and putting it in the cartridge was the easiest way to fill it. It was not going to be used for anything else, and I only needed 1. Nope, I would have to have a prescription for syringes, and buy a package of them, not just one. Fortunately, my feed store carries them.
