Hen with a stiff leg and toes, help appreciated

[Eggcessive]

Mareks can cause enlargement of the sciatic nerves in the legs. Did they feel that or did it show up on an X-ray? In this picture on the left is an enlarged sciatic nerve which also is a different color and consistency:

Here is a different slide with the enlarged nerve on the top:

 

[C_621]

Mareks can cause enlargement of the sciatic nerves in the legs. Did they feel that or did it show up on an X-ray?

They only felt the leg. They weren't comfortable doing an X-ray since it has to be 40 centimetres away and they didn't want to sedate her (because she's small I guess?). I could potentially contact another clinic, but would it make much of a difference? She got meds in case it's not Marek's, and if it is they can't do anything

 

[Eggcessive]

It probably would not show up on xray unless there was some way to inject dye. I was just wondering though.

 

[C_621]

Update 5: Not much has changed, she might be a tiny bit better, at least she doesn't seem worse. She moves around the cage with her foot curled, but puts more pressure on it sometimes. Only two doses are left of the metacam, but she's getting the Chinese Skullcap capsules crushed into an egg daily as well. She's as alert and hungry as ever and sleeps on the stick with her flockmate more often, instead of on the floor

I'm thinking of contacting the other vet to see if they have any other ideas, or think it's worth prescribing more. I have ordered a tincture containing Chinese Skullcap to make it easier to give her the full dose daily

 

[C_621]

Update 6: She's gotten all the Metacam doses now, but seems slightly worse at walking today. She didn't get her full Chinese Skullcap capsule yesterday though. She also wriggled out of my hands and fell on the floor, I hope that didn't hurt her too much.

I don't think the Metacam made much of a difference, not much reason to check with the other vet for more now. I'm going to continue giving her Skullcap as if it was Marek's, I ran into some issues with the toll so will see if the tincture gets through.

It's been over 2 weeks since she started limping. The vet said the nerve felt swollen so it's probably not a sprain or fracture, but I feel like she should have gotten worse if it's Marek's? I'll keep treating her like it is since the Metacam didn't help, but it all feels strange compared to the earlier Marek's cases I've had. I'm not taking her back to the vet to put her down or a necropsy as she is now, I'll keep giving her capsules until it gets much worse. It hurts to see her limp, but she's still alert and enjoys eating snacks, loafing with her flockmate and being held like before

 

[Eggcessive]

If you have not done so, I would start her on human B complex 1/2 tablet daily given orally right into her beak to swallow, or put in a small treat of egg or wet food. That may help with the curled under toes. Hopefully, she will start to improve. If you do lose her someday, most state vets will do testing and a necropsy to diagnose her. There are labs also that can do Mareks pcr testing on blood collected by you at home from trimming a toenail. The one I am familiar with is this one:
https://www.vetdna.com/

Here is a list of state vets to ask about a necropsy if you need that:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...xJlNx2sAV14Pn_D3u0o7t6tpfDbMskSvAomHCJZzW0V1V

 

[C_621]

If you have not done so, I would start her on human B complex 1/2 tablet daily given orally right into her beak to swallow, or put in a small treat of egg or wet food. That may help with the curled under toes. Hopefully, she will start to improve. If you do lose her someday, most state vets will do testing and a necropsy to diagnose her. There are labs also that can do Mareks pcr testing on blood collected by you at home from trimming a toenail. The one I am familiar with is this one:
https://www.vetdna.com/

Here is a list of state vets to ask about a necropsy if you need that:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...xJlNx2sAV14Pn_D3u0o7t6tpfDbMskSvAomHCJZzW0V1V

She's been getting Vitamin B complex in the water for about 2 weeks, but I'll be more diligent and feed it to her directly, even if she hates having it dripped into her beak.

I'm sadly in Europe and it doesn't seem like our state vets do non-necropsy Marek's testing. I'd rather bury her if it comes to that though, I'm very sure there's already Marek's in my flock but it's been over a year since the last case

I'm going to check her in the morning and see how she is and contact that other vet after all. Her leg feels stiff and hard and she's not doing the typical Marek's "one leg forward and one back", she's still holding it up on purpose. Maybe they can prescribe or help with something, it doesn't quite feel like Marek's off my limited knowledge

 

[C_621]

Update 7: She's mostly the same as yesterday. I got a time on Thursday with the other vet after all. They didn't think it was Marek but had no idea either what it could be from my description. Maybe they can prescribe more Metacam worst case, it's worth trying.

 

[C_621]

Update 8: The swollen joint the first vet pointed out seems to be growing. It feels hard. I don't know what it could be from googling since she's fully grown, don't think it's a slipped tendon. She's still acting mostly the same, but it's worrying me nobody knows what it is or how to treat it

Edit: Circled the swollen part

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you have a picture of the joint?