Vet doesnt know what’s wrong with my hen’s foot… please help me figure out!

[triciayoung]

@LapisA. Have faith in our Lord. Also, don't underestimate your son's ability to love. I raised my grandson. We have a handicap chicken that cannot walk or eat/drink on her own. She was to be euthanized, so we adopted her 14-months ago. She stays in a playpen in my grandson's bedroom and sleeps in a soft crate in the spare room with other disabled chickens. She is truly a gift from God.

 

[LapisA]

@LapisA. Have faith in our Lord. Also, don't underestimate your son's ability to love. I raised my grandson. We have a handicap chicken that cannot walk or eat/drink on her own. She was to be euthanized, so we adopted her 14-months ago. She stays in a playpen in my grandson's bedroom and sleeps in a soft crate in the spare room with other disabled chickens. She is truly a gift from God.
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Thank you so much for reminding me the love these chickens get from people like you and everyone here. In time like this, I’m just deep in drown in grief, guilt, hopelessness and sadness. It’s a an exceptionally wonderful thing you have and your son has. I thank you so much!

Have you ever, for a few minutes or so wonder if you’re just too exhausted and wanted to give up caring for her? Your dedication is beyond my words! She’s beyond lucky!

What’s her name? Do you take her outside? Can she dust bathing? How do you encourage her to eat/ drink? Do you have special dietary for her? What ailments did she have?

I’m really curious and just amazed at how dedicated you are!

 

[LapisA]

Hope everything works out for the best!

Thank you for your words! I appreciate it!

 

[Loving my girls]

What hell you must be going through, my heart goes out to you and your son.
Forgive me but apart from diagnose bumblefoot and provide antibiotics which you were already giving has your vet provided any other help or information?
I don’t think bumblefoot is the problem, the scab is too small to cause the issues shown.
Now the question, if I was you what would I do ?
Search the foot for legions using a magnifying glass if necessary. As it’s nowhere else on her I can only assume that something has penetrated the foot.
Ok, if something is found, what would I do ? Right or wrong I would, personally and I’m not saying his is right but this is what I would do,if I found an entry or wound point, I would open it up. Get out as much of the goo as I could. Wrap with antiseptic cream and put on antibiotics for a week. Separate her into a dog cage and stop her walking. Clean it out and debride every three days hoping everything starts to return to its correct colour and shape.
Ok, it nothing is found, what would I do ?
To be honest I would probably do the same working from the area that looks worse.
She’s clearly in a bad way and I don’t know if anyone else can suggest better alternatives but as far as I can see it, if the infection spreads into the blood that’s it so something needs to be done asap.
I know how this sounds and I’m sorry if others disagree but this is simply what I would do with my 50 years experience without access to a vet but with access to a wise old grandmother,
Sending you the biggest of hugz from south west France

 

[LapisA]

What hell you must be going through, my heart goes out to you and your son.
Forgive me but apart from diagnose bumblefoot and provide antibiotics which you were already giving has your vet provided any other help or information?
I don’t think bumblefoot is the problem, the scab is too small to cause the issues shown.
Now the question, if I was you what would I do ?
Search the foot for legions using a magnifying glass if necessary. As it’s nowhere else on her I can only assume that something has penetrated the foot.
Ok, if something is found, what would I do ? Right or wrong I would, personally and I’m not saying his is right but this is what I would do,if I found an entry or wound point, I would open it up. Get out as much of the goo as I could. Wrap with antiseptic cream and put on antibiotics for a week. Separate her into a dog cage and stop her walking. Clean it out and debride every three days hoping everything starts to return to its correct colour and shape.
Ok, it nothing is found, what would I do ?
To be honest I would probably do the same working from the area that looks worse.
She’s clearly in a bad way and I don’t know if anyone else can suggest better alternatives but as far as I can see it, if the infection spreads into the blood that’s it so something needs to be done asap.
I know how this sounds and I’m sorry if others disagree but this is simply what I would do with my 50 years experience without access to a vet but with access to a wise old grandmother,
Sending you the biggest of hugz from south west France

No, vet simply sent the messages, and his technician just relayed those to me via phone yesterday that he doesn’t know what’s wrong with her/ her foot. He highly believes that her foot will “fall off” and it’ll affect her quality of life so there isn’t anything else he’s doing besides prescribed antibiotic, metacam, and tricide solutions spray. No further tests, or x-ray he thinks will do anything or tell him anything else.

