Depressed hen with hugely swollen eye

[uisceros]

I have a small kikiriki hen that has a HUGELY swollen eye. I’ve been trying to treat it for a long time now - about a month or so. At first she was acting normally, but at this point she’s not acting right.

I’ve tried two different antibiotics (Enrofloxacin and Doxycycline), and tetramycin ointment. I’ve tried flushing it, and cleaning out the eye daily. Nothing is working.

She’s starting to go downhill (not eating much, acting depressed), and I can’t find a vet to treat her immediately. I have an appointment in early Feb but I’m worried she won’t make it that long.

Any ideas? I’ve also starting giving her a tiny bit of baby aspirin (1/4 of a tablet, so ~20mg) to see the pain relief helps.

Also, no other respiratory symptoms - no wheezing or discharge from her nose/mouth. The yellowish stuff on her in the pics is some food I was giving her.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

 

[Eggcessive]

Her eye looks abnormal, perhaps from a hemorrhage or tumor. Have you seen any respiratory or sinus symptoms, such as foamy eye, gunk, mucus, sneezing, gasping? Was there a bad odor from the head? The antibiotics you have used should have treated most of the common bacterial diseases. I’m not sure there is a lot more you can do, other than hold mushy watery chicken feed and a little egg or tuna up to her beak 2-3 times a day, to provide nutrition. Keep up with the Terramycin ointment into the eye. Have you ever had a necropsy done before? It seems MA does not have a state vet, but NewHampshire or NY Cornell might be the place to contact. Here is a list of state vet labs that offer necropsies after death if you lose her, so that you might get a diagnosis.
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...7IOlHOhP-eD8qMtZ70RNq6BMO9kVUn3x6so7q0Z_JgEr8

 

[uisceros]

Her eye looks abnormal, perhaps from a hemorrhage or tumor. Have you seen any respiratory or sinus symptoms, such as foamy eye, gunk, mucus, sneezing, gasping? Was there a bad odor from the head? The antibiotics you have used should have treated most of the common bacterial diseases. I’m not sure there is a lot more you can do, other than hold mushy watery chicken feed and a little egg or tuna up to her beak 2-3 times a day, to provide nutrition. Keep up with the Terramycin ointment into the eye. Have you ever had a necropsy done before? It seems MA does not have a state vet, but NewHampshire or NY Cornell might be the place to contact. Here is a list of state vet labs that offer necropsies after death if you lose her, so that you might get a diagnosis.
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...7IOlHOhP-eD8qMtZ70RNq6BMO9kVUn3x6so7q0Z_JgEr8

Thanks for the response, even if it’s not what I want to hear.

The only symptoms I’m seeing are eye-related. Foamy eye (which is why I put her on Doxycycline), and some dried pus/eye mucus. No wheezing/sneezing/gasping. No smell either (that I’ve noticed, at least). It looks like the bottom lid is the main issue area. Lots of eye mucus/swelling. Could it be that something is in there?

She’s still mildly interested in food, but I’ve been giving her some Kaytee Exact formula mixed with nutridrench, and slowly dripping water on the beak to get her to drink.

I have an appointment request in with the MSPCA avian specialists. We’ll see.

I have done a necropsy before (through the MSPCA),m. I’m hoping she makes it though - this eye swelling was so sudden. I feel so bad for her.

 

[Sondraa]

What happened? Did she make it to the vet?

 

[uisceros]

What happened? Did she make it to the vet?

Unfortunately she didn’t end up making it. I did bring her to the vet (after struggling to find someone), and they did an exam on her. They could not see any other issues besides something that was behind her eye. They recommended a CT scan. She was given antibiotics, pain meds, and I was tube feeding her at this point because she wasn’t eating. She weighed only 260g. That was a Thursday. By Monday, before I even got a chance to schedule the CT, she passed.

I think it must have been a tumor in her eye or her brain. Unfortunately there was not much we could do. I did ask about removing her eye, but the vet didn’t want to do it without the CT scan (and they couldn’t get the CT done right away).

I decided not to do a necropsy - if it was a tumor I don’t see the point since it shouldn’t affect my other birds.

 

[Sondraa]

I agree. You did everything the world allowed you to do. Can't do more than that. I hope you take comfort in that. Sorry..

 

[uisceros]

I agree. You did everything the world allowed you to do. Can't do more than that. I hope you take comfort in that. Sorry..

Thanks! I tried, and I do take comfort in that. I will do as much as I can for them, but sometimes even that isn’t enough.

 

[casportpony]

I'm very sorry for your loss.

 

[Sondraa]

Thanks! I tried, and I do take comfort in that. I will do as much as I can for them, but sometimes even that isn’t enough.

It's so true. Some people don't try because of that and some people break when their best efforts aren't enough. Somewhere in what I personally think is the best space...go all in but accept when it isn't enough...is where you operate. Don't change.