Cat tails Posted August 15, 2017 Share Posted August 15, 2017 Leentje, my tiny Dutch bantam, started limping quite badly a week or so ago. Felt like an instant thing, hadn't noticed it before at all and one day she was holding up her leg. Gave her a good check, seemingly nothing broken, although her back toe wasn't really doing anything, but being a bit floppy. My vet was on holiday and I was sort of hoping it might be a strain. But by today she wasn't any better so off to the vet we went. The very kind man gave her a free check up. He couldn't feel anything broken yet, but suggested it seemed more like a paralysis... She doesn't have any grab reflex in the rest of her toes now either. Of course he said the M-word... Mareks... although he said it was more common in young chickens. Leentje is about 1,5 years right now, so not a real likely victim. Took her home, although the vet had his doubts this would improve at all and most likely she would just get worse. As long as Leentje is still doing Leentje things, I will let her get on with it. Wait and see... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted August 15, 2017 Share Posted August 15, 2017 Fingers crossed she doesn't deteriorate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted August 15, 2017 Author Share Posted August 15, 2017 Thanks Mullet. Same here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted August 16, 2017 Share Posted August 16, 2017 Aww, poor little thing How is she today ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted August 16, 2017 Author Share Posted August 16, 2017 Still limping badly and sitting around a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted August 17, 2017 Share Posted August 17, 2017 I hope she gets better. Could the vet not give her any antibiotics to help her ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted August 18, 2017 Author Share Posted August 18, 2017 He thought it was Marek which is a virus, so that would do nothing helpful. I bought her some vitamin B drops and mix a high dose with some oats. She does like her lottle yellow vitamin B porridge. It it is Mareks, the vitamins won't do much too, but at least I tried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Trying is all we can do sometimes and sometimes it does work. Fingers crossed she will get better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 19, 2017 Share Posted August 19, 2017 Trying is all we can do sometimes and sometimes it does work.Fingers crossed she will get better. So true Vet could be right; the slow burn version can present like this at first, all you can do is watch and wait. Keep her calm too. So many times, i see what i call 'non-specific chickenitis', all you can do is treat what you can see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted August 19, 2017 Author Share Posted August 19, 2017 She lets me take her out of the coop in the morning and take her to bed at night. Flying up into and out of the coop is difficult. She loves her vitamin porridge and is currently spread out in the sun with the others. She hops about on her one good leg. I still find it weird that she doesn't want to put the other down at all. If it would be paralysed I would expect her to sort of drag it around. But she still keeps it up as if it is sore. Chickens are a puzzle aren't they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 19, 2017 Share Posted August 19, 2017 They certainly are, and it's hard to diagnose without seeing her, but it sounds less like Marek's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hippie Chick Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 How is she? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted August 26, 2017 Author Share Posted August 26, 2017 Still limping on, no improvement. Think she is even going a little further down hill... She is losing her balance a bit more right now. I don't think I will let her get on with it for much longer. Sad but think kinder on her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 I have been away but sorry to read that she hasn't got better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted August 29, 2017 Author Share Posted August 29, 2017 Well didn't have too much hope to be honest. Neither did the vet. Actually made an appointment for tomorrow to go to the big coop in the sky. She has great difficulty to get into the coop in the evening and isn't pottering around anymore. She is my cuddliest tiny chicken though. Will miss her little big personality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Sorry to hear about this cattails but sounds like the right decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted August 29, 2017 Author Share Posted August 29, 2017 Just hope the rest of the pets can now stay out of trouble... too many (expensive) vet trips! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
