Ascites

[MandS]

I noticed one of my girls was being a bit slow. She has not laid for many months and went through a mould about 3 months ago.

I felt her belly and it was clearly distended so decided to try to drain her.

I withdrew about 30ml of fluid and then let it drain naturally, which it did for a good few hours. The belly reduced and she was a lot more perky.

However, the fluid was cloudy - which I've not had before with previous hens. More than that, what I left in the syringe overnight has solidified into a jelly like substance.

This is the solidified liquid - you can just see that it has retained the shape of the hole that goes to the syringe. It is a solid jelly like lump.

It's bank holiday weekend here in the UK so I can't get to a vet until Tuesday. I've tried giving her protein (scrambled egg) and mash with some electrolyte in it, however all she really wants to do is drink water. Today she is quite withdrawn.

I've separated her for the time being so she is in a quiet place and can sit down. There's food and water in the cage.

In the absence of being able to get to the vet, what is the best that I can do? I presume that the cloudy liquid means that there must be an infection, however, I could be wrong.

I did contemplate giving her a little bit of aspirin and some vitamin B but I just don't know what is the best thing to do to maintain her until I can get her to the vet, which I presume will result in some form of antibiotic.

Any advice? Gratefully received as I think time is not on my side.

Thank you

 

[Debbie292d]

It very well be that ascites led to an infection or that the opposite occurred. I personally wouldn't give much medicinally before your vet visit so the vet sees her at her natural state. Some things could make matters worse. I was reading that for humans, Tylenol is okay, but not the others.

Maybe electrolyte water to help keep her calm and flax oil can help her condition if you have any.

I sure wish you the best of luck with her.

 

[MandS]

Thank you. She's survived two more days. Although not eating very much, she's still active, preening, drinking and walking about. He abdomen was swollen again yesterday. I decided not to drain it so the vet can see it for himself.

Can't get an appointment until they open at 8am, so fingers crossed. Why these things seem to happen when we have national holidays, I've no idea!

 

[Debbie292d]

Thank you. She's survived two more days. Although not eating very much, she's still active, preening, drinking and walking about. He abdomen was swollen again yesterday. I decided not to drain it so the vet can see it for himself.

Can't get an appointment until they open at 8am, so fingers crossed. Why these things seem to happen when we have national holidays, I've no idea!

To get her to eat a bit more, she might like some scrambled eggs or another hit is to make their feed into a wet mash. For whatever reason, their regular feed winds up being a treat.

 

[MandS]

Been to the vet. I've had this treatment before a few years ago and it was about £100. This time, £300!!!! Problem is I cannot get antibiotics in this country unless I go to a vet and there's only one avian specialist near me.

He has diagnosed peritonitis and has prescribed antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Whilst I was there I also had a contraceptive put in her to stop any more internal laying. He said that the jelly-like material was probably yoke that was leaking and it would eventually clear up. But she has 10 days on antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. There was no liquid in her. It was predominantly swelling and inflammation, so he didn't drain her.

She seems to be quite perky although her crop is empty so I just will keep an eye on her and hope for the best.

I really do need to find another vet as I've had major operations on cats that have cost less.