Chicken limping/sitting a lot

[Tailwise]

She really seemed to take a nosedive after that last vet visit. Getting slower, clumsier, not wanting to do anything. On Saturday I figured out her crop was very large (again) while all she was pooping was water and flecks of green. I decided to try massaging her crop that evening and the next morning. By Sunday afternoon her area was covered in big brown poops and by Sunday evening she was acting more energetic again. This morning I caught her bouncing across the sofa to attack a piece of toilet paper.

Which is good for the short term, at least. She's been getting very thin. I'm going to get something to help her empty her crop more easily.

Our vet called the nearby academic veterinary hospital for us, and they suggested I bring her in so they can see if radio- or chemotherapy might still help her. I'm trying not to hope too much, but I'd rather take the shot than not.

 

[Tailwise]

(At this point, avian leukosis is the main theory, if I understood correctly, though my vet said nothing about the viral nature of that disease. No blood work has been done. She saw some tumor-like white blood cells in the biopsy, so there's definitely a lymphoma in her leg, but the cause is still up in the air. At 7 years of age, living mostly in isolation, I doubt it's Marek's, at least.)

 

[Tailwise]

It's been a whirlwind week.

Bintje's case was accepted by the academic pet hospital at about 45 minutes' drive away from me. They confirmed she has a lymphoma, but the specialist does not think it's one of the viral forms of chicken leukemia. Today, she'll be getting a CT scan to determine whether it's localized or she has tumors in other places. Depending on the outcome of that, she'll receive either radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

She also got some medication to help her empty her crop on Monday and has gotten progressively stronger and more energetic since.

I'll keep this thread updated.

 

[Tailwise]

The CT scan came back, and it's what I kind of expected, knowing what I know about white blood cell cancer in chickens by now: there are also masses near her kidneys, her ovaries, and in her spleen. As far as I can tell, that ends any hope on my part we might be able to keep her going for a significant amount of time.

The vet is speaking to the oncologist today to see if there is anything to be done in terms of chemotherapy that will actually improve and extend her life.

I suppose in a way I should be grateful: many of us (including me, in the past) have lost birds suddenly or in the space of a week or two without knowing what was going on. Because Bintje's leukemia/leukosis decided to express itself in her leg as well, I've had time to really be with her (and hopefully a bit more, still; our first vet was hopeful we'd have up to 6 more months). But I am going to miss her dearly.

For now, she remains clear-headed, attentive, and about as strong as you can expect a hen to be under the circumstances and with only one usable leg. The one thing I'm worried about is that I've had her sleep on my mattress at night because it's soft, but now she keeps waking up panting in the night; the only solution that has worked so far is letting her sleep on the sofa instead, but I worry about her coming into contact with mice.

I hadn't planned to take another inside chicken after she died, but the more I watch her now, the more I know I'll miss the interaction you can have with a fully tame, human-inclined chicken.

 

[Tailwise]

After some discussion with the vet, I've decided to opt for chemotherapy for Bintje. He did warn that it requires putting the bird under anaesthesia, which is always a risk, that chemo can also 'leak' off the bird to humans, and that there's no guarantee this will do anything. It causes remission (temporarily) in dogs about 30 percent of the time.

 

[Sondraa]

I don't think my experiences there will help you very much, as I'm in the Netherlands. But her initial checkup was around 175 euros (213 dollars) and follow-ups were around 67 euros (85 dollars), for whatever that's worth.

Wow...that is so affordable compared to Tasmania.

 

[Tailwise]

Wow...that is so affordable compared to Tasmania.

Funnily enough, the avian vets here are always worried about being too expensive. But I'm sorry. Taking care of birds with health issues is stressful enough without the expense.

 

[Sondraa]

Nearly impossible to get an avian vet appointment. They often service multiple places and may only be available in a location once a week or even once a month or never. Birds seem to go down really quickly. It isn't helpful and very very expensive.