Urgent help needed for 'bent' lower leg

[Alfred's Mama]

My 4 month old silkie Alfred over the last few days has developed an awful leg condition in just his left leg, he's struggling to even hobble around and seems to be in some discomfort, it started out about 4 days ago he seemed very off balance, tilting back and forwards, then more splayed, now it looks as though the lower section of his leg is bent inward, starting right at the hock, not curved but the entire straight bone looking diagonal rather than straight down. When I examined his legs I noticed he's holding his thigh/hip area tight to his body - he has an appointment in the morning with an avian specialist but the receptionist told me she isn't very familiar with chickens, I'm hoping somebody here will be able to help me find out exactly what is wrong with him

Could he have a slipped tendon?

 

[mljohnson05]

With out getting an X-ray of his leg, it will be hard to tell what is going on. I am almost thinking he may of injured or broken or slipped the joint out. I would get Epome salt and put it in warm water and soak his bad leg for 15 minutes. Then dry it off well. Next make a splint for him. popsicle sticks work really well for this, or anything else you have that is rigid. then secure with medical tape or gauze, whatever is easy and you ave avaliable.
Also I would put him in his own cage with fresh food and water so he does not move around alot or get picked on.

If you feel that he is in a lot of pain, you can give him baby aspirin to help until you see the vet in the morning.



Best Wishes and keep me updated,
Laura

 

[Alfred's Mama]

Thank you so much for replying so fast, I'm hoping it's something along those lines rather than a disease or something, his poop is looking pretty normal to me: dark brown ,holding it's form and not too much white - it made me worry so much when I read on a few sites about diseases like Mareks, the only thing in common is really just his leg. I'll definitely update here later after his appointment in an hour and 20

 

[Alfred's Mama]

What a rollercoaster day! The first vet had to refer us to another surgery miles away because she didn't have enough experience herself, the second place though was wonderful, the vet looked him over and gave him an x-ray, luckily there was no sign of a break, fracture or a slipped tendon, he did find alot of swelling though forcing the leg into the painful position it's in now - it turned out to be a vitamin D deficiency; he died for 20-30 seconds after he was brought out to be taken home, but luckily they managed to resuscitate and stabilise him well enough to come home with Metacam to bring down the inflammation and manage his pain, and Zolcal-D for the deficiency, he isn't out of the woods just yet as he has to make at least some improvement in the next 7 days time, otherwise he'll have to be euthanised, but it gives him a fighting chance - on a good note I was congratulated for putting him in a body sling yesterday to keep his weight off it, he said it literally saved his life because otherwise the swelling would have been too severe to effectively treat him, I feel scared for the next week but elated at the same time, my heart is just pounding! Fingers crossed for my baby boy, for such a little chicken he's definitely a fighter

 

[mljohnson05]

I am so glad that you were able to find out what is wrong. I know it is hard an scary when a chicken you love is hurting. I have a bantam rooster thatwhen he was only 8 weeks old took on a 30 pound racoon and saved ALL his girls from being hurt. The rooster on the other hand took a bad bad beating, and i spent weeks nursing him back to health. They can be fighters, just give him lots of TLC, some nice warm epsome salt soaks and once the swelling goes down, i did massage therapy on my rooster and it worked wonders on him, pulse he loved it a ton

Best Wishes,
Laura