Egg yolk peritonitis?

[desertchicks8]

Help! I've been reading about egg yolk peritonitis and think that may be what our 5 yr old RIR has. Here are her symptoms:
-Lethargic
-Crop was hot and swollen yesterday, less full but very saggy today
-Still drinking a ton of water
-Not eating pellets but ate some cracked corn and mealworms
-yellow runny poop that looks like egg drop soup

I've bathed her in epsom salt and it seemed to perk her up a little, but she is still "taking rests" every now and then, just stopping to lay down wherever she is. I think it's likely we will lose her if it is EYP, but pleading for suggestions. Her sister, Thelma, is going to be devastated if we lose Louise.

 

[azygous]

Do you have any antibiotics on hand? Amoxicillin, penicillin? If you do, that would be the best thing to treat her with.

Have you felt around the vent to see if you can detect an egg in her?

 

[desertchicks8]

No, don't have any antibiotics and couldn't find anything at the feed store this morning, unless you can recommend something we'd find in the cattle area. We also didn't want to treat unless we knew for sure. From what I've researched since posting, absolutely nothing helps EYP Right now we're just giving probiotics and electrolytes.

She's definitely not egg bound and I tried treatment for sour crop but it wasn't that either.

 

[desertchicks8]

Adding a photo of her droppings.
View media item 7896491

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Any swelling/bloat or feeling of fluid in the abdomen?
How did you treat the crop?

It sounds like she has a crop issue which can be a symptom of an underlying condition like EYP, worms or Coccidiosis, so I do understand your concern - can you take a fresh poop sample to your vet for testing?

Offer her soft foods with a little yogurt - eliminate the corn and mealworms at this time - this article is very good at explaining crop function and treatment - I recommend you read it carefully - http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/impacted-slow-and-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments

Do the best you can to give her supportive care and see if she improves.

I'm sad to say that there doesn't really seem to be anything that helps EYP (or other internal/reproductive issue)- if the abdomen is filled with fluid, sometimes this can be drained to help give a hen some relief for a time. I'm very sorry - I wish I had better answers - I do know how this feels -I had a hen with similar symptoms, after several days of trying everything I know to do, she declined further -I made the hard decision to put her down - upon inspection (home necropsy) my suspicions were confirmed - she was full of egg matter - there was nothing I could have done to make this better.

 

[azygous]

Yes, you're fighting an uphill battle at this point. EYP is one of those things, like brain cancer in humans, that you pretty much know you're whipped before you can even try to figure out where to start.

I suggested an antibiotic because it's a last ditch effort to save the life of a hen you may consider a pet.

All my chickens are pets, and just a few weeks ago, a hen laid a crushed egg. I know it was crushed inside before she laid it, because I was there when it came out, and she had been having laying problems before that. I knew EYP was going to be a likely result, so I gave her a round of penicillin on the chance it could save her life, but also understanding she'll probably never lay again.

So far, she seems to have recovered from the EYP, though she was pooping the weird yellow mess for quite a while. She's now back to being her loud, demanding self, and I'm quite happy to let her boss me around. Just like a cat or dog, she will stand at the run entrance and "honk" at me to let her out. She gets special privileges because she demands them.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes, you're fighting an uphill battle at this point. EYP is one of those things, like brain cancer in humans, that you pretty much know you're whipped before you can even try to figure out where to start.

I suggested an antibiotic because it's a last ditch effort to save the life of a hen you may consider a pet.

All my chickens are pets, and just a few weeks ago, a hen laid a crushed egg. I know it was crushed inside before she laid it, because I was there when it came out, and she had been having laying problems before that. I knew EYP was going to be a likely result, so I gave her a round of penicillin on the chance it could save her life, but also understanding she'll probably never lay again.

So far, she seems to have recovered from the EYP, though she was pooping the weird yellow mess for quite a while. She's now back to being her loud, demanding self, and I'm quite happy to let her boss me around. Just like a cat or dog, she will stand at the run entrance and "honk" at me to let her out. She gets special privileges because she demands them.

I agree with @azygous

I don't want anyone to think that trying to give supportive care doesn't include antibiotics - sometimes antibiotics can help with infection, give some relief and restore some quality of life at times. When a hen is ill with a reproductive/internal laying disorder all avenues of treatment should be explored/tried. If caught early enough, even having a Suprelorin implant to stop ovulation/releasing of eggs can be administered by a vet. A lot depends on how advanced infection may be or how much "matter" is in the abdomen.

Alternatively - @coach723 has had some success using a detox. I have not investigated this - but am interested in learning more - each situation is a bit different , but it never hurts to try.

Just wanted to say that you have done a wonderful job! I have been down this road before and have one right now (she looks just like yours) that is going through this. I've done many of the same things you have and have used antibiotics a couple of times for EYP. I have never had the implant done as I don't have a vet that is anywhere near to even be able to consider it. I've never had one recover completely, but I have been able to keep them comfortable for a fair amount of time. How much time and effort a person wants to put into it is a personal decision. I had one bird (she had salpingitis) last for 18 really good months before I ultimately lost her. She had repeated fluid build up that I was able to treat and it would stay gone for a period of time, and then recur. I did use this: https://www.iherb.com/pr/Lily-of-the-Desert-Aloe-Herbal-Detox-Formula-32-fl-oz-960-ml/6558 at times and it seemed to help the fluid retention without having to drain. I gave 4ml a day for 7 days when needed. Same thing is going on with my bird now, she's been having issues since May of this year, so am doing all the same things and we will see. Right now she's happy and with the flock and I'm hoping winter will give her a little more time. If your bird is internally laying then once she goes into winter mode it may get better until spring when the laying picks up again. For me, I do what I can as long as I think their quality of life is decent and they are not suffering. Best wishes!

 

[desertchicks8]

Any swelling/bloat or feeling of fluid in the abdomen?
How did you treat the crop?

I just followed the suggestion to tip her head down and massage the crop to induce vomiting if there was a blockage. That was not useful, and her crop had reduced to a normal size yesterday morning, although it did feel like there was something gritty still in there, not totally "smooth" if that makes sense. During the day, it feels like a water balloon.

Avian vets seem to be few and far between in my area, but I am going to call the ONE I could find to see if they can run a fecal test. We mentally have made "life saving measure" decisions about all of our pets, so we will do everything in our power, including humane euthanasia if it comes to that...up to that limit we have set. I did order Same-Day delivery for the lily detox, so hopefully that will help! Obviously I'm hoping to get antibiotics, but am not in a position to run $1000 worth of tests, like the first avian vet we visited with another baby chick suggested (that poor baby died a few hours later regardless).

I'm most relieved just to hear that I'm by far not the only person who has dealt with this frustrating condition. My heart breaks for Louise, and for her sister, Thelma, since she just lays next to her all day and has stopped laying as well. I can tell she is just as sad as the rest of us.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I 'm very sorry. I hope you can see the vet, please keep us posted.

 

[desertchicks8]

I happened to think that I have a friend in rescue who may have access to antibiotics. Which ones have you used that seemed to work?