Scaly leg treatment

A cockerel presented with a severe case of scaly leg but was otherwise well and was eating and drinking normally. The skin over his legs looked severely infected, oozing purulent material.

Scaly leg – initial presentation, ©Marcella Perversi

Scaly prior to debridement, ©Marcella Perversi

Scaly prior to debridement, ©Marcella Perversi

Scaly leg following debridement, ©Marcella Perversi

The cockerel was pre oxygenated via mask for a few minutes, then anaesthesia induced with isoflurane at 2% via mask before intubating with a 3.0 uncuffed rubber endotracheal tube.

The overgrown crusted skin was soaked with warm saline and gently peeled off. The underlying skin and infected tissue on the legs was surgically debrided and any remaining purulent material removed with a dilute hibiscrub solution.

Scaly leg following debridement, ©Marcella Perversi

Cockerel with bandaged legs, ©Marcella Perversi

Anti-inflammatory treatment, Meloxidyl at 1mg/kg once daily, a course of antibiotics, Synulox at 125mg/kg twice daily, and an anti -parasite treatment, Ivermectine at 0.02mg/kg were prescribed under the cascade.

Manuka honey was applied to the skin before bandaging both legs with a Zorbopad, a layer of Soffban then conforming bandage.

The bandages were removed every three days on three consecutive occasions. The skin healed by second intention.

Bandage removal, ©Marcella Perversi