Elvis has a gammy leg

[MysteryChicken]

This shaking makes me think a pinched nerve.

 

[Chicalina]

This shaking makes me think a pinched nerve.

What would cause that and how would I treat it?

Both legs are semi paralysed, but I think he is improving a little bit.

His swollen foot went down so I've put his little hock boots back on (not so tight this time) as his hocks were getting pressure sores.

Now his abdomen is rather red from him sitting on it all the time. I only noticed when I washed poop off and the skin was exposed. I may have to make him something to protect that. Any ideas?

 

[MysteryChicken]

What would cause that and how would I treat it?

Both legs are semi paralysed, but I think he is improving a little bit.

His swollen foot went down so I've put his little hock boots back on (not so tight this time) as his hocks were getting pressure sores.

Now his abdomen is rather red from him sitting on it all the time. I only noticed when I washed poop off and the skin was exposed. I may have to make him something to protect that. Any ideas?

I believe a blow to the back, maybe what's given a pinched nerve. I've seen pinched nerves in those who've pulled a muscle. They usually limp, have a bit of shaking of the limb(s), & favoring that particular leg. I let them walk it off.

If a pinched Spinal nerve, like I think it is the case with your bird, physical therapy, Heat Therapy(Heat Pad held to the damaged area to help relax nerves, & muscles), & a back massage, may help him. Maybe a peice of baby aspirin may help relieve the pain.

If there's actual damage to the spine, then there's no fixing that, & paralysis will leave the bird helpless, will need special care, if not then euthanasia will have to be done.

 

[Chicalina]

I believe a blow to the back, maybe what's given a pinched nerve. I've seen pinched nerves in those who've pulled a muscle. They usually limp, have a bit of shaking of the limb(s), & favoring that particular leg. I let them walk it off.

If a pinched Spinal nerve, like I think it is the case with your bird, physical therapy, Heat Therapy(Heat Pad held to the damaged area to help relax nerves, & muscles), & a back massage, may help him. Maybe a peice of baby aspirin may help relieve the pain.

If there's actual damage to the spine, then there's no fixing that, & paralysis will leave the bird helpless, will need special care, if not then euthanasia will have to be done.

That's helpful, thank you. Maybe he did hurt himself or got pecked in a particular area. I didn't see any bruises on his back though, but maybe didn't check well enough.

Perhaps if this is what happened to him, then the rest over the past week has helped as he got worse at first, then is getting a tiny bit better.

 

[MysteryChicken]

That's helpful, thank you. Maybe he did hurt himself or got pecked in a particular area. I didn't see any bruises on his back though, but maybe didn't check well enough.

Perhaps if this is what happened to him, then the rest over the past week has helped as he got worse at first, then is getting a tiny bit better.

You're welcome.

I've had a couple broken pelvis incidents, & have had very little to no bruising. First pelvic injury was obvious with a pullet limping, not wanting to move. I realigned the broken pelvis(I know, not recommended), back into straight position. After a few weeks of doing very little due to pain, she started becoming more active, & less painful as she healed. Now she's completely healed up. She's 1yrs old, & doing great.

I did have a pelvic injury that went unnoticed for awhile. The boy who had it acted in abit of pain, but no limp. I thought he was just sore from being picked on, but when he turned about 4½ months, I noticed his hip was crooked.
This is him at 7months. He got killed a month, or two back, by another rooster.

 

[Chicalina]

I feel it is definitely nerve related/neurological (but no idea if caused by a disease, an injury or a vitamin deficiency) . His lower legs have no feeling and are limp and curled. It started with one leg and then spread to the other. But he is gaining mobility. He can't grip with his feet at all and has just started being able to put them flat on a surface rather than turned in.

He doesn't behave like he is in a lot of pain. He is alert and feeding well, not hunched and sick looking. He tries to walk, but has no balance and can only hobble on his hocks. His legs also splay out and he struggles to get them back in again but he can do it. I think he has some limited upper leg control.

 

[Eggcessive]

Mareks disease is pretty much everywhere. One of our BYC members in the UK used to post a lot about her flock with Mareks. I think the reason it is not reported there so much is that it can be hard to get a test that easily. It is usually caught during a necropsy when the bet pathologist can examine the internal organs for tiny tumors, and the leg sciatic nerves for enlargement. There also is a blood test that can be done, but again that is not offered everywhere.
You are really doing so much for Elvis, and I hope that he doesn’t have Mareks, but it could be likely. There also is another thing that can cause paralysis, and that is spinal deformity which pinches the nerves, and progresses to paralysis.

 

[Chicalina]

Mareks disease is pretty much everywhere. One of our BYC members in the UK used to post a lot about her flock with Mareks. I think the reason it is not reported there so much is that it can be hard to get a test that easily. It is usually caught during a necropsy when the bet pathologist can examine the internal organs for tiny tumors, and the leg sciatic nerves for enlargement. There also is a blood test that can be done, but again that is not offered everywhere.
You are really doing so much for Elvis, and I hope that he doesn’t have Mareks, but it could be likely. There also is another thing that can cause paralysis, and that is spinal deformity which pinches the nerves, and progresses to paralysis.

Thank you. I've found only one lab that offers tests here in the UK and its quite expensive. I've been mulling over the idea of getting a test done, at least so I can have knowledge about it and close my flock or peace of mind if it isn't mareks. There seems to be no other mareks symptoms in him though, and nothing in the rest of the flock, so I'm not sure.

I'll keep treating with vitamins and TLC for the next 2 weeks and see how he goes. If he dies (which I don't think he will now) I'll try and get a necropsy done.

There seem to be more and more causes of paralysis that I'm learning about and I just wish I knew what was the cause of his.

He was a thriving good sized chick and only emerged as a smaller submissive cockerel as his brothers started to mature at about 10 weeks old and grow past him, which makes me think he was fighting something which held him back. That might have been a virus, or he might not have been able to metabolise nutrients as well and got left behind. He was bullied and mounted by one brother in particular from about 10 weeks old onwards. Maybe that is relevant.

I guess I'm just wracking my brains and searching for clues.

 

[topochico225]

Gosh, I don't know much about this, but I do know that the red stripe is a hormonal flush.

 

[Chicalina]

Gosh, I don't know much about this, but I do know that the red stripe is a hormonal flush.

Thanks, that figures as the other young cockerels his age have it too.