The Story of Hops, deformed joint that will not hold tendon in place. Vet said prognosis is not good

[cutlerfam7]

update: things look worse but she is still stretching out her leg on her own and still eating and drinking. still not sure what to do. costs 79 dollars to take her to the vet and that is not including tests!!!

 

[itsren]

update: things look worse but she is still stretching out her leg on her own and still eating and drinking. still not sure what to do. costs 79 dollars to take her to the vet and that is not including tests!!!

I'm so sorry! I hate to say this, but is it worth taking her to the vet when they might not be able to do anything anyway? Maybe if she continues to eat and drink, it will resolve as she gets stronger. It might take time. I know this is very, very difficult. Keep us posted.

 

[cutlerfam7]

I sucked it up and took her to the vet. $138.00 later.....the vet put a splint on her and I am getting it taken off this coming wednesday! I cannot wait! The baby chick has cost me a lot of money & stress!!! I'm just worried about how the splint is making her stand and sit now. I'm worried about her leg getting all out of wack! Any suggestions on how to make sure the leg doesn't get ruined with the splint on? She doesn't seem to like it AT ALL!

 

[itsren]

I sucked it up and took her to the vet. $138.00 later.....the vet put a splint on her and I am getting it taken off this coming wednesday! I cannot wait! The baby chick has cost me a lot of money & stress!!! I'm just worried about how the splint is making her stand and sit now. I'm worried about her leg getting all out of wack! Any suggestions on how to make sure the leg doesn't get ruined with the splint on? She doesn't seem to like it AT ALL!

I'm sorry, I have no idea. I used the chick chair to keep my little girl immobile. The way I put her chair together in a milk crate, she couldn't reach anything so both of her legs hung perfectly straight. I pinned a cut square from a 2nd t-shirt over the top of her wings so she couldn't flap them. The chick chair pretty much immobilized her. She didn't like it, but as long as I was in the room with her, she didn't fight it. If I walked out of the room, she could get the chair bouncing (which made me nervous of a secondary injury). I kept the milk crate in a square plastic box for droppings and just carried that entire ensemble with me everywhere.

 

[cutlerfam7]

Thank you. Here are some updated pictures of Hops.


As you can see he is WAY more far behind then the other birds. Any one have any ideas about that?







And that is her $20 splint...go figure!

 

[itsren]

Such a cutie! What is that splint made out of? It looks like paper - or tape. Vets are spendy. I didn't realize they were that expensive though!

 

[itsren]

I'm just learning, but I have read that a "he" will often grow slower than a "she". You could have a baby boy on your hands. I don't know.

 

[cutlerfam7]

Its basically just tape! I feel bad cause it has been pulling at some of her/him leg feathers! I was thinking about that the other day though that Hops may be a HE just because we got them from mcmurray hatchery and this could possibly be our mystery chick! Hopefully he/she starts catching up to the others though cause they already get picked on! I cannot wait to wednesday for this **** thing to come off! I will most certaintly upload new pictures!

 

[cutlerfam7]

Just got back from the pet. The tape splint has been taken off and I have been informed that it did absolutely nothing. This actually infurriates me because I had been hoping and praying that it would be some how magically fixed. I have now left the vet with a new splint on Hops leg! This one is with a tongue depressor and some cotton balls and masking tape...However, we do not know if this is gonna do anything either.

The main issue is that Hops bone is deformed and the grove for where the tendon sits is not deep enough. We are hoping that if we force it into place and hold it there, which is what the splint is doing, that hopefully he will grow enough over the next few days that maybe the tendon will stay. The vet told me the prognosis for the bird isn't looking too good. That this may work but its not likely. This news only crumbled my heart...A WHOLE ENTIRE LOT.

This visit only cost $50....and i have another one next monday!


Well wishes, prayers and words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated. I'm at my wits end. I feel so defeated because this little guy requires a lot of attention and one on one care which I sometimes feel that I am failing at.

Please keep Hops in your thoughts. I want this baby to grow up healthy! I really am not good with things dying on me. I feel that I must try everything!!

 

[itsren]

I am so sorry! I was hoping the leg was getting better.