E. Coli Egg Yolk Peritonitis

[Vgcmd1962]

Hi all I need help. I had 4 hens, all with egg yolk peritonitis. All had their coelemic cavities drained and one was infected with E. Coli despite treatment with antibiotics. In early January one was deathly ill and took her to an exotic vet. She empirically treated her with clavamox. There was no fluid to tap she said. We treated her with Clavamox and she did respond. About 2 weeks after stopping clavamox she began to show signs of illness (yolk stools) and not eating well. My exotic vet referred me to an Avian specialist whom performs surgery. She performed a CT scan on her and it showed an enlarged, impacted oviduct and recommended surgery but first drained her and E. Coli was found. It was sensitive to Bactrim which she gave her. It was for 2 weeks. She said treating her with antibiotics would be futile. I was reluctant at first but later I agreed to proceed with surgery despite knowing it was risky. This past Monday she performed surgery 1 week into Bactrim treatment but died about 4 hours after. I’m so devastated. Keep second guessing myself. I’ve attached the photo what the veterinarian removed. It was her oviduct (which had a perforation) and the rotten eggs that was inside her oviduct. It certainly was the right call as no way she would have survived on antibiotics. Folks I am not doing well emotionally. I was in a horrible situation. If I don’t do anything she was going to die a slow miserable death. I decide on surgery and she died anyways. I can’t live with my guilt. She was the light of my life. I loved her so much that I wanted her cured and free of shoving syringes down her beak to give her antibiotics and nystatin and meloxicam. Folks please help me. Did I make the right decision? How do I process this? I certainly regret subjecting her to surgery. Should I have given her a chance to finish the 2 week course of Bactrim and then reassess? Perhaps she was too septic to handle the surgery? I am going crazy. I’m the one dying a slow, miserable emotional death. Cannot work. I’m devastated.

 

[Sally PB]

You went way beyond what many (most?) people would do for your hen. You have no reason to feel badly about what you did. Your vet said antibiotics would be futile and suggested another treatment. You made a decision knowing what you knew at that time.

Though her ending was rough, I'm sure you gave her a good, happy life. Thank you for caring so much about her and for her.

Though loss is hard, your special girl will live on in your heart forever.

 

[theoldchick]

Oh, the guilt will eat you alive. The what ifs will drive you crazy. So sorry you lost your hen despite receiving the best of care. I like to plant a tree when I lose a pet as watching it grow gives me comfort.

 

[ChicNmom]

I'm so sorry. You did the best you could for her. I never want to give up too soon because animals are resilient. I always work with the best intentions. If I can't clearly see that any animal is beyond hope or that they look like they are done then I do what I can.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have heard from other BYC members, and read in literature that once lash egg material is found in the abdomen and oviduct, antibiotics have little effect on curing it. I have lost a few hens to salpingitis, oviduct cancer, and ascites, and I now realize that you can only do the best you can for chickens. They do not always live a long life. I always now do a necropsy on the ones I lose to look for what might have contributed to their deaths. My chickens had infectious bronchitis virus at a young age, and that can cause many of the different reproductive disorders.

 

[Eggcessive]

Salpingitis causes the lash egg material inside the oviduct and abdomen. Egg yolk peritonitis is the end result. This is a common cause of death in hens over 2 years old, and especially in the high egg producers. There can be other bacteria besides E.coli involved in the infections. Sorry about your hens, but thank you for posting your picture and your story of their treatment.

 

[micstrachan]

It looks like she had advanced salpingitis. Don’t beat yourself up. I agree it was probably too far along for antibiotics to clear this up. You gave her her only chance (surgery) and sadly the cards were not in her favor. In my opinion, you and the vet gave her her very best chance and she simply was too far gone already. Hugs to you and your caring for your beloved hen.

 

[Vgcmd1962]

You went way beyond what many (most?) people would do for your hen. You have no reason to feel badly about what you did. Your vet said antibiotics would be futile and suggested another treatment. You made a decision knowing what you knew at that time.

Though her ending was rough, I'm sure you gave her a good, happy life. Thank you for caring so much about her and for her.

Though loss is hard, your special girl will live on in your heart forever.

Thank you for your support. I miss her so much. We had such a strong bond and connection. Keep second guessing and beating myself up. Do you think she was suffering? Many times I would take her outside and she would pick at the grass while laying on her tummy. Was it too painful for her to stand?

 

[Ace1981]

Oh I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Maybe she needs fluid drained and pain medication (Meloxicam) and antibiotics? Don’t give up! Let them do labs on her. My baby’s sister has a similar problem. She’s had 4 bouts of horrible crop stasis due to egg yolk sterile peritonitis. Last Wednesday 90ml of yolk was drained from her coelom. She improved with IM meloxicam, nystatin and bactrim. On Tuesday I’m taking her to a vet that places implants and see what he can offer her. She’s had 3 Lupron injections and has not responded. Doubt she has salpingitis as is not passing lash eggs but certainly continues to ovulate. I don’t want to subject her to surgery. I never knew hens go through all of this. It’s so unfair! Good luck with your baby. Let’s keep each other informed as to their progress.

I actually had an implant injected about 3 weeks ago and was doing well until about 7 days later when she began to molt a hard molt, fingers crossed it is the hard molt knocking her around, she is currently on meloxican but hasn't really picked up.

 

[Vgcmd1962]

I actually had an implant injected about 3 weeks ago and was doing well until about 7 days later when she began to molt a hard molt, fingers crossed it is the hard molt knocking her around, she is currently on meloxican but hasn't really picked up.

A nasty molt will make them feel horrible. Hopefully it’s only that. Keep me posted!