URGENT Roo is lethargic, can’t walk

[Shugercube]

Is Marek’s always fatal? Should I just call it and euthanize him, or give it more time? I don’t want him to suffer but I don’t want to act prematurely and find out I could have saved him.

I mean, once it gets to this stage.

He’s still hanging on, but refusing to drink even with help.

 

[Tami2]

I'm so sorry he is sick. I hope he gets better & soon.

 

[Shugercube]

He keeps seeming like he perks up a bit, and then seems to crash again. I don’t know what to do he’s back to drinking on his own, but his comb is even more floppy than earlier and the edges are starting to darken. He’s able to sit upright, but he’s kinda just sitting on his hocks. He keeps bobbing his head and occasionally flaps his wings. Which is definitely more energy than he had earlier today but idk if that’s meaningful or not.

 

[Eggcessive]

There is no need to rush to euthanize him. Keep trying to give water. Consider learning to tube feed. It is not something everyone wants to do, but you can get water and food into him. Keep him warm, and try to make him comfortable. You will probably want to get a necropsy to make sure of his diagnosis if you lose him. So sorry that your are dealing with this.

 

[Shugercube]

There is no need to rush to euthanize him. Keep trying to give water. Consider learning to tube feed. It is not something everyone wants to do, but you can get water and food into him. Keep him warm, and try to make him comfortable. You will probably want to get a necropsy to make sure of his diagnosis if you lose him. So sorry that your are dealing with this.

Thank you! I do want to try tube feeding, but I had trouble finding a tube thin and long and flexible enough to feel comfortable doing it. The closest thing I could find was a 3” long “heat shrink” tube, which is really meant for insulating wire. And while somewhat flexible it still seemed too rigid and I didn’t want to hurt him. Not to mention, it’s probably not food safe in any way shape or form. I’ve heard some people use aquarium tubing, but that seems way too large for a sebright’s tiny little throat. I certainly don’t want to make anything worse by injuring him!

I did manage to get several drops of liquid B vitamins in him, along with some egg yolk, and that seemed to perk him up a lot. He was actually able to stand (actually on his feet!) for a few minutes just before bedtime. He got himself there, too! He’s still pretty wobbly, but it seems to be an improvement so I’m trying to stay hopeful that he’ll pull through.

I have him in his own little cage, covered with a sheet, and with a heating pad under one half, just in case. We keep our house on the colder side at night, around 68, so I didn’t want him to get chilled overnight. I hope I’m doing right by him.

Should I check on him throughout the night, or just let him rest?? I know normally he doesn’t eat or drink overnight, but since he’s still behind in his intake I’m not sure if I should wake him a few times to encourage some extra sips here and there.

I gave him the B vitamins around 8:30 (that’s when I got home from my search for tube feeding supplies). First pic is from before the vitamins. Second is about an hour after, and third is about another half hour after that. He went from barely holding his own head up before the vitamins, to being able to “sit” on his hocks, to being able to stand for a little bit in that amount of time! I’m really hoping this means it’s NOT Marek’s, and “just” a vitamin deficiency/dehydration. I realize I may still lose him even if it’s not Marek’s, but at least a vitamin deficiency has the potential to be fixed.

 

[Paz]

It’s like 50% fatal, as far as I’ve heard

 

[ikoCRO]

Lack of Vitamin B can cause paralysis, which is probably a problem for your rooster.
I do not believe that your rooster is vaccinated against Marek's disease, because vaccination is complicated and is done in large hatcheries, on broilers, layers and purebreds.
Your rooster is a mixed breed and I do not believe that he is vaccinated!
Marek's disease affects a larger number of individuals in the flock, in your case only one bird is affected, which is probably a lack of vitamins!
Give the whole flock vitamin B in their water or as I prefer - garlic soaked in drinking water!
I know that many here on the forum will now say
"here's another crazy Croat with his miraculous garlic",
but garlic successfully cures such diseases/disorders (it's full of B vitamins), and it's cheap!

 

[Shugercube]

He made it through the night, but no real changes since last update. Other than his poo now has a lot of urates in it which I’m assuming is from the fluids. He still seems to be perking up and then gets worse again. I gave him more vitamins, and put fresh electrolytes and food in his cage just a bit ago, we’ll see. Still doesn’t seem interested in food, but will drink if I hold the cup close to him.

 

[Shugercube]

Oh, and he gave me his warning cluck this morning when my cat came by, so that’s an improvement. He was too tired to care yesterday. But he’s still very not out of the woods.

 

[Potatofluffycheeksforever]

He might have some kind of parasite and someone told me pumpkin can act as a natural dewormer