Hello,
I am new to the "flock". I love this forum. I found you all while researching and positively diagnosing an issue with my little hen. I want to thank you all for that and now need advice on how far to continue. My girl has been DE wormed, placed on a round of electrolytes, I have performed the draining of her abdomen and over a two day period, I slowly removed approximately 600 ccs from her. (I didn't want to do this all at once for fear of sending her into shock) I used sterile equipment and an aseptic technique so as not to cause sepsis. The good news is that she has perked up, pinked up and is eating and pooping again and regaining her strength! The bad news is that when I drained her final fluid, a large egg shaped mass became clearly visible under her skin. It is free moving and feels very much like a calcified egg! How could an egg be deposited into the abdomen AFTER calcification? I believe this is impossible since calcification takes place lower in the reproductive tract. So it is either a very turgid and tough membranous egg, or a neoplasia (cancer). Has anybody seen this before? Am I possibly misdiagnosing? Is there anybody out there who has had a peritonitis resorb and end up with a healthy hen? She is in the house now and on tetracycline. Is there anything else I can do for her? I hate to euthanize her now that she is responding to treatment, but if this is indeed a calcified egg or a neoplasia, she is likely to become septic anyway right? I guess I am looking for support and any experiences or advice anybody might have would be helpful. P.S if anybody ever has to "tap" a chicken, the procedure was actually quite simple and I would be happy to walk you through it.
I am new to the "flock". I love this forum. I found you all while researching and positively diagnosing an issue with my little hen. I want to thank you all for that and now need advice on how far to continue. My girl has been DE wormed, placed on a round of electrolytes, I have performed the draining of her abdomen and over a two day period, I slowly removed approximately 600 ccs from her. (I didn't want to do this all at once for fear of sending her into shock) I used sterile equipment and an aseptic technique so as not to cause sepsis. The good news is that she has perked up, pinked up and is eating and pooping again and regaining her strength! The bad news is that when I drained her final fluid, a large egg shaped mass became clearly visible under her skin. It is free moving and feels very much like a calcified egg! How could an egg be deposited into the abdomen AFTER calcification? I believe this is impossible since calcification takes place lower in the reproductive tract. So it is either a very turgid and tough membranous egg, or a neoplasia (cancer). Has anybody seen this before? Am I possibly misdiagnosing? Is there anybody out there who has had a peritonitis resorb and end up with a healthy hen? She is in the house now and on tetracycline. Is there anything else I can do for her? I hate to euthanize her now that she is responding to treatment, but if this is indeed a calcified egg or a neoplasia, she is likely to become septic anyway right? I guess I am looking for support and any experiences or advice anybody might have would be helpful. P.S if anybody ever has to "tap" a chicken, the procedure was actually quite simple and I would be happy to walk you through it.