So basically, the short message from him is she doesn’t have much more to live for….

I’ll pick her up this afternoon and I’ll take more pictures. I feel beyond overwhelmed and just shocked that I spent resources at the vet and thought it was just bumble foot so thought I could definitely get her to recover sometime….

Thank you so much for your insights. I really appreciate it a lot!

 

[Loving my girls]

No, vet simply sent the messages, and his technician just relayed those to me via phone yesterday that he doesn’t know what’s wrong with her/ her foot. He highly believes that her foot will “fall off” and it’ll affect her quality of life so there isn’t anything else he’s doing besides prescribed antibiotic, metacam, and tricide solutions spray. No further tests, or x-ray he thinks will do anything or tell him anything else.

So basically, the short message from him is she doesn’t have much more to live for….

I’ll pick her up this afternoon and I’ll take more pictures. I feel beyond overwhelmed and just shocked that I spent resources at the vet and thought it was just bumble foot so thought I could definitely get her to recover sometime….

Thank you so much for your insights. I really appreciate it a lot!

If you haven’t already don’t pay his bill and don’t go back, find a vet who knows what a chicken is, not just the ones that come in polystyrene and cling film.
Massive Hugz

 

[LapisA]

If you haven’t already don’t pay his bill and don’t go back, find a vet who knows what a chicken is, not just the ones that come in polystyrene and cling film.
Massive Hugz

I paid the first visit bill, which was $357.
I definitely will look for a different vet. It’s quite difficult to get a vet that knows about chickens. Most of the time, the stigma of ppl like is that come to a vet is significantly greater bc you know, chickens to many are simply too low in the hierarchy of animals that should be spent money on. I don’t work so I have limited income but save everything I can to get them the help they need if possible. It’s really upsetting but I also blame myself bc I probably did contribute to her foot by not knowing how to care for it properly. I can’t begin to understand what I did so terribly wrong to cause it. I brought her in and her foot was already looking very concerning but the technician told me just medicate her and soak….

 

[Loving my girls]

Okay hun, let’s get a few things straight here.

Hens are little grubs, they shit everywhere and don’t think twice about wandering around and even pecking away at it. They walk over, under and through everything without any consideration of the consequences. What you are encountering is horrid but NOT YOUR FAULT. Hell lady you can’t carry that load around with you.
Sad as it is hens die it happens, shit happens. You cannot blame yourself or you will not survive as their mummy. Don’t do this to yourself or your other girls.
You can only do your best !
You are doing exactly that !
Believe in yourself !
Big Bear Hugz
PS Repeat after me ‘That vet is an ass’

 

[pennyJo1960]

Thank you.
I also did reading about gout bc her foot does look similar to the case, only if I understood it correctly, it’d happen to the other foot as well. Also, her foot just looks incredibly bad even to the ones I saw pictures of for gout…. I’ll ask the vet about it tomorrow… I just remember the technician I spoke to on the phone earlier told me he thinks it’s necrosis…so I think my hope for her foot to recover seems quite far fetched now…

Did you know that chicken or bird where not taught at Veterinary college years ago.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would pick her up today, and try the soaks to her feet once a day. I think the bumblefoot did not look that bad either. But we see a lot of threads here where people use splints and the tape or vet wrap gets too tight causing damage. Don’t beat yourself up if something happens to her leg, since chickens can get around using one leg. It happens with frostbite in winter, and we have many threads about during Jan-Feb. Just finish the antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicines, and get to work on attempting to save the foot. Keep us informed with pictures, and let your 5 year old help. I can post some pictures of some chickens who have lost toes or a foot, to know what to expect if you want. You will get through this.