13 Week EE Injured (17 wks now) ~Vet Update Not Good~ *Graphic Pics *

[froggie71]

Quote:
There is a Terramycin Soluble Powder you can get at the feed store. Not all stores carry this anymore, so you can get agramycin. Also I know the wildlife refuge near me uses Bayril, but they get this from their vet who specilizes in birds.

ETA: If you start antibiotics, make sure you continuing giving to her for the entire time as per direction. Not just until she seems better.

 

[Lolliegee]

I'm beginning to wonder at what point do I give up?

She doesn't really seem to be getting any better. Not any worse either, but she seems to be just the same. I don't want to drag things out if there's no hope, but I just don't know. I don't want to give up on her if she will recover. How do I decide if it's time to stop trying?

Any ideas?

 

[threehorses]

Actually, I wouldn't give her an antibiotic to prevent respiratory infections.

Note - the way I'm reading this, you're saying that her nostril cut is infected and inflammed (possibly preventing good breathing), not that she has a snotty nose. Yes?

Giving antibiotics without there being that type of infection there is - well it's one of the reasons we're having problems with super-bacteria these days. Also, birds are more sensitive to all chemicals especially antibiotics which kill a lot of the very necessary good bacteria needed for their unique avian metabolism. Antibiotics don't say "that's a good one, and that's a bad one". So you might end up with a bird who wasn't going to have a respiratory illness but ends up with a digestive tract infection instead because of good-bacteria die off.

If you feel she has an infection that isn't responding to the antibiotic ointment, then it's possible to give an injectable wound-specific antibiotic such as Procaine Penicillin every other day at a dosage for her weight. That's protocol for wounded waterfowl if their wounds are infected or there's a possibility for an infection that you can't see behind the eye or wounds.

Then boost her immunity to prevent secondary stress-induced respiratory and other problems. Boost her nutrition by giving her a non-medicated baby food, or game feed, if you happen to have some. If this sort of thing happens, I might pick up the little paperbags they make for people at the feedstore who don't have many chicks. You can also give her a boiled egg yolk a day to boost her nutritional intake. Because she's in distress, I'd give her a probiotic every other day or every third day. Plain yogurt is great for this for an adult bird not experiencing any digestive issues yet. Mix that, the yolk, some crumbles, some of your good vitamin water youre making - bingo. I find that few birds can resist regressing to baby food.

Let us know if you feel you need to treat the wounds' possible infections with injectables. We can help with that.

Also realize that if her vision is not there (and it takes a while for eyes to get better, if they do at all, vision wise) then she'll be depressed. If she's eating and drinking at all with your help, I'd consider that progress. If she truly wanted to die I think she might have before. You're the one with the good instincts here. What do you feel she wants? She also might have a decreased appetite because of possible visual impairment. Something to consider.

Personally, I think standing and moving around a bit sounds alright considering. Not as hopeful as we all wish. But it does take a while for them to feel better. I wonder if you could do anything to sort of perk her up? Is she missing her buddies possibly?

 

[Lolliegee]

Thank you Threehorses for such a lengthy response. I was feeling pretty down about her this morning. Tonight, however, I feel a little more encouraged. I got her to take 3 syringefuls of water and a syringeful of milk. I forgot to mention to you all that I have not been able to get her to eat anything at all. I've even watered down yogurt and a raw egg to try and get her to eat.

To clarify what's going on with her nose...it's not snotty, but I think that it's not the infection from her wound, but rather, her eyes are so swollen and full of gunk, that it's coming out her nose and also running into her mouth (think post nasal drip, but with pus instead

). I realized to when I was cleaning her up today, that since she's been breathing with her mouth open (in fact, she won't close her mouth at all), the goo that's running into her mouth has just been solidifying. I managed to clear out a bunch of junk from her mouth and her breathing immediately improved. So, I don't believe that she has any respiratory infection.

I'm posting some before and after pics. The before are what she looked like tonight, before I cleaned her eyes, nose and mouth. The after, are well, after. You can see in the pics how swollen she is and how much hardened goo is on her eyes. I was thinking that posting the pics might help you all to help me know if I should keep going with this. I really want to do what's best for her and I feel like right now as long as she's still trying, then I should too, but if her injuries are too severe, then I should do what's right.

I also took a pic of her poo in case that would be helpful, let me know and I'll post it too.

Thanks again for all the support, I really appreciate it!!

 

[BorderKelpie]

Oh, poor baby!
Looks like you're doing a great job, though. I think I woulod keep trying a bit longer. She's still upright and moving around a bit. As long as you're comfortable with it, keep trying. There is also, nothing wrong with becoming overwhelmed. This is stressful for you as well. Take care of yourself and remember, you are doing a great job.

