Annoyed with a vet! *pics too*

[Red]

My chicken Milly has been poorly for a week, now. Not eating, not drinking unless - and this is weird - i trickle some water onto the ground, and then she will drink it off the stone floor where it pools. We've tried all sorts, but so far no luck.

So tonight took her to the vets, this was a special farm animals vet as our normal one doesn't treat chickens. So we got there and i explained all her symptoms, told him her name and said she was ever so friendly etc etc...

As i mentioned a possible crop blockage, he decided to check her there first. He grabbed her roughly by the neck and started feeling her crop with the other hand, to stop her from attacking him!! WHAT?! MILLY?? Anyway, Milly is not used to being treated like that so struggled to get her head free. I told him again she wouldn't peck him. Eventually he let her go and felt her crop normally, and what d'you know she was good as gold. So she started to preen her neck feathers because he had messed them up, and he thought she was pecking him!!!

AAAAGH!

First he said she had an impacted crop, then a second later said he had been accidentally feeling her chest bone and that now he had found her crop it wasn't impacted. He took her temp and as it was a little high thought maybe she had an infection, so injected her with antibiotics.

Once again he asked me to hold her head so she couldn't peck him. I just stared at him. He injected her and she didn't make a noise, then my dad pointed out liquid on the table. He'd injected her feathers, not her body so had to do it again!! Once again she didn't fuss. He has given us antibiotics and told us to come back in 4 days if she isn't eating or drinking...but honestly, it made me so MAD! She was treated so rough and she's such a good little girl.

Pics of her from today

Am gonna wait and see if these antibiotics help, and if not will take her to a vets a little further away that has a specialist poultry vet, to see if they have any ideas...

Red

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

What a doofus! Are you sure he was licensed to practice vet. skills on poultry?

 

[TipsyDog]

So sorry you went through that! I would never go back to that vet. Doesn't seem like he had a clue of what he was doing. Always follow your gut when it comes to vets, doctors, etc. Chances are very good you're right!

Hope your Milly gets better real soon

 

[dlhunicorn]

do not use this "vet" again ... sounds like he doesnt have much experience with birds so he is of no practical use to you anyway.

If you post in EMERGENCIES and list all the symptoms (including every little single detail of anything like feed environmental stressors etc.) then we can help you try and figure out what might help.
(((hugs)))

 

[monarc23]

please please please if you can find another vet and take her to them immediatly. Chickens can go down hill so fast and even though from teh pictures i see she's got good color in her face her not eating worries me. I know how important she is to you (i know the feeling) so please. That vet is a DUMB DUMB who has no compassion...he probably saw her and thought *why doesnt she just kill it.. it's a chicken for gosh sakes* find a better vet asap and bring us good updates!

eta; it took my hubby weeks to learn that when you hold a friendly bird and it preens it sometimes preens you as well.... he too thought they were 'pecking him"

he finnally now realizes they are just preening him too. What i dont get is the big diff between preening and pecking is PAIN with the latter! LOL!

Did he even look for egg binding????

 

[jerseygirl1]

She looks mad, and rightly so!!!!!!!!!

 

[dixiechick]

I agree with previous posters....she's an awfully gorgeous girl and obviously sweet. She deserves an understanding doctor as well.

PS. So what about a little pecking....it's not like getting kicked by a horse for pete's sake! Poor girl..

 

[chickenzoo]

He must have had a life altering experience with a chicken from H@ll as a kid or something.................gesh.....some people. I would find someone who really knows what they are doing.

Poor girl

 

[bigkford]

These people that call themselves vets, in my opinion, should not be vets if they are timid!, scared!, of animals. I work for a vet that would not look at an animal untill it was sedated(spelling). I had to hold the animal and take full responsibiliy for it, so he would not put it under. It was a joke, I reported him. He is still in business but only with people who thinks like he does. One can only do so much.

 

[Serrin]

Red, I so hope Milly makes a turn around soon. She's a beautiful little girl. I'm in 100% agreement with the others who have said to find another vet!

This man is obviously afraid of chickens, and from what you have described, he has all the bedside manner of a wet diaper! I suppose he went and charged you for two shots of antibiotic as well?

It wouldn't surprise me if he did!

Yes, I'd certainly be looking for someone more qualified than this guy. Can't even give a proper shot?

For pity's sake!

Good luck with little Milly. I'll be adding her to my list of good thoughts for a speedy recovery.

Please let us know how she does.