Assumed cloacitis? Trying to treat when vets can't

SarahLadd

Crowing
8 Years
Jun 23, 2017
1,043
4,295
381
Minneapolis, MN
Hello all,

My favorite hen has been ill for about a month now. I'm trying everything to find the cause and treat it. Last week I called all 4 vets in the area that see chickens and they're booked out 3 weeks. I'm afraid she'll die before her appointment so I'm trying to keep finding a cure.


1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Ameraucana, 3 years old, unsure on current weight
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Lethargy, unable to get up steps, unable to reach roost to sleep. Watery droppings and soiling herself. Appetite is good, she is still foraging and eating. As of 4 days ago her belly has become swollen and firm. Skin color is naturally a fleshy pink but around cloaca it is the color of purple bruising. Dull feathers and feather loss on abdomen. Face area isn't pale per se, but has the look of a non laying hen, which she has not been laying since August.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Around a month
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
At this point now that she has developed a new symptom I could search, I am assuming "vent gleet" or cloacitis.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Yes, I watch her eat and drink daily
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Watery, dark greenish brown, no urea cap
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Two doses panacur 10 days apart, Corid water treatment for coccidiosis, Braggs apple cider vinegar in water, warm Epsom salt bath daily, complete clean and disinfect of coop, starting treatment with nystatin suspension 2ml twice daily
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Both? Vet cannot see her for weeks, trying to prevent death


I am using a liquid nystatin suspension given orally twice daily with a single day dose of poultry multivitamin. I am on day 3 of treatment with nystatin. Today she appears to be holding her tail up much higher as she walks about and her waddling is less severe. She is active and spry, if I call she will come running as fast as she can. I'm feeding her a dollop of skyr (Icelandic yogurt) daily also. Today her droppings look like they are starting to become more solid. I'm not sure if it's working or too late considering the condition of her body. Her abdomen looks and feels like a grapefruit is stuffed inside her. I'm so worried. What can I do??
 
Ameraucana, 3 years old
Lethargy, unable to get up steps, unable to reach roost to sleep. Watery droppings and soiling herself.
As of 4 days ago her belly has become swollen and firm. Skin color is naturally a fleshy pink but around cloaca it is the color of purple bruising.
At this point now that she has developed a new symptom I could search, I am assuming "vent gleet" or cloacitis.
Two doses panacur 10 days apart, Corid water treatment for coccidiosis, Braggs apple cider vinegar in water, warm Epsom salt bath daily, complete clean and disinfect of coop, starting treatment with nystatin suspension 2ml twice daily
I am on day 3 of treatment with nystatin. Today she appears to be holding her tail up much higher as she walks about and her waddling is less severe.
Her abdomen looks and feels like a grapefruit is stuffed inside her.

Can you please post some photos of her, her vent including the bruising and of her poop?

Does she lay eggs? When was the last one?

Swelling of the abdomen, waddling with bruising sounds like she's having a reproductive problem. Peritonitis, cancer, Salpingitis, tumors, etc. can be common in laying hens.
Since there's swelling this can cause droppings to stick to the feathers and skin instead of falling away. Swelling can cause pressure, therefore some "seepage" since the hen is not able to control her bodily functions.

I don't think it would hurt to treat with the Nystatin, if nothing else, it may help with any crop issues that may be brewing (sour crop) which is also a common symptom that accompanies reproductive problems.
 
 

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I hope you can see the images. She has not laid since August. She was not swollen like this a week ago, her body looked pretty normal. If it is a reproductive issue I wonder how long she will stay hanging in there. :(
 
I hope you can see the images. She has not laid since August. She was not swollen like this a week ago, her body looked pretty normal. If it is a reproductive issue I wonder how long she will stay hanging in there. :(
If the abdomen is fluid filled, sometimes that can be drained to make them more comfortable. An antibiotic may also be used as supportive care to help with inflammation. While neither are a cure, some hens can rebound for a period of time.
If you do happen to lose her, sending the body for necropsy or doing your own can shed more light onto the cause of her decline.

 
Thank you for the information. It's very possible now that I'm looking at EYP that it may be what's wrong. Contrary to the video you posted, her abdomen is not mushy, it's very firm. I don't think this treatment would work for her. I'm considering calling Como and paying the emergency fee to get her seen.
 
I'm at the ER vet and ultrasound suggests it is a giant tumor, she is emaciated and unlikely to make it long enough to see a specialist even if I wanted to try. I'm in the lot waiting for my husband to see her over the rainbow Bridge. I am so heartbroken and I am a river of tears. She is my favorite bird, she is so calm and cuddly and silly and I had trained her to jump on my arm. I'm going to miss her. This is the worst :( thank you for trying. My sweet baby Smoke. 3 years was not long enough.
 
Thank you for the information. It's very possible now that I'm looking at EYP that it may be what's wrong. Contrary to the video you posted, her abdomen is not mushy, it's very firm. I don't think this treatment would work for her. I'm considering calling Como and paying the emergency fee to get her seen.
I'm at the ER vet and ultrasound suggests it is a giant tumor, she is emaciated and unlikely to make it long enough to see a specialist even if I wanted to try. I'm in the lot waiting for my husband to see her over the rainbow Bridge. I am so heartbroken and I am a river of tears. She is my favorite bird, she is so calm and cuddly and silly and I had trained her to jump on my arm. I'm going to miss her. This is the worst :( thank you for trying. My sweet baby Smoke. 3 years was not long enough.
I'm sorry to hear about Smoke.
It's good that you have a vet that you can consult and find out more. It can be tough losing a favorite.:hugs
 

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