Ellie's Eye - what could this be - what do I do?

[jjthink]

Hi and thank you both very much. Afraid there's nothing for eyes in the med cabinet - drat.

ca, sounds like you put that ointment right in the eye? Ellie's eye is clear, it's the area around it that is off. Do you suppose I would still put it right in her eye?

Just made some calls to see if anyone has the terramycin eye ointment. NO LUCK yet. An Agway told me they no longer get it because there was some kind of problem with the stuff - he did not have the info to elaborate.


Batting zero so far today on all counts, 3 hours in.

 

[jjthink]

Since I seem to live in the absolute siberia of medical supplies for chickens (sigh, sigh and sigh some more), thank goodness this issue seems to be clearing up on its own. I just took this photo. Well, I took 100 photos but the rest were all blurry because she moves faster than the camera can shoot. If a smiley could be Ellie this would be her during a photo shoot--->

(unless I'm hallucinating it seems to be improving - it's more red than the area around the other eye but it looks less swollen).

 

[klf73]

looks much better, maybe she just got something in it??

 

[Lunachick]

She looks a lot better!

She might need a little botox for that wrinkly stretched out skin though.

You go Ellie!

 

[pips&peeps]

It is not illegal for a vet to dispense meds without seeing the "patient". It is just a formality to cover their "aXX" if you decide to sue.

My vet has known me for 30 years and has seen a couple birds in my flock. We discussed this when I asked for meds and he explained it to me. I assured him that I would not sue him if my goose died because I gave it baytril.

 

[jjthink]

Thanks Krista, Ginny, Jean

That was a 4 day interval from the problem first manifesting to the photo of last night, without meds...just in case this is helpful to readers in the future. And what an education on lack of supplies in this area. I have other supplies on hand for more typical troubles but eye troubles..I wasn't equipped and in 15 years of feathered friends experience, never an eye problem till now...

Ginny, Ellie was debating the botox thing but she advised that the prospect of needles turned her off. She's decided that she has earned each and every wrinkle (one for every egg!)

Jean, I was feeling like it wasn't illegal for the vets to dispense the stuff (geez frikkin louise - it's probably easier to get heroin than a flippin eye ointment - who the heck is going to misuse eye ointment?) but I didn't have facts I could point to to stand my ground. I sure would love them though! I really object to all of them dispensing untruths (same story from every vet office I called), if indeed the case. Heck, if they wanted to cover their caboose perhaps all they would have to do is make a note in their files that the med was dispensed w/o benefit of exam and that recipient was advised that vet has no way of knowing if it was the right protocol. Or even have us sign and fax an acknowldgement of same. At least for 'simple' meds