 

[damselfish]

Oh, dear, poor chickie!

And poor you. You've obviously done tons of work on her, I don't have any practical advice. Just wanted to send support for whatever decision you make.

 

[lotzahenz]

If you suspect her of being dehydrated, you can give her IV fluids, but instead of IV, you given them Subcutaneously. It does not take much to help, about 90 ml under the skin will absorb into her system and hydrate her slowly. This may be more expense than you want to take on, but your vet can set you up with a bag of fluids, a short bit of tubing and a needle. You slip it under the skin (you'd have to ask the vet to show you the best place) and let 30ml drip in, then clamp it off and move to a different spot and let 30ml drip in, then move and add 30ml more. This makes a big pocket of fluid, which will be tender, but it absorbs in about an hour. Sometimes a couple of days of this, twice a day, will rehydrate your hen, and if she can see, maybe she will eat. My vet fixes me up for little cost, but I know him very well. It's simple, you just cap off the needle and keep it at room temp until the next day. IV fluids are good at room temp for 48 hours. This also works for sick cats and dogs that just can't keep fluids down. Best of luck. Oh, to rid yard of the Oppossum, just feed him canned cat food on your back porch (or any scraps) for a few nights, he'll get tame, and you can catch him by hand. Just kick him rather hard (they don't run fast at all) and he'll roll into a ball. With a huge glove or oven mitt, grab his tail and have someone wack him good, till he goes to Possum heaven. Remember, they have huge teeth and will bite though. But hanging by the tail, they have a hard time reaching up, just shake him a bit. I wish you all the luck.


ETA: Did anyone on here ever go Possum huntin as a kid? We used to collect them in the back of a pickup truck, just throw them in the back, they couldn't climb out too easy. That's how I learned they have big teeth.

 

[threehorses]

You know, being worried about her food intake - rather than milk, I'd take some of her pellets that she eats or even oatmeal and put some of those in the water you give her. They'll dissolve and fill the water with the nutrients. The oatmeal, I take the oats out - or grind them to a powder. Then she has 'boosted' water that gives her some nutrients. The oatmeal water won't clog a syringe as much as the pellet-water will. I think it gives them a bit of a boost, too, energy wise. The egg yolk mixed down into the water would work wonders, too. I bet you could make a batch and keep that in the fridge to make it easier.

I think with that pus I really would consider giving her injectable antibiotics, or penicillin if your vet will give it to you. Especially since she'll be ingesting pus. Of course, keep up the probiotics. You can give them every other day if you want. I'd be careful about giving her too many dairy product if she's not getting other things in her system, too.

Does she get much water in her?

I think you've done a remarkable job of cleaning her up. Seriously, I'm impressed and proud for you. If she's taking syringefuls of water, she wants to live. Wow she has a big heart.

By the way, have you seen her move her beak? Even if she just opens it again to breathe? If you haven't, you might give the inside of her roof of her beak a look-at and make sure that's clean, too.

I just keep thinking "wow". She's so tough, and so are you.

Keep up the good work and we'll keep watching to see how you two are doing.

 

[Lolliegee]

Quote:
Ironic you should say this...With the last tending to her that I just finished, I had done just that. I cleared a bunch of gunk from the top of her mouth. I also realized she had a layer of dried gunk on her tongue. Never really paid attention to a chickens tongue is supposed to look like, so didn't realize it at first. As soon as I cleaned her up, she once again showed more interest in water and the milk. I wish I'd seen your post before I gave more milk to her, but I do have vitamins mixed into the water too. Next time, I'll go back to the watered down egg or yogurt. I don't think I could get her to eat her real food yet, even if I mixed it really well with water, I'm afraid it would still be way too thick.

She is not closing her mouth at all. I was wondering if her jaw had been injured, but I've realized that it's because of all the swelling from the buildup of pus. Her mouth (cheeks? do chicken have cheeks?) are so swollen, she just can't close it all the way.

Can you get injectable antibiotics from the feed store or do you have to go to a vet to get them? I'd really rather not pay for the vet, I'd rather just do whatever I can on my own without having to spend so much. Money is very tight for us right now. I would like to do the injectable, I think that would be good for her, but if I can't do it without going to the vet, is there another option?

You all have been sooooo supportive, I can't tell you how much it's helped me.

 

[TennesseeTruly]

Oh hun, I just want to cry after seeing your hen. She is so lucky to have you. Good luck!

Laurie