Chicken gasping for air, PLEASE HELP

[HannahGillie]

Yesterday one of my hens started gasping for air and quickly deteriorated. I took her in to the vet where she was put on supplemental oxygen and had an exam and x-rays taken, but nothing was able to be found. She had gas in her crop and stomach, but the vet said it was most likely due to stress and fatigue. Vet ruled it as a possible lung obstruction (couldn't be seen on x-rays) or a respiratory infection or disease. I ended up having to euthanize my hen because she would immediately crash as soon as she was taken off oxygen. I did send her body off for necropsy with the state lab, but they said it could take a few days to get results back.

But now a second hen has started the same symptoms but less pronounced. What can I do? I have denagard I can give them, but I don't know if it would help? I was reading up on gape worm and the symptoms fit as well. Can I treat with a dewormer like Safegard and Denagard at the same time or would that do more harm than good? I will call the vets office as soon as they open but that won't be for a few more hours.

Please help, I am shattered over loosing my baby Petunia yesterday and I don't want to loose anymore of my girls

 

[1Slayer]

I don't have advice...but I'm so sorry for you loss

 

[Eggcessive]

What is your general location? I would keep checking with your state vet on a preliminary diagnosis. They usually give a final diagnosis when cultures are back later on. Have you had any outbreaks of avian flu or Newcastles disease in your area? Is there any mold or a lot of dust, or poor air circulation in their environment? You can treat for gapeworm with SafeGuard 0.25 ml (1/4 ml) given orally for 5 consecutive days. Denagard is for MG, and it is said to taste very bad. Many sweeten the water. It would be safe to use, but she may not drink enough of the water. If she gets too stressed, I would just use the wormer. Does she have any swelling or foam in her eye, or drainage from her beak or nostrils?

 

[HannahGillie]

What is your general location? I would keep checking with your state vet on a preliminary diagnosis. They usually give a final diagnosis when cultures are back later on. Have you had any outbreaks of avian flu or Newcastles disease in your area? Is there any mold or a lot of dust, or poor air circulation in their environment? You can treat for gapeworm with SafeGuard 0.25 ml (1/4 ml) given orally for 5 consecutive days. Denagard is for MG, and it is said to taste very bad. Many sweeten the water. It would be safe to use, but she may not drink enough of the water. If she gets too stressed, I would just use the wormer. Does she have any swelling or foam in her eye, or drainage from her beak or nostrils?

Thank you for the reply! I am in central NC, to my knowledge there has not been any outbreaks in my area. Neither of the hens showed any other symptoms other than gasping, no sneezing or drainage. No foam or discharge in the eyes or nostrils. Just the gasping. I will pick up some Safeguard first thing this morning and start giving it, should I just give it to her or go ahead and start treatment with my others as well?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would definitely give it to her. It requires an egg withdrawal time of 14 days. It can affect feather regrowth in molting chickens. If your vet can do a fecal float on some collected fresh droppings, that might tell you if they also need to be wormed. Denagard is usually given in water, but if you give 0.09 ml per pound daily, that would be the daily dose. Note that is less than 0.1 ml if a 1ml syringe is used. Those may be found at most pharmacies if you ask for one.

 

[MLC]

I would definitely give it to her. It requires an egg withdrawal time of 14 days. It can affect feather regrowth in molting chickens. If your vet can do a fecal float on some collected fresh droppings, that might tell you if they also need to be wormed. Denagard is usually given in water, but if you give 0.09 ml per pound daily, that would be the daily dose. Note that is less than 0.1 ml if a 1ml syringe is used. Those may be found at most pharmacies if you ask for one.

I just experienced the same with one of my chickens. Gasping for air and stretching neck, but no other symptoms. Came on extremely fast. Took her to the emergency vet and x-rays showed no blockage of anything. We ended up euthanizing (did not want her to suffer). What is it? No other chicken in the flock are showing any signs. Thank you.

 

[Aoife123]

Any update have a hen displaying the same symptoms on and off for about a months. Never gets fully better but symptoms ease and then back with a bang. She was really struggling to catch a a breath this morning when I checked her on my way to work. All of my flock have been experiencing respiratory symptoms since August seems to be very slow moving. Snotty noses and bubbly eyes but they are eating and laying away. This hen hasn't got the bubbly watery eyes or snotty nose but I did notice a rattle in her chest before she got sick she's the only one struggling to breathe. She had antibiotic and anti Inflammatory and been done a couple of time for worms in case of gape worm but nothing had worked

 

[Eggcessive]

Any update have a hen displaying the same symptoms on and off for about a months. Never gets fully better but symptoms ease and then back with a bang. She was really struggling to catch a a breath this morning when I checked her on my way to work. All of my flock have been experiencing respiratory symptoms since August seems to be very slow moving. Snotty noses and bubbly eyes but they are eating and laying away. This hen hasn't got the bubbly watery eyes or snotty nose but I did notice a rattle in her chest before she got sick she's the only one struggling to breathe. She had antibiotic and anti Inflammatory and been done a couple of time for worms in case of gape worm but nothing had worked

Sounds like your flock is positive for a respiratory disease. Most are contagious and make carriers of the whole flock for life until the last bird is gone. In times of stress, such as molting or extreme weather, they could have an outbreak. It is best to close your flock to birds coming in or going out of your flock. If you ever lose one, your state vet could do a necropsy and testing to identify the disease. MG is common. Only certain antibiotics such as Tylosin, tetracyclines, or Denagard will treat MG symptoms, but it still will not be cured.