Egg bound? Tried to examine vent, not sure if I did it right

[dawg53]

It looks like EYP to me: I'm sorry you went through this.
http://www.theveterinaryexpert.com/backyard-poultry/egg-yolk-peritonitis/

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It would be good if others who are familiar with doing necropsies could have a look at your pictures and video. Ascites is pretty obvious, as are the yellow caseous masses, but I would wonder about cancer as well. @Wyorp Rock, @casportpony, @dawg53, @TwoCrows, @coach723 , or @rebrascora, do any of you see anything obvious? I have only done a handful of necropsies myself.

Only thing I really notice is the color of the intestines and other internal organs, but it could be lighting as well. They look almost leathery?

(besides the obvious fluid and masses)

 

[rebrascora]

Firstly, I am so sorry that you lost her. Poor girl must have been incredibly uncomfortable with all that fluid and egg material inside her. She really was full to bursting by the look of that distended belly.
I would also like to say how courageous it was of you to open her up (I know that is not easy, especially when they are a pet and it is your first time of doing it) but it can be really helpful to gain closure and of course learn something.
As others have said, there was nothing you could have done to fix her. Draining some of the fluid might have bought her a little more time, but there is also a risk of introducing infection or causing shock which can be fatal in themselves and even if drained, the fluid will build up again in days or weeks and regularly sticking needles in her to draw off fluid just to buy her a little time is hard to justify. She was living on borrowed time.
I agree that she appears to have been laying internally and from what you said about the drake mating her, that may well have been the start of the problem, perhaps by introducing an infection into her oviduct. I also think some of the intestines look discoloured and lumpy. It may be just the lighting or as a result of the pressure on her system from that fluid slowing the passage of food or it may have been a cancer developing. The internal laying and ascites were almost certainly the cause of her death though.

 

[coach723]

I would guess that she was laying internally and had EYP. If you do a search for egg peritonitis images you will find some pictures where the organs also are discolored like this, once the bacteria take hold it spreads everywhere. I don't see any obvious signs of cancer, but that doesn't mean it's not there somewhere. While EYP can sometimes be treated with antibiotics it will usually recur since the underlying condition (internal laying, salpingitis, cancer) will still be there, so treatment is temporary. There really was not much that could have been done other than making her as comfortable as you could. I'm so sorry for your loss, and glad you were brave enough to take a look.

 

[Judy4222]

Thank you everyone for the help and encouragement. It was one of the hardiest things I have done. I knew it had to be done though. She is buried by the chicken coop and we gave her a little ceremony. On the bright side, my Great Pyrenees gave birth this morning to 11 little babies.

 

[Eggcessive]

Oh my, you are going to have your hands full with all of those fur babies.

 

[coach723]

11 pyrenees!!!!! OMG!! I just got one, he's about 11 weeks old now, and I cannot imagine having 11 of him. Dear God, I don't think I would survive! Hands full is an understatement!! Best of luck with all of them.

 

[Judy4222]

lol I already have a male and female GP. I will keep two more and sell/give away the rest. Mom and babies are in the house and doing fine. I'll get a picture uploaded shortly.

 

[Cragg Klefor]

I am so sorry you lost your girl, but well done for doing a necropsy! You did a great job and I think it helps when you see how much this little one must have been suffering, to let her go knowing she surely must be better off now.

And.. Congratulations on your new arrivals, how wonderful

 

[Judy4222]