Bacterial infection causing severe bleeding?

[KentuckyRooster]

I'm curious if anyone has seen this before.

One of my new roosters started pooping big puddles of blood this morning so I rushed him to the vet. We're talking major blood loss for such a small bird, this is a japanese bantam weighing less than a pound.

Anyhow. He's got a bacterial infection in his gut. He's been prescribed antibiotics (metro). I'm just praying they kick in before the blood loss kills him.

Poor lil guy. I fed him some tuna fish to try and keep his calories up and he's in an iso pen. Any other supportive care ideas you have I'm definitely open to. I was thinking some poly-vi-sol might help and electrolites. Going to keep him eating canned dog food and other high cal foods to support his body during this.

I took my favorite duck with us too since the past couple of days she has been fighting an eye infection. I got some stronger stuff for that too so I'm pleased about that.

 

[Rickba]

You did the right thing taking him to the vet right away. Kudo's to you for that. Sounds like you're doing fine. I'd keep up the electrolytes to keep him from dehydrating. Try fermenting his feed to make it easier for him to digest.

 

[KentuckyRooster]

He's still bleeding heavily. I fed him some beef for the iron.

I gave him some poly vi sol and electrolytes. I don't know how long he can keep up bleeding like this. He may die. I feel terrible.

 

[staceyj]

I'd be inclined to consider withholding solid food for a time period of 12-24 hrs.
If the gut is bleeding it might benefit from a rest period and time off from having to process solids.
Perhaps just keep up the electrolyte liquids with poly vi sol and a little sugar added maybe.
Hopefully someone else will chime in here.
I know a chicken is not the same as a dog but when our dog had hemorrhagic gastroenteritis he was on flagyl and we had to take away food and limit water intake for 24 hrs. to let his intestines rest. Then we slowly reintroduce very bland food in small quantities over a period of a few days until he recovered.
I don't know enough about the digestive tract of a chicken to know for sure if this makes sense in this case but my brain is telling me it would possibly help with the blood loss.
Best wishes to you.

 

[rebrascora]

Are you sure the vet said bacterial infection and not protozoa. It sounds more like Coccidiosis with him pooping blood. Coccidia are protozoa. They are everywhere in the soil and thrive in warm damp conditions. Birds that are moved to a new location are more susceptible because they are under stress from the change of environment(chickens don't like change and stress suppresses the immune system) and are also exposed to different strains of Coccidia that they have perhaps not encountered before and therefore not developed resistance to.

 

[Saaniya]

Try Zydus Biotrim Oral In Water Blood Will stop Immediately

 

[KentuckyRooster]

Are you sure the vet said bacterial infection and not protozoa. It sounds more like Coccidiosis with him pooping blood. Coccidia are protozoa. They are everywhere in the soil and thrive in warm damp conditions. Birds that are moved to a new location are more susceptible because they are under stress from the change of environment(chickens don't like change and stress suppresses the immune system) and are also exposed to different strains of Coccidia that they have perhaps not encountered before and therefore not developed resistance to.

Yes, it's not coccidia. I brought that up specifically. He has a very high bacterial load in his gut. Metronidazole is what he is taking for it.

He is still bleeding but eating and drinking and bright still. Fingers crossed. All we can do now is hope for the best and that the medications do their work. Still have him on electrolytes and polyvisol (once a day) to support his body.

The way chickens digest food, I don't know if fasting will help him. I think he needs the calories to produce new blood to replace what he's loosing. I don't know honestly. I've never seen this much gastro blood from a chicken.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry to hear about your rooster.

Did the vet give you a name for the bacterial infection (Clostridium perfringens)? Does he have Ulcerative enteritis? (Just curious)

Do you have any chick starter or all flock you can give his as well? The dog/cat food is fine, but wander if he is not used to it, it might give him diarrhea(?) Maybe mix his feed with the pet food to make a mash.
Beef liver would also be good, but it's very rich, so a small amount would be all he needs daily (about 1tablespoon).

It sounds like you are doing everything you can, please keep us posted.

 

[Chicken_Guru]

I know this might be emotional, but could you give us any pics?

 

[KentuckyRooster]

Yeah I will try to get a pic tomorrow of the blood. I do have all flock for him in there as well. He's also eating mealworms and dubia roaches once a day (I raise them for my reptiles)

Vet did not give me a specific name. We didn't send it to be cultured because A) no time with the blood loss and B) it wouldn't really change treatment plan any. Metro should fix almost any gastro bacterial infection.