Articular gout is a rare but serious condition in which uric acid crystals build up in an animal's joints. In poultry, articular gout is most often caused by dehydration and too much protein in a bird's diet. Articular gout is both preventable and treatable, but it can be very dangerous if it is allowed to progress too far.
Gout
Gout is a medical condition characterized by the buildup of uric acid crystals in body tissues. In mammals as well as birds, gout is caused by a failure of the renal system to flush uric acid from the body, leading to deposits of the acid crystals in body tissues. Gout symptoms often occur in the lower extremities---the feet and ankles---but gout can also affect other joints and internal organs.
Types of Gout in Poultry
Although most cases of gout in poultry are associated with high dietary protein, it is not the protein itself that causes the onset of the disease. High-protein diets are often also high in chemical toxins that damage the renal system and leave animals susceptible to gout. In poultry, gout is generally divided into two types---visceral gout, which affects the internal organs, and articular gout, which affects the joints. Both forms of gout are treatable; however, articular gout is often a chronic condition and is likely to recur at intervals of several months throughout the life of the bird.
Symptoms of Articular Gout in Poultry
Poultry that has developed articular gout will display symptoms of this disease. Symptoms of articular gout in poultry include depression (lack of energy or motivation to feed, breed, etc.), low feed intake and slow growth, dehydration, ruffled feathers, and a moist vent. Nodules around the joints of the feet and toes that resemble round beads may be present, along with difficulty in using affected joints that may manifest in limping.
Prevention of Gout in Poultry
Gout in poultry may be prevented with the provision of adequate clean water and careful monitoring of food sources for contaminants and toxins. A clean environment that prevents poultry from pecking and eating potential toxins is a must. If a history of gout has already been established, the addition of diuretics to drinking water may be advised.
Treatment of Gout
Once the presence of poultry infected with gout is established, treatment must begin immediately. Restrict protein levels in the diet and add diuretics to the water in order to flush the renal system. An allopathic drug, allopurinol, can be used to lower uric acid levels, and the homeopathic treatment berberis vulgaris (barberry) has been shown to help birds cope with the pain and inflammation of gout while treatment is ongoing. Birds who have developed articular gout must be carefully and constantly monitored for recurrence and treatment started again immediately if symptoms are noted.
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