Solitary chicken - need advice

[merlina]

Poor goldtop Milly seems to have lost the use of one of her legs.

 

Over a week ago I noticed she was limping and not moving much. As she was bottom of the pecking order (probably due to being broody for most of the summer!), I brought her inside.

 

I checked for any obvious injury and didn't find anything. Bathed the foot in an iodine bath a few times.

 

After no improvement took her to the vet. The affected leg was very cold (no circulation? she just holds it behind her an an awkward angle). There was no response in the toes. The vet manipulated it and the warmth and movement came back.

Vet gave her an injection of antibiotic and metacam to give at home.

 

I've been doing 'hen physio' on the affected leg to get it warm/moving, but there's no improvement

 

Milly is eating, but not much and can't really stand - or has given up trying, She's currently convalescing in the bath

 

The vet clearly didn't have much of a clue (the one I usually see is on holiday till next week)

 

Any ideas/thoughts?

[merlina]

Update: Poor Milly has now lost the use of both legs. She' got one in front and one behind her - I've been reading loads, and that sounds like classic Mareks

 

But I've just spoken to her original owner who says she was vaccinated - is it possible to get Mareks even if vaccinated?

 

Or what else could it be?

 

She's just under 3 years old

[mollyripkim]

I lost a silkie who was around 3 years old to mareks this year, breeder said she was vaccinated so I guess the answer is yes. I just assumed that most vaccinations are not 100 %.

For your and your girls sake I hope it isn't.

[Sandychick]

I lost a hen to Mareks and she was also vaccinated. Apparently the vaccine sometimes isn't effective. From the symptoms, it does sound possible that this is the cause, although I really hope it isn't. The symptoms that my hen Florence showed started with a slight limp which got worse over a week. Next her feet started to curl up occasionally, then most of the time and couldn't stand. She also became unwell and not eating much in the last couple of days. All this happened in about 2 weeks. Initially the vet assumed a leg injury, but as the symptoms progressed in the following week, Mareks seemed the obvious cause.

 

I think Milly needs to get to another vet for a second opinion. There is nothing you can do for Mareks, it will just continue as paralysis of her legs, wings and eventually neck as well. If the vet agrees, the only option would be to have her PTS. Hopefully, the vet will have a happier diagnosis. Let us know how she gets on.

[merlina]

Unfortunately milly was PTS this evening.

The vet said it was not possible to confirm Mareks or otherwise without a PM

It was very sad, she was still all bright and alert, but her legs were all cold and useless.

[Purplemaniacs]

Oh dear, I am sorry to hear that.

 

Chrissie

[Sandychick]

Sad news x

[mollyripkim]

Really sorry to hear that, my silkie was also bright and alert but legs not working so it made it hard to let her go so can sympathise with you.

[merlina]

Thanks for the kind words, much appreciated.

 

I did ask the vet about vaccination failure and he said it was quite common. He said there was 'user error' as one possible factor and also, interestingly (well, I didn't know this) that some animals' immune systems don't 'accept' vaccinations. So although they've had a vaccination, it actually has had no effect. Apparently most common in dogs (especially with rabies vaccine - eep!) but also cats and chooks and many others.

[Clucky the Great]

Sorry to hear the bad news hope you are alright. If she came from somewhere that had a lot to vaccinate they do it with these needles attached to something that looks as if it should be used for weedkilling on a garden. The speed I have seen some work people hand them 5 birds in each hand and just jab jab jab jab jab like a conveyor belt...there is much room for error. Although I can't say whether that was the case.

[merlina]

@clucky

I read your other post about vaccination with interest.

Milly came from a much much smaller outfit than the one you describe, but one which various 'concerns' have been expressed about.

So it was reassuring that the vet was clear that even if she wasn't vaccinated it wasn't necessarily anyone's fault.

 

Thanks for your good wishes

[Clucky the Great]

Very it lifts all those 'what ifs' I hadn't come across vaccines not being effective before. Something new I've learnt! What I do sometimes find not so great is the lack of vets with a good knowledge of chickens which I suppose is normal as all the time I've spent at the vets I have never seen any chickens. I did see one turkey for a PM but that was for a farmer with a farm full...a bit different to pet chickens. I am new to chicken keeping so I'll have to go locate my nearest chicken savy vet.