Egg pertonitis? Cancer? Heart failure? Please help!!!!

[TheUrbanLadyBug]

Hello BYC! Although this is my first post on here, I have been coming to the forum for advice for years. So thank you in advance to everyone who participates on here, it helps more people than you many know!
The reason I am posting is because I have a 2 year old Golden Sex Link, who started laying when she was around 5 months old. She laid every single day for a little over a year, she never went through a molt (which I thought she should have) but instead continued to lay through this last winter, about 3 months ago she stopped laying out of no where. She continued to eat and acted normal so I figured she may finally be molting but then about a month later fell very ill, was lethargic, sitting in the corner of the yard, tail down and pumping and hardly eating anything. We took her to the vet and he said she was clear of infection, ecoli and cocci, but we got antibiotics for her, she seemed to recover but now not even a month and a half later has fallen ill again. We thought it was egg peritonitis both times and treated her with strong antibiotics (baytril- and yes am aware of the lifetime withdrawal) but after giving her antibiotics and getting better we have noticed over the last month or so she has lost drastic amount of weight, what was once my heaviest chicken Is now less than a pound. Her keel bone is completely protruding and so is all of her other bones. Her comb has fallen over and is shriveled. She is still foraging and eating mash & treats & acts for the most part like a normal chicken but she's so thin and is only getting thinner and her comb has completely fallen over and doesn't seem to be getting any better. My question is, what do you think she could be suffering from & should I euthanize her? My boyfriend thinks she may be suffering but I honestly torn on what to do. Any and all advice is welcome! Thank you in advance!

 

[sourland]

Sorry for what you are having to deal with. In my experience heart problems are expressed with darkening of combs due to low levels of blood oxygen. Either ovarian cancer or egg peritonitis (not uncommon in high production birds) may be what she is dealing with. It still sounds as if she is enjoying life, so I would be tempted to let her go on. If once again she becomes lethargic, head or tail down, sitting in the corner I would euthanize her. I would not spend more money at the vet's office. Good luck at dealing with this.

 

[TheUrbanLadyBug]

Sourland, thank you for your input & advice! I too figure it has to be cancer or egg pertonitis and only reason why I thought it could possibly be heart failure is only due to the fact that her comb is laying over, I thought maybe due to poor circulation but is probably more due to dehydration from lack of appetite and thirst. I went outside after I saw your reply to see how she is and she is dust bathing with her sister Ethel so she does appear to be happy, for now that is. I will certainly make that very hard decision if she falls ill again.. I have a feeling if she does she wouldnt recover anyways. Thank you so much again for your advice.

 

[allbirds4me]

did you have her checked for worms?

Also, give her some vitamins , electrolytes with some probiotics. Those antibiotics will wipe out the beneficial bacteria, probiotics will help re-establish them.