Swollen feet

chrismahon

chrismahon

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Poor little Daffodil, a RIR hybrid. She is about two, having arrived as a rescue from owners who were told she was a pullet 12 months ago -old stock more like it. Her feet are even more swollen now and there is no fallen fruit for her to eat either. She is an absolute delight nature wise but is in such pain she can't stand. Still talking a lot and poos fine, but not eating much simply because of her mobility problem. We have put her back on Metacam anti-inflammatory as half an asprin had no effect whatsoever.
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Can't see her suffering like this and are desperate -has anyone any ideas?
 
Few observations: bilateral, no discolouration or appearance of heat..slightly raised scales,(?????mites) but in her age probably normal. No evidence of infection.

Check temp of feet (both)

Weight of bird...normal or does it fluctuate?

Previous history: specifically resp. inf. and breathlessness.

Egg-laying

Previous therapies including any antibiotics and treatments for parasites
 
Thanks for your reply Foxy,

Her feet are warm, even when standing outside, so hot really. The more swollen one is hotter.
Scales are raised on one foot. Treated with Benzyl Benxoate but I think its because she is much older than she was sold as.
She's always been light, even though she eats a lot. Noticed earlier her food isn't being properly digested so some yoghurt tomorrow which she likes.
Had ILT flareup really bad when she arrived. Took about 6 months to get over it. I used to call her 'stinky', otherwise very healthy. She has had a comprehensive course of innoculation including live ILT and IB.
Eggs no longer. Stopped 3 months ago with mini-moult. They were always first class but a bit irregular as she is bottom hen and a bit stressed.
Flubenvet finished last week. Last course of Metacam was mid-September. No antibiotics.
 
My little Marian hen gets feet like that sometimes. but it's usually when it's been really wet, they usually go down after it dries out. It's never been a problem. I first thought it was down to her weight gain, but she's of normal weight i then found. She doesn't limp and they subside with time, so i've not worried about it.
 
Poor Daffidol, sorry she is so sore! :(

It is interesting that they feel warm/hot.
I am wondering if a course of Baytril may help, as it is good activity against S.Aureus, the main culprit of bumble foot ( or common soft tissue infections) and quite a tricky one to treat, often needing a couple of courses.
Now obviously you would need to discuss with your practising vet, but I am wondering if a course of Metacam plus a long course of Baytril would be worth a shot? No good taking cultures as doubt they would grow anything from her (from experience!)
 
In humans that type of bilateral swelling and heat , in small peripheral joints, would suggest a type of inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis but I don't know if chickens can get that.
 
foxy said:
Poor Daffidol, sorry she is so sore! :(

It is interesting that they feel warm/hot.
I am wondering if a course of Baytril may help, as it is good activity against S.Aureus, the main culprit of bumble foot ( or common soft tissue infections) and quite a tricky one to treat, often needing a couple of courses.
Now obviously you would need to discuss with your practising vet, but I am wondering if a course of Metacam plus a long course of Baytril would be worth a shot? No good taking cultures as doubt they would grow anything from her (from experience!)
Click to expand...

a simple blood profile could tell if there is infection in the body. Metacam is an option, what about general inflammation treatment in the meantime, (minus the elevate lol can't imagine a chook with their feet up :lol:) But a cool foot bath then warm foot bath with some epsom salts once or twice a day, let the chooks body do the rest of the work. p.s. just went out to check my chook, she's got swollen feet atm, they are warm, but so are a few of my others who aren't swollen. our ground is very muddy.
 
Little Daffodil had the normal double starter dose of Metacam yesterday and was walking around a bit today. She'll be on that for another 4 days or so at basic dose. Started Baytril today, first of 10. Will talk to the vet soon as possible -Thursday probably as we will need more Baytril. Happy little girl. No problem with medicine and a grape afterwards to take the taste away!
 
Still happy Sue and talking a lot. Comes in and takes her medicine without any fuss and then gobbles down her grapes. Would be very happy sleeping on Rosie's knee all night. Swelling has gone down a bit and we can now see that the joints are swollen, so it might be arthritis as Karenp suggested.
We won't see her suffer and will face up to our obligation to keep her welfare and not our sentiments at the top of the list. But at the moment she is so happy, though struggling to walk still. Fingers crossed it is some kind of infection and the baytril sorts it, as we can't keep her on Metacam any longer. Her crop is empty -loss of appetite is a side effect of Metacam which she showed before. Also the Baytril wrecks the gut operation says the vet and she needs probiotic yoghurt as soon as the course finishes. She is quite light and hasn't much in reserve anyway. So it's all in the balance at the moment Sue.
 
