Twisted leg and tendon out of place

[johnnalei]

I posted on another board, but I think this one might be more appropriate...

My 2 week old ameraucana chick developed a twisted leg a couple days ago. I figured it was spraddle leg and taped it's legs togeter. Then when i took that off I noticed it's achilles tendon was out of place. I pushed it back and it didn't stay. I then taped it's leg tight so the tendon would stay in place and taped for spraddle leg.

A few hours after this treatment, the foot was all swollen so I took all bandages off. I tried since then just bandaging the achilles issue, but it's leg is still twisted and when bandages come off, the tendon seems to want to go back to being out of place.

It's not using it's bad leg and all and just hops around. It eats and drinks but otherwise just sits or lays down. Poor guy!

I bought iron-free poly-vi-sol and will start that tonight. I will give it some hard boiled egg and yogurt too. Any other ideas? Should I try bandaging it's legs again, or just leave it alone? Any chance it will have normal use of it's leg again? Thanks!

 

[johnnalei]

Anyone?

 

[kittyacid]

Please view this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=201834 It took me three trys to get the wrap right - the first time it was too big, the second time her little foot turned red because it was too tight. I have not taken it off yet, but she easily gets around just like the other chicks and is doing great. I just pray that when I take the bandage off the tendon stays in place. I bought the vet wrap at the vet's office for $3, but I think it is pretty much the same stuff as the Ace bandage that is labeled "self adhering". The problem with the vet wrap that my vet had is that it all had cute little patterns on it that the other chicks want to peck. I'm hoping that the Ace bandage will blend in better.

 

[joebryant]

You just described my condition. A week ago Saturday (ten days now), my rooster was going to attack me while my back was turned. I twisted around quickly and pulled the lower tendon in the bottom of the calf in my right leg. Talk about pain. My foot and leg are still swollen, but I can finally walk with just a bit of pain. The doctor said it could be another month. That rooster is skating on VERY thin ice.
Tell your chick I empathize with it. GOOD LUCK!

 

[johnnalei]

Ouch hope you feel better!

For the vet wrap...how did you bandage it so the leg wasn't completely straight? And you said it was twisted...did it's leg straighten out once the tendon was fixed?

 

[kittyacid]

Yes, the leg was twisted, instead of the foot resting flat on the floor, it was rotated to the outside. When I nudged the tendon back into place, the foot straightened. I'm not really sure that it is bandaged so that she can bend her leg. The strip of vet wrap is only slightly wider than 1/4 of an inch, so there was very little room to work. Also, this is my first time with chickens and both the chick and I were trembling. I did not feel like I could rebandage her leg any better. She moves around just fine and with the alternative being that she could not walk, I left the bandage as it was. This pic is before I bandaged it and you can see that the foot faces outward. When she stood, she held the leg up and the foot was limp.

 

[kittyacid]

I forgot to mention that I wrapped a piece of the vet wrap gently aroung her body to keep her still while I did her leg. The wrap comes in 3" widths and can be cut to whatever size you need.

 

[johnnalei]

Hm. It seems that when I put the tendon back in place the leg is actually MORE twisted. But I'm just going to try fix the tendon issue then if that's under control, decide what to do about the twisted leg, assuming it is still twisted.

I got some sticky medical tape from the drug store last night and taped the tendon in place. Again the foot swelled, but I just can't do it any looser at this point and have the tendon in place. This morning the swelling wasn't any worse, so I guess it will have to be swollen for now. Overall it seems to be a little more willing to walk. Wish this would was an easy fix! I think now my chick just associates me with being messed with.