AMPUTATION!!! need advice please !!

[chickensbcooltho]

Hello, so it's been an ongoing battle treating my rooster's foot. He's got arthritis in his right leg, and on top of that he lost some toes due to frostbite this last winter. I've been dressing the wound since and it was looking better for a while, and he got around just fine, but recently it's grown an abscess over the old wound, and honestly a little stinky. Iv'e noticed he hasn't been going outside as much either which really worries me because he's been active considering one workable foot. i've heard of plenty of chickens with one leg, even no legs !! I'm willing to try and amputate it myself but i've never done anything like that before and have no idea where to start, any help would be greatly appreciated. He's the kindest rooster and has plenty of life to him, I'll do anything to help him, and putting him down is my absolute last go to.

 

[nuthatched]

Can you get pictures?

 

[chickensbcooltho]

His original wound was healing up nicely, and i took that as i could start dressing him less, but surely was not the case. I've been soaking his foot in epson salt for longer periods and it definitely has started chipping away at the abscess slowly but surely. I clean his wound with vetericyn and this natural cleaning/pain reliever spray that i can't quite remember the name at the moment. I wrap his foot in nonstick gauze with Neosporin. I'm back to changing it out everyday but i'm not positive if it'll heal right and would like to get it figured out before winter when things get tricky.

 

[chickensbcooltho]

Can you get pictures

posted some forgot to reply!

 

[Eggcessive]

Usually when roosters loose toes or part of the foot, it just heals. He may have gotten infection in the bone. Vetericyn is mild and good for wound care, but it will not disinfect as chlorhexidene (Hibiclens) or betadine will. Have you tried to get an antibiotic in case it has gotten into the bone? Your vet may order some clindamycin or cephalexin antibiotic for that. You can sometimes get those online for fish if you look. Does he seem to be suffering, or have a poor quality of life? I would not attempt amputation at home, but either try to get this cleared up, and then keep it dressed and kept from getting dirt or poop into it.

 

[chickensbcooltho]

Hello, so it's been an ongoing battle treating my rooster's foot. He's got arthritis in his right leg, and on top of that he lost some toes due to frostbite this last winter. I've been dressing the wound since and it was looking better for a while, and he got around just fine, but recently it's grown an abscess over the old wound, and honestly a little stinky. Iv'e noticed he hasn't been going outside as much either which really worries me because he's been active considering one workable foot. i've heard of plenty of chickens with one leg, even no legs !! I'm willing to try and amputate it myself but i've never done anything like that before and have no idea where to start, any help would be greatly appreciated. He's the kindest rooster and has plenty of life to him, I'll do anything to help him, and putting him down is my absolute last go to.

Usually when roosters loose toes or part of the foot, it just heals. He may have gotten infection in the bone. Vetericyn is mild and good for wound care, but it will not disinfect as chlorhexidene (Hibiclens) or betadine will. Have you tried to get an antibiotic in case it has gotten into the bone? Your vet may order some clindamycin or cephalexin antibiotic for that. You can sometimes get those online for fish if you look. Does he seem to be suffering, or have a poor quality of life? I would not attempt amputation at home, but either try to get this cleared up, and then keep it dressed and kept from getting dirt or poop into it.

thank you for the reply!! i will look into those disinfectants! I can give the vet a shot, but not only are they very far out, but there's not many that take in chickens and when i finally found one all i got outta them was a diagnosis, this was back in January when his toes were still attached. I have some antibiotic additives for the water, and i've tried feeding him foods with those properties like yogurt , but i'll try any vets and see if they can get it ordered. He does well, he still goes outside and hangs with the rest of the hens, he has a healthy appetite, he even still dust bathes. He's been hobbling around on foot since before i even had him, but now he has fewer toes.

 

[Eggcessive]

My regular dog vet sometimes will help out, even though they don’t see chickens. I would also use triple antibiotic ointment (plain neosporin) on his toes when you put a dressing on it. Once it is clearing up and healing you can change the dressing less often, such as every 2-3 days. It would be good to have something around it that would keep dirt and water out of it. Good luck.

 

[chickensbcooltho]

My regular dog vet sometimes will help out, even though they don’t see chickens. I would also use triple antibiotic ointment (plain neosporin) on his toes when you put a dressing on it. Once it is clearing up and healing you can change the dressing less often, such as every 2-3 days. It would be good to have something around it that would keep dirt and water out of it. Good luck.

right on thanks again!! much appreciated