Choanal Slit.. completely gone?

[LadyAnime]

I have searched on Google and used all sorts of phrases to try to describe this. Anyone know what can cause this ? It might have been a birth defect but my rooster is having trouble breathing - he gapes which we thought ( and treated for ) was gape worm. He never had this issue before and is nearly a year old. Yesterday he didn't eat his piece of medicated bread so we went to squirt the meds in his mouth and noticed this. Anyone have any experience with this? He seemed to get better during the de-worming process ( to the point where he was crowing again ) but now he is right back to gaping.. Our local vet doesn't have much chicken knowledge and is $$$. I really would rather not cull him as he's more of a pet than anything. Any advice or help is greatly appreciated.

( As I'm uploading it looks like hubby is pulling on him but tiny is just about to wiggle is head backwards and be free bird ).
He does also make a bark which I think is him trying to clear his poor throat... Eats and drinks well still and acts normal. He is a little more sleepy during the day as his barks are involuntary and it keeps him up at night..

 

[micstrachan]

Poor guy. I wonder if the slit is just swollen closed or if there is a growth covering it. Are those yellow lesions?

 

[LadyAnime]

I'm not totally sure it's almost looks like there was a never a slit that's how swollen it is if it is the slit and not a growth of some sort

 

[coach723]

Is the tongue there? Not seeing it in the pictures. Wondering if the tongue is swollen? Is vet care an option for you? They could determine if it's infection or a growth. I'm going to tag some others that may have some ideas, I've never seen anything like it personally.
@casportpony , @Wyorp Rock , @Eggcessive

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yesterday he didn't eat his piece of medicated bread so we went to squirt the meds in his mouth and noticed this. Anyone have any experience with this? He seemed to get better during the de-worming process ( to the point where he was crowing again ) but now he is right back to gaping

Were you trying to treat him for gapeworm?

I agree with @coach723 I don't really see the tongue unless that is the swelling.
I do see the edges of the roof of the beak (the green lines). Those yellow plaques and the foamy saliva, I would hazard a guess that's canker. Has he had a mucous discharge from the nostrils?

In your other thread a week or so ago - you have a video - this poor little fella looks to be suffering from respiratory illness.
What have you given as far as treatment?
Is vet care an option for you?

 

[LadyAnime]

The vet on the area has no idea what to do with chickens. I saw him last year for one of our other chickens and he said "I have no idea what's wrong with her but here's some meds hope it gets better" yes his tongue is there, I don't think it's swollen but I don't have anything to really reference it against. Yes we treated for gapeworm since his initial sign was just gaping. Did the safeguard for goats and it did seem like he was getting better but now he's back to this. ( During him feeling better he was even crowing again. Now not so much ). Yes he has bubbles in his saliva and the yellow crusties as well. I couldn't find any pictures online of cankers that looked like this. I ordered copper sulfate as some recommended that it along with acv and cranberry juice added to their water can help cankers. The only metronidazole in the entire town is fish medication but it is 250 mg metronidazole and 75 mg praziquantel which from what I've seen online is too much praziquantel for him? Even if I split it up and did the minimal dose ... He's 460 grams. No noticable discharge from his nose but his eyes have been a little watery. Like he's about to cry? He is still eating and drinking. I can take him back to the vet that didn't help my other chicken but I'm afraid if I don't go in with "we need this" he won't send me home with the right meds.... I'll try to get a picture of his tongue

 

[LadyAnime]

Sorry it's blurry he's becoming less of a fan of taking pictures lol

 

[Eggcessive]

At least you can now see his tongue clearly in the new pic. Fish Zole online is pure metronidazole, and relatively cheap. Dosage is 250 mg daily for 5-6 days. It works to treat against canker. Many things can cause yellow plaques inside the beak, throat, and trachea, including protozoal canker, wet fowl pox, fungal infection, viruses and bacterial disease.

 

[LadyAnime]

Just got back from the vet they did emergency surgery to remove the mass. It was nearly grape sized. Not sure what it was since sending it off would be $$$.. hopefully it doesn't come back but I'm just glad that he's alive and can breathe better. Week of meds and pain killers. The vets had no idea what it was. Even the lead vet had never seen or heard of this.. he gave him a 50/50 chance. Tiny is breathing easier but I'll keep a close eye on him for the next few days to make sure he keeps improving . Thanks everyone for the help and advice.

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

I’m glad they were able to help him! Hope he gets better soon.