sueb Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 I'm relatively new to chicken keeping and one of mine, Eggwina, has developed a bad limp, although she's still feeding and laying. The vet this morning said she may have arthritis in her knee. He says this is not treatable and if the X ray on Monday confirms it, she should be put down. Does anybody have any experience of this? Should I find another vet for another expensive opinion? London vets don't seem too good with chickens. Obviously I don't want her to suffer but we're really attached to her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 That sounds a bit drastic. Does she seem to be in much pain? I don't think that she would be eating and still laying if she was in agony. Could she have injured herself and got a sprain. A few of us on the forum have had hens who have done this and have found that calcium supplements help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sueb Posted December 13, 2008 Author Share Posted December 13, 2008 She is pottering around quite happily but limping and the vet says her knee is hot and swollen and has an infection. I'll see what the X ray result is on Monday and report back - I was just worried that this was an urban vet who wasn't used to chickens. It's not my normal vet, who doesn't 'do' birds. If it is arthritis, does anybody know if there is any treatment, conventional or alternative? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 Sorry, Sue, I don't know anything about this condition . It does seem a bit drastic to put her down . Could you ask if he could prescribe anti-inflammatories or something instead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sueb Posted December 13, 2008 Author Share Posted December 13, 2008 Exactly - I can't imagine she's the first chicken ever to have arthritis, if she does have it. Of course I will be asking for everything possible. Will report back after the X-ray... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 a short course of metacam might help, other chooks have had it prescriobed, including mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 not experienced it in chickens myself... I would have thought if it is treatable in other animals surely it would be possible in chickens too wouldnt it? If she is a happy chicken who is eating, drinking and leading a normal chicken life with arthritis I would definitely explore other avenues, or get a second opinion before doing anything drastic like putting her to sleep. Maybe something herbal/natural might help? good luck and keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 anyone know if they can have glucosamine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 Shame to loose her. The xray should show if it arthritis but will also show if its soft tissue so some antibiotics may be what is needed. Fingers crossed for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sueb Posted December 14, 2008 Author Share Posted December 14, 2008 Thank you. Of course, now I'm getting hassle from people who say it's not worth X raying a chicken and I should have her put down anyway... as if! She laid a huge egg today and has been hopping round the garden all afternoon, so fingers crossed for tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 Thank you. Of course, now I'm getting hassle from people who say it's not worth X raying a chicken and I should have her put down anyway... as if! She laid a huge egg today and has been hopping round the garden all afternoon, so fingers crossed for tomorrow. Don't listen to any of those stupid people who think it is so funny to give comments as it is "only a chicken". Have you tried arnica tablets? I have never used them on my girls, as they have never had this kind of injury but i know other people on this forum have had success with them. I can personally recommend Zolcal D as a good calcium supplement to go in her drinking water, to help if she needs that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 There's no such thing as "just a chicken" .....if she was a cutesy ickle puppy people would be shocked if you had her put down without seeing if there was an altenative!!! .....who says we're mad? Louise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sueb Posted December 15, 2008 Author Share Posted December 15, 2008 Oh well, she's off for her day at the vet now with a goody bag of fruit to cheer her (or me) up. At least the vet has given me 50% discount on the X ray - half the price of a dog or cat! And Eggwina won't need to be sedated as she's so docile. Poor thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 my homeopathic vet gave my old dog some I think it was RNA the A bit being the arnica, perhaps an internet search would pop up wahat it is & where to get it. It certainly helped her & he said to give it to my chook with fracture & torn ligaments & bruised leg. the dose was 1 3x daily. It was really good! good luck. and you are not mad, good to get discount and best no anasthetic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 If she's suffering and in pain, then kindest to put her out of the misery. They don't really have the intelligence to enjoy life using mental rather than physical activity... It's difficult to say but she does sound as if she's perfectly happy and not suffering unduly, though. The vet might have only limited experience with chickens, but joints etc are not so different between birds, and am sure he/she will have treated budgies/etc before. Perhaps the best thing to do is to discuss it with the vet, making clear that you'll happy to pay the going rate for treatment if required: I know our local vet is always very wary of chickens etc because so many people get really irate at the bill.... from the vet's point of view, why should they charge below cost becuase it's a chicken and not a cat.... etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Oh well, she's off for her day at the vet now with a goody bag of fruit to cheer her (or me) up. Aww you are so sweet, what a lucky chook! let us know how she goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sueb Posted December 15, 2008 Author Share Posted December 15, 2008 Update: Eggwina has an infected knee, which we knew, but the vet is treating it with antibiotics, pain killers and anti-inflammatories, which she has wolfed down. Much nicer vet than on Saturday with more bird knowledge. He said there was no evidence of cancer but it might still be arthritis. Will see how she responds to the drugs. Meanwhile, she charmed everybody at the vet and laid an egg in the surgery! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Well that should make her feel better. Look forward to update now in the morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 good news,...hopefully the antibiotics will get rid of it all... Isnt it great that all our girls charm the pants off the vets...I bet they get a bit fed up with the same old thing (cats/dogs/rabbits) so its quite nice to see a chicken for a change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 So glad you got a more understanding vet this time, hope she does well on the treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reikiranf Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 I'm sure she'll be fine, my Yum Yum hurt her leg in the summer and a week after she did it a big lump appeared on her leg on her equivalent of a shin, she had a course of antibiotics and metacam anti-inflammatory drops and was back to normal in no time although the lump is still there 6 months on so I guess it's permanent. A friend advised me that to help Yum Yum recover I should limit their freeranging time as she would feel under pressure to compete with the others and not get enough rest. Ignore people who say "it's only a chicken" my vet said that it's lovely that people like us are getting chickens as pets as they are lovely creatures and have every right to be pampered as much as cats and dogs People thought I was mad as I could have bought lots more chickens with the money I spent, but that's not the point is it? Our girls are pets and we love them. Amanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 That is encouraging news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cazjohn Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 That's good news I've got two limpy chickens, one has a slightly deformed leg but is doing just fine! The other was diagnosed with arthritis and given Baytril, the Baytril made her really ill! She's fine now only limps occasionally and laid her first egg just the other day. These two are separated from the others (just with the fence) and at night they sleep in a heated shed - Lucky them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sueb Posted December 17, 2008 Author Share Posted December 17, 2008 All this is very encouraging. She's still hobbling around but now on all the drugs, which she doesn't seem to mind. No eggs for us over Christmas, though - the vet said we had to bin them, from both chickens, as the antibiotics are in the water and they are being 'blanket treated', so the other one's getting drugs, too. Seems a bit primitive but let's just hope it works. Minerva Eggwina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 I am sur our resident EGGSPERT will come along soon, but wouldn't it be much better to be only giving the chicken that needs the drugs the drugs, it's not like it is contagious is it. then you can be sure the girl that needs it is getting the full dose all to herself, it is really easy either with a tiny syringe(my vet gave me several!) straight in her beak or in a grape. I have also found a bit of bread works a treat if they are not ill & off food. Mine gobble it up like real delicacy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