Glad to hear she's still happy in herself though Chris. This is a sign that she's still happy to go on at the moment, which is good. I hope it is just an infection and she recovers! Best of luck.
 
She's in the kitchen at the moment because the ground is hard and it is hurting her feet -she will go out at lunchtime. Botty isn't happy at all at the moment because someone else is in 'his coop' sitting in 'his place' under the kitchen table! And she's talking constantly, which has disturbed his peace and quiet! He's getting grumpier in his old age.

Brought her in again about 3.00pm. She's eaten a load of Botty's food, had her Baytril, a grape and definitely didn't want to go back to her box in the cold coop. Her feet are not as swollen after more time inside and they are not as hot either. So fingers crossed.
 
Hi there

I am sure you have already considered and disregarded scaley leg mite combined with a secondary skin infection as a result of the mite's damage to the scales.

The raised scales in the picture suggest this to me and the swelling could be a secondary skin infection???????

That would be my guess about Daffodil.

Hope you get it sorted.

Regards
pennyblackchooks
 
Hi Pennyblack chooks. She came off the Metacam and her appetite returned. Has the last of 10 days of Baytril tonight. She is definitely more mobile but can't negotiate the coop steps. The raised scales were treated for mite with Benzole Benzoate and it's the other foot that is most swollen. But it won't do any harm to treat her again tonight so we will. Still bubbling full of energy and talking a lot. She assumes the roll of top hen when she is inside and makes 'food's here' noises. So full of character, but when she's in the Orchard she is at the bottom of the pecking order and the others steal any treats I give her. Still hoping we can sort her out.
 
Hi there

She is a poorly girl.

What did your vet say?

I have used ivermectin drops on to backs and vaseline pushed under and over the scales (with tea tree mixed into it) every other day for a few weeks for the scaely leg we had. Two doses Ivermectin , the second one 10-14 days later. Not tried benzyl benzoate.

It is odd she is still so vocal and 'chirpy'

They will pick on her outside in the flock because she is weak. My vet says that if chickens are showing weakness and signs of pain with other hens around then they really are in pain. The chicken mentality is very cruel. It pays to be exceptionally stoical in a flock and they will do everything they can to appear well and keep their place in the heirarchy and not be picked on. So she must be in pain.

Do the others peck her? or was she always at the bottom of the pecking order anyway and would have stolen her treats because of that?

pennyblackchooks
 
She's always been at the bottom Pennyblackchooks. She started talking a lot when she finally shook off the effects of ILT innoculation. We've had some lovely eggs from her though. Just come back from shopping and there she was, sitting on the mat talking to me bless her. But her feet are swollen just the same. She prefers being in, otherwise she hides behind the food store. Fine in her own run with the others but gets picked on when all 3 main coops are opened to free range.
 
But what does your vet say chrismahon?

Have they not given you any possible ideas?

Is it possible she has an autoimmune issue (is that a possible side effect of that vaccine?) and that various infections are attacking her and either not responding to things like baytril because of the autoimmune or being intensified by an autoimmune issue.

Just a thought.

pennyblackchooks
 
Not taken her in Pennyblackchooks, just spoke on the phone. They hadn't a clue. PP this month says swollen feet could be a Lymphoid Lucosis type thing without cure. Sadly we can't throw big money at the problem now, it just isn't available. Will concentrate on getting her eating properly, or rather digesting properly, as Baytril has finished and see how things go.
 
Would it have to be big money? If you are lucky to have a chicken vet (I didn't for a good while but have had for the last 4.5 years - the practice has someone who has a lot of experience with them and I have needed her this last year) they should be able to investigate sensitively while not racking up a scary bill. I know I don't pay the same 'walk in fee' for one of my chooks that I pay when I walk in with one of my dogs. But you'll know your vets.

And I realise it would be a very different scenario with a non specialist though, I am sorry.

I do hope you find a way to make things better for her. She sounds a real character, bless her.

pennyblackchooks
 
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