- Apr 2, 2009
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Our two-year-old turken Zsa Zsa, who 18 months ago survived a rattlesnake bite to the neck thanks to my wife's love and dedication and hand-feeding, died yesterday. Here's what happened:
She had been listless for several days, staying away from other chickens, sometimes refusing food, even grapes, her favorite. Debra put down paper towels and kept Zsa on the bed with her at night, gave her water through an eye-dropper, forced bits of food through her beak, and after a week, she appeared to be completely recovered. After another week, however, the symptoms returned along with a new one (swollen abdomen) and Debra decided it was time to see the vet.
The diagnosis? Peritonitis. The recommended procedure? Give her half of a 25 mg caplet of Novox twice a day for seven days plus a 375 mg tablet of Clavamox twice a day for 14 days plus a subcutaneous injection of 60 ccs of Lactated Ringer's twice daily for five days and then once daily for five days. The vet's technician showed us how to load the syringe and attach the tube and needle. She then put Zsa Zsa on her back, saying this would calm her, and pointed out the crevice between the thigh and the body where the needle was to be inserted. I only wish now that I had insisted that the technician actually administer the first injection. Instead we drove Zsa home, gave her the pills and put her on her back.
I held her while Debra prepared the syringe, made sure there was no air in the line and inserted the needle as we had been instructed. Zsa was anything but calm She struggled mightily as Debra began pressing the plunger to pump in the (hopefully) life-saving fluid. When the syringe was almost empty, Zsa stopped struggling and went limp. We removed the needle, then both of us burst into tears as we realized she was dead and we had killed her.
Before we take up this matter with the veterinary clinic, I decided we should post the details on a couple of poultry sites to see if anyone can shed some light on what might have gone wrong.
She was an incredible bird, a true best friend who was fond of hopping into our laps as we read on the porch, nudging us for pats and bringing joy into our lives.
She will be sorely missed.
cabinwriter
She had been listless for several days, staying away from other chickens, sometimes refusing food, even grapes, her favorite. Debra put down paper towels and kept Zsa on the bed with her at night, gave her water through an eye-dropper, forced bits of food through her beak, and after a week, she appeared to be completely recovered. After another week, however, the symptoms returned along with a new one (swollen abdomen) and Debra decided it was time to see the vet.
The diagnosis? Peritonitis. The recommended procedure? Give her half of a 25 mg caplet of Novox twice a day for seven days plus a 375 mg tablet of Clavamox twice a day for 14 days plus a subcutaneous injection of 60 ccs of Lactated Ringer's twice daily for five days and then once daily for five days. The vet's technician showed us how to load the syringe and attach the tube and needle. She then put Zsa Zsa on her back, saying this would calm her, and pointed out the crevice between the thigh and the body where the needle was to be inserted. I only wish now that I had insisted that the technician actually administer the first injection. Instead we drove Zsa home, gave her the pills and put her on her back.
I held her while Debra prepared the syringe, made sure there was no air in the line and inserted the needle as we had been instructed. Zsa was anything but calm She struggled mightily as Debra began pressing the plunger to pump in the (hopefully) life-saving fluid. When the syringe was almost empty, Zsa stopped struggling and went limp. We removed the needle, then both of us burst into tears as we realized she was dead and we had killed her.
Before we take up this matter with the veterinary clinic, I decided we should post the details on a couple of poultry sites to see if anyone can shed some light on what might have gone wrong.
She was an incredible bird, a true best friend who was fond of hopping into our laps as we read on the porch, nudging us for pats and bringing joy into our lives.
She will be sorely missed.
cabinwriter
