Rooster Gout Topical Cream?

[EdnaAndEdith]

Hello. I have a rooster with gout. We’ve ruled out everything else and he’s had it for over a year. We’ve tried a variety of things to help him. Taken him to the vet multiple times all with no improvement. He’s getting worse with his mobility and pain level so I decided to try the tart cherry treatment again at 2 capsules per day to see if it would help at all. But I started thinking about it and wondering if anyone has used any of the topical gout creams on their feet before? I know it won’t make it go away, but really I just want him to be comfortable. I’d be happy to give him a little foot massage nightly with some pain relieving cream if it would help the poor guy. But I’m not sure of the safety of these creams.

Does anyone have experience with using any type of topical treatment for pain and inflammation?

The orange box doesn’t advertise for pain relief but it has comfrey in it which is used as an ointment or poultice for human muscle pain.

The other two are human products similar to what I’m thinking.

Thank you in advance.

 

[dawg53]

I have a rooster with gout. Gout usually occurs in older birds. I've done the cherry extract for a 3 week period and I didnt notice any changes. Cold temps are worse for him, but he manages to hobble along.
A change in diet may help or may not help depending on his age; feeding him 'scratch' instead of layer crumbles, then again it might be too late to change feed due to age. Also, hens need the protein in layer feed that scratch doesnt supply.
You can give him low dose aspirin, half a pill orally, twice a day for one week and see if there's improvement.

 

[Eggcessive]

@EdnaAndEdith It would be interesting to see pictures of your rooster with gout.

 

[EdnaAndEdith]

I will try to get some pictures tonight and post!

I have switched him to the lowest protein food I can find about six months ago and he’s also had meloxicam which we did for a month with no improvement. I’ve treated him for leg mites. Treated the coop multiple times (including the fact that we moved to a new coop). I don’t know if anything else that it could be.

I just want him out of pain!

 

[EdnaAndEdith]

If those aren’t good enough I can send more later. I got a good video but I can’t upload it.

 

[EdnaAndEdith]

Here’s some better pictures. His hocks (I guess that’s what they are called??) are red and swollen and painful too. He spends a lot of time sitting back on his hocks instead of putting pressure on his feet.

 

[EdnaAndEdith]

Also, in case you are wondering he is 6 years old.

 

[EdnaAndEdith]

I have a rooster with gout. Gout usually occurs in older birds. I've done the cherry extract for a 3 week period and I didnt notice any changes. Cold temps are worse for him, but he manages to hobble along.
A change in diet may help or may not help depending on his age; feeding him 'scratch' instead of layer crumbles, then again it might be too late to change feed due to age. Also, hens need the protein in layer feed that scratch doesnt supply.
You can give him low dose aspirin, half a pill orally, twice a day for one week and see if there's improvement.

Did the aspirin help your guy? And are there negative side effects on his kidneys or liver because of long term use if it does help?

It’s worth mentioning that when this first started the vet blew off my concerns and acted like I was overreacting. When it didn’t go away I brought him back in and insisted that I wanted treatment or testing or SOMETHING so the vet ran some blood work and his uric acid was high. The vet said “well it is probably end stage kidney failure and he will die soon”. I didn’t feel that was fair to just right him off like that and it’s been at least a year since then and Walter (the rooster) is perfectly healthy other than his pain level.

 

[EdnaAndEdith]

@EdnaAndEdith It would be interesting to see pictures of your rooster with gout.

See pictures and info below. Thank you for your help!

 

[dawg53]

I dont give my 6 year old rooster aspirin for the long haul, only in very cold temps when it's really rough for him to walk. I keep his roost low inside the coop so it's easier for him to perch.
After 2 or 3 days when it warms up (I live in Florida) after a cold snap, I stop the aspirin. Sometimes I soak his feet in a container of warm water and that helps.

Once birds get gout, they've got it for the rest of their lives, there's nothing more that you can do. The way I see it, as long as he is eating, drinking, and acting like a rooster should ie; crowing his head off in the mornings or gets in a crowing contest with another rooster, treading a hen etc...he's acting normal and he's good to go.

Most vets dont know anything about chickens. Save yourself some money. Good luck with Walter.