Ascites...need some help

Woobsie

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I had a broody hen I couldn't break and she got thin and went downhill. Eventually ending up with what I thought were egg bound symptoms. I had to put her down Monday because it was too far gone. Now I have another hen with similar symptoms but just started showing the characteristic penguin waddle and tail down. I took her to a country vet who tested the straw coloured clean liquid in her abdomen and said egg yolk perodontis or something similar. From my research here she has ascites from unknown cause. Now I have a 3rd hen showing ascites symptoms....! Could this be bacteria related? He mentioned mycoplasma can sometimes cause water to build up internally?
I drained the one hen successfully last night and it continued to drip out over the night. She can stand now and breathe. I gave both milk thistle but am unsure what is a safe dosage?
The vet suggested I can do a week of Tylan to see..because it is strange ascites would hit 3 of 50 birds at once...but maybe it is just because we got really hot weather for the last week or so?
I am in Canada so its hard to get access to antibiotics freely and I am not even sure if it would do anything. Both these hens are 3 years old and aside from MG struggle last summer, all have been healthy until now.
They are my pets and I am very sad so want to do all I can. I havent drained the other one because I am not totally sure yet she has it.
What is a good safe dosage of milk thistle? These girls weigh 3.3 kg each. One cap is 250 mg.
Also, should i watch the other hen to see if there is a more pronounced water balloon before even attempting to drain?
The other one had to have drained at least 700mL of fluid but this one is more having trouble walking and wants to lay down but no obvious water balloon.
They are both showing signs of bony chest also.
 
Last edited:
I had a broody hen I couldn't break and she got thin and went downhill. Eventually ending up with what I thought were egg bound symptoms. I had to put her down Monday because it was too far gone. Now I have another hen with similar symptoms but just started showing the characteristic penguin waddle and tail down. I took her to a country vet who tested the straw coloured clean liquid in her abdomen and said egg yolk perodontis or something similar. From my research here she has ascites from unknown cause. Now I have a 3rd hen showing ascites symptoms....! Could this be bacteria related? He mentioned mycoplasma can sometimes cause water to build up internally?
I drained the one hen successfully last night and it continued to drip out over the night. She can stand now and breathe. I gave both milk thistle but am unsure what is a safe dosage?
The vet suggested I can do a week of Tylan to see..because it is strange ascites would hit 3 of 50 birds at once...but maybe it is just because we got really hot weather for the last week or so?
I am in Canada so its hard to get access to antibiotics freely and I am not even sure if it would do anything. Both these hens are 3 years old and aside from MG struggle last summer, all have been healthy until now.
They are my pets and I am very sad so want to do all I can. I havent drained the other one because I am not totally sure yet she has it.
What is a good safe dosage of milk thistle? These girls weigh 3.3 kg each. One cap is 250 mg.
Also, should i watch the other hen to see if there is a more pronounced water balloon before even attempting to drain?
The other one had to have drained at least 700mL of fluid but this one is more having trouble walking and wants to lay down but no obvious water balloon.
They are both showing signs of bony chest also.
With Peritonitis or Ascites the fluid will generally become infected with bacteria. If I understand correctly the bacteria can be transmitted through poo and drinking water, etc. An antibiotic will help give supportive care/comfort and possibly reduce the bacteria that is excreted in the poop so it is not transmitted as easily.

As far as the milk thistle you would have to research it, I am not familiar with it's use.


http://www.mypetchicken.com/backyard-chickens/chicken-help/Egg-Yolk-Peritonitis-Overview-H264.aspx
https://www.beautyofbirds.com/eggyolkperitonitis.html
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/p...uctive_system/egg_peritonitis_in_poultry.html
 
I have them on tylan..is that considered an ntibiotic? I read that duramycin 10 would be good or better but not sure I can get that easily here
 
Thank you. I had to go back to the vet today with 2 birds and they took a fecal culture and advised to go ahead with the tetracycline as well as continue with tylan injections. They seem to show improvement today but it could be the electrolytes that perked them up.
 
Martha is doing fabulously! She's scratching and pecking while free ranging and active most of the day swelling never came back yet. She's still pooping liquid but I assume she's on the mend. Her appetite is good and drinking well. Have her on tylan for a day more and tetracycline for another 3 days
 
Glad to hear she is doing well!
Thank you for the update, keep us posted
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