I have just had my 3rd chicken go in one month. She was a 4y/o isa brown, in previous good weight and health, though with a palpable mass in her abdomen since a year.
She presented with worsening neurological symptoms - day one she seemed to walk a little stiffly, and her vision seemed impaired. She was eating and seeing enough to eat, but was missing the mark 90% of the time. Day two her vision seemed gone entirely and she wasn't keen to attempt walking or eat. She could walk assisted if pushed. Her pupils were still responsive to light, and though she was quieter than usual, she was still alert and affectionate to me. Day three saw no improvement and a complete inability to walk, even assisted. She could still stand and balance perfectly fine, but all motor skills were gone. I decided to have her euthanised that evening.
I'm yet to open her up for necropsy but I plan to do so today. Is there anything I can look out for or take samples of? I also work at a vet clinic and have free access to diagnostic tools such as microscopes. I'm researching as much as I can on mareks and other viral diseases, but it's a mass of information so I'd love to hear some other thoughts!
The previous two sister chickens (summarised but let me know if more details/pictures are wanted!):
1. Died of (speculated) mass seizures/heart failure/probably lots of things. After her first seizure her heart was audibly starting to fail and she experienced death rails. Upon necropsy she had lesions over nearly all her organs (especially liver and feather follicles). Regrettably I did not think to take samples or observe her nerves.
2. Died suddenly of (speculated) sepsis secondary to liver disease/failure (possibly a respiratory infection/disease as well). Upon necropsy her liver was black and decaying and every body cavity filled with a mucous substance. She had one mass connected to a membrane. I took some samples - her lungs were flooded with bacteria, and the mass was a tumour we couldn't identify.
She presented with worsening neurological symptoms - day one she seemed to walk a little stiffly, and her vision seemed impaired. She was eating and seeing enough to eat, but was missing the mark 90% of the time. Day two her vision seemed gone entirely and she wasn't keen to attempt walking or eat. She could walk assisted if pushed. Her pupils were still responsive to light, and though she was quieter than usual, she was still alert and affectionate to me. Day three saw no improvement and a complete inability to walk, even assisted. She could still stand and balance perfectly fine, but all motor skills were gone. I decided to have her euthanised that evening.
I'm yet to open her up for necropsy but I plan to do so today. Is there anything I can look out for or take samples of? I also work at a vet clinic and have free access to diagnostic tools such as microscopes. I'm researching as much as I can on mareks and other viral diseases, but it's a mass of information so I'd love to hear some other thoughts!
The previous two sister chickens (summarised but let me know if more details/pictures are wanted!):
1. Died of (speculated) mass seizures/heart failure/probably lots of things. After her first seizure her heart was audibly starting to fail and she experienced death rails. Upon necropsy she had lesions over nearly all her organs (especially liver and feather follicles). Regrettably I did not think to take samples or observe her nerves.
2. Died suddenly of (speculated) sepsis secondary to liver disease/failure (possibly a respiratory infection/disease as well). Upon necropsy her liver was black and decaying and every body cavity filled with a mucous substance. She had one mass connected to a membrane. I took some samples - her lungs were flooded with bacteria, and the mass was a tumour we couldn't identify.
