Ascites? in desperate need of some help and guidance...

Pics
Date sort Score sort
HI,

I'm back with an update. My hen is still alive, although now she is showing signs of starting the end stages. I would take her to the vet, but because of the snow we are getting I won't be able to take her in. She is showing signs of straining- always having her bottom positioned as if she wants to eliminate. She is still eating, remarkably, but not a whole lot. She will take the yogurt. Doesn't really touch the water. She will sift through her feed with her beak, but I don't think she is eating much of it at all. Just the yogurt- she will eat lots of yogurt.

I tried draining her again with a needle- I really don't think this is ascites anymore.. because I am getting AIR- smelly air- air that smells like sulphate (egg smell) So I really think the problem is with her reproductive system. I'm really quite shocked when I stick her with the needle and I don't even get blood, or any sort of colored liquid- just air and lots of it. (the smell is not intolerable, but does have the odor of eggs) I'm putting one and one together and figuring that whatever it is, its complicating all her other organs right now- mainly her endocrine- and that I could loose her soon due to this.

What sort of problem internally would cause AIR to build up like that? Should I start giving her antibiotics- as I assume maybe the air is from decomposing materials if bound inside of her? I would guess in the long run the only thing that could be done for her at this point is some sort of removal of her reproductive egg making tract.

I'm just curious if anyone would have any insights on what would cause air to build up like that internally? It might help pinpoint what the problem is and if I could help her in any way. I do realize at this point it may be hopeless. I'm just curious.

Thanks for any replies.
 
I haven't read the whole thread & this may be a very out-of-left-field idea, but could you possibly have poked an air sac & was hearing air coming out as she was breathing out?
 
Oh... didn't know about air sacs. How is it I never knew this before? They did not have these parts in the chicken anatomy illustrations I was looking at. arrrrrrgh!

Yes, I suppose it is possible I hit an air sac. I am hoping to God this did not hurt her majorly if I did.
 
If you did poke an air sac, I do not think it would be a major deal. I think the hole would heal up quickly.

I've made a mistake with lungs before. I injected too much Ringer's solution subcutaneously behind the base of a hen's neck & the excessive pressure caused the fluid to permeate the walls of the lungs (or maybe it was some air sacs). The hen started gurgling & I started panicking. However, I read online that the body would take care of it fairly shortly. I was relieved that in less than 45 minutes, the pressure went down enough & the fluid moved back out of the lungs such that she wasn't gurgling any more.

I feel anguish over things I've done that haven't turned out right at times, but we all make mistakes sometimes as we're trying to treat.
 
Last edited:
Speckledhills,

Thank you for your feedback... I was worried. She is ok. Actually, she seems better today- resting comfortably, eating is sparse, but the desire to eat is still there. I have been giving her some baytril again, so I have a feeling that is doing its job. It worked a few other times- though she didn't recover all the way since the last dosage. It wasn't until the very last day or next to last day of a weeks' dosage that she started to perk up, but she never really did perk back up all the way like she did the first dosage a few months ago.

One thing is for sure... I won't be poking around with a syringe on her anymore! As soon as this winter weather clears (more snow forecasted.. ugh!) then I will probably be taking her back to the vet... that is, if she is still alive and doing ok.



Much thanks again!
 
Hey, just chiming in... She is still alive. She seems to have good days and bad... bad not being so bad, just kind of sitting more. She is still on antibiotic and she is eating, albeit, not a normal amount- and she is also eating more yogurt than anything else. She still has the bulgy abdomen... and no, I haven't stuck her with any needles since those last times.

We've had so much snow that I keep postponing taking her back into the vet. I've been thinking about asking the vet to preform a hysterectomy... if it is indeed some sort of problem with the reproductive organs. Does anyone know the stats on a chicken surviving this type of surgery? I think I read that it is usually not too successful. I'm not sure I want to put in all the money if there is a great chance the hen will die soon afterwards anyway.

Just an update.
 
I believe sedation can be pretty iffy with birds---It is easy for them to accidentally die from sedation errors, at least with some types of sedatives.
I can only think of one other bit of info that may or may not be helpful--I have two hens with CRD that seems to be founded on several underlying conditions. Neither one has layed eggs other than for 2 or 3 short stints. The only antibiotic that cleared up their reproductive systems (albeit for only a few weeks at most) to a healthy level of functioning was Baytril. I think that MIGHT be something that's also used to treat egg peritonitis?? Perhaps it would be a useful med for your hen??? It is expensive & hard to come by, & you likely wouldn't want to try it without your vet doing a lab culture with it...
Just trying to think of any possible helpful ideas...
I'm sorry your hen is sick but am glad to hear she is doing reasonably alright & is having some better days.
Hugs
hugs.gif
 

Similar threads

Chickenkeeper23
Possible ascites
Replies
1
Views
511
Wyorp Rock
Wyorp Rock
G
Is this ascites?
Replies
7
Views
696
Wyorp Rock
Wyorp Rock
C
    • Like
3 year old light brahma has water belly/Ascites: Some advice please
Replies
1
Views
533
Debbie292d
Debbie292d
Chickenkeeper23
Water belly/ascites
Replies
1
Views
387
Eggcessive
Eggcessive
Hasummer16
    • Like
Helpful Treatment for Ascites
Replies
1
Views
342
Debbie292d
Debbie292d

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom