Chicken can't stand or walk, paralyzed??

[Gotalotofpetstoo]

@Gotalotofpetstoo , I have said a couple of times "IF that linked article is true" because I had not seen salpingtitis distinguished between bacterial and viral before, nor that only bacteria causes the "onion layers." No one here has verified if the article is true, and in skimming some other websites this morn such as Merck and The Poultry Site, both only list bacterial causes. The bacterial/viral salpingtitis article was written by a veterinarian, and The Chicken Chick is generally a reliable website. But that same article also said hormone implants for chickens are illegal, so at the very least the article is outdated. The info about cephalexin used to treat salpingtitis came from another vet on the BYC thread that was linked here. I would definitely treat with cephalexin; you have nothing to lose.

@aygous mentioned that Ethel's hard mass was in the area where egg yolk peritonitis develops. That is also known as "internal laying." Here are articles about the condition.
https://www.chickenvet.co.uk/egg-peritonitis
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/egg-yolk-peritonitis-in-backyard-chickens

On an upbeat note, Ethel's latest video is adorable. She definitely eats her blueberry muffins with gusto! Ethel's sweet hen-talk makes my heart smile, and I know she surely does yours too.

Thank you. I'm going to read those articles about internal laying. She had her vitamin D3 and her calcium again this morning and I started the cephalexin so I'll do the D3 and the calcium one time a day and the cephalexin 250 mg two times a day and see how it goes. As long as she keeps gaining weight and eating and seems happy, then I'm happy

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Hopefully the calcium citrate and d3 will allow her to continue to expel the lash material.

Re the articles I sent, those seem factual. The one from VCA Hospitals is probably over-optimistic as far as eventual outcome. But they are a for-profit veterinary chain and so will throw everything including the kitchen sink at a medical issue as long as the human client is willing to pay for it.

 

[mrskenmore]

Thank you. I'm going to read those articles about internal laying. She had her vitamin D3 and her calcium again this morning and I started the cephalexin so I'll do the D3 and the calcium one time a day and the cephalexin 250 mg two times a day and see how it goes. As long as she keeps gaining weight and eating and seems happy, then I'm happy

I agree with you and others here. That video of Miss Ethel eating that blueberry muffin was adorable. She is looking good and you have nothing to lose with her additional supplements and cephalexin. I too loved hearing her sweet sweet voice!

Way to go mom!

 

[lightm]

I read the whole thread and I am in awe. Ethel is incredible, with her incredible mama.

 

[Gotalotofpetstoo]

I got to make this quick because I'm at work and already so far behind but one of My mom's chickens was found dead in her nesting box in her coop yesterday morning. She was about the only one that would ever sit on the eggs. We took her straight to the lab and had in a necropsy done. About an hour later we found another one in the yard dead and she had literally just been walking around 30 minutes before she was found dead in the yard. I just called the lab and he confirmed that the first one we found that we took to the lab had Salpingitis and he sent off some tissue samples for some tumors he found on her ovaries. He said salpingitis is common in older chickens. She was a golden comet as is Ethel I believe so I am basically just hoping that lots of love and all these vitamins We are giving Ethel will give us some extra time with her.

 

[mrskenmore]

I am sorry to hear that- it is always tough dealing with a loss.

Were you able to determine how old the chicken was that you brought to the lab?

I am hopeful for Ethel, although we all never really know how much time we have with our favorite balls of fluff. That is why I say enjoy each day with them and know that you are doing everything you can and giving them the best life possible.

 

[Gotalotofpetstoo]

I am sorry to hear that- it is always tough dealing with a loss.

Were you able to determine how old the chicken that you brought to the lab?

I am hopeful for Ethel, although we all never really know how much time we have with our favorite balls of fluff. That is why I say enjoy each day with them and know that you are doing everything you can and giving them the best life possible.

The chicken we took to the lab was one of several or half a dozen that my mom got from someone a town over from us and she is well as the second chicken that was found both had leg bands. She got them between 3 and 4 years ago but they were already adults not chicks or pullets when she got them. So we really have no idea how old those two were. But some of the chicken she got from the same place did not have leg bands which I suppose Ethel could be one of them. But I'm going to love her and hug her but I'm not going to squeeze her lol until her time comes which hopefully will be later than sooner cuz God I love this girl so much.

 

[mrskenmore]

In all honestly, that is a great life for a production breed. If your mom had them for at least 4 years, and they were laying adults.. they lived life to the fullest at that age.

Lol- yes, love, hug and be a dotting mother to Ethel. She is lovely and you are both giving and receiving love to each other.

ps- good idea on not squeezing her!

 

[lightm]

My husband always says that his cuddle and love played a big part when we took our sick chickens inside. So far it all works really well.

I am sorry about your moms' chickens. I am hopeful that Ethel still gets to live a decent chunk of her life with you.

 

[Gotalotofpetstoo]

Just a quick Ethel update:
As of yesterday she is up to 4 lb. 8 oz and knock on wood, no more ugly eggs. She's still on her vitamins. She's still on the calcium and vitamin d and still on the cephalexin so I'm hoping that this pattern just continues and we can be blessed with her for a while to come still. If anybody has any thoughts on how long I should keep her on the antibiotic, let me know. I don't want to destroy her system by keeping her on it too long. Or maybe I should give her a probiotic also with the cephalexin so we don't kill off all the Good bacteria as well??
Hope everybody's having a wonderful day and Ethel says hello.