Treating abscess & diagnosing large lesions/ growths on rooster leg @ feather line

[lambler]

Hi there,
I am after some help please in treating a stubborn abscess on our Australorp Rooster's leg. His name is Wayne.
The abscess is also a result of him self pecking the lesions/ growths, which vets have been unable to diagnose. One vet feels it is something to do with arthritis.
We are probably sadly at the point of euthanasia for Wayne if we can't get is sorted soon.
Advice most welcome,
Thanks, Marty

 

[theoldchick]

This could be the result of Gout. https://poultrydvm.com/condition/gout

 

[lambler]

Thanks Whisperer.
Possibly 'Articular Gout',
Much appreciated.

 

[RubelliteRose]

Azygous has a thread about treating tumor on one of her roosters. It has been awhile since I read through it, but there may be some useful information.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...e-not-injury-confirmed-to-be-a-tumor.1543307/

 

[Eggcessive]

It looks like a possible cancer called squamous cell carcinoma, common in chickens. There sometimes may be others on the body. About the best way to get a diagnosis is to ask your state poultry vet do a necropsy after he dies, where the pathologist will examine tissue under a microscope. What state are you in? Here is a list of state vets to contact along with info on how to preserve the body.
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...L5h4Xt137GBu32pWJZSRUY5DYhQyVrd4ODmF-Ab8otocc

Here is some reading skin cancers:
https://sesc.cat/en/squamous-cell-carcinoma-in-laying-hens/

https://poultrydvm.com/condition/squamous-cell-carcinoma

 

[lambler]

Thanks RubelliteRose & Eggcessive, really appreciated.
We are in Victoria, Australia - and I will pursue a necropsy, if possible. I need to treat/re-treat the abscess and pain relief, first up. I wonder what a vet would do to determine if it is a 'gout path' or a 'cancer path'? I am happy to return him to a vet but often their knowledge seems to be quite general.
Thanks again.

 

[LaFleche]

If your rooster has long spurs and the injury is on the front of his legs where the joint is, it could have been caused by overgrown spurs as they will cut into this part of his legs with every step he takes.
I have seen it rather often with older roosters whose spurs were way too long and pointing more inwards than backwards.

 

[lambler]

Thanks LaFleche, They do need a trim and I did not link the old wound/ abscess to his spurs - we just assumed it was self pecking those lesions/ growths. I'll trim them shortly.
Also, the abscess is looking better - I would not have believed (Manuka) honey could help clean up a nasty wound as it has.
The growths are still the problem in the longer term - gout or cancer?
Thanks again.

 

[Eggcessive]

Gout usually causes a lumpy appearance of the toes, and a chaulky coating of internal organs and joints. I have seen anything that looked like the lesions around the leg before. Here is a good link about gout in chickens with pictures of a foot and the caulky uric acid deposits on organs:
https://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/gout-management-in-poultry

 

[lambler]

Thanks again Eggcessive for your help/ knowledge. From your link it doesn't look like gout - his feet are fine - old, knobbly, and a bit swollen but fine.
Up close, those growths/ lesions look they have grown around old feathers - is that possible, like 'ingrown feathers' or the like?
Thanks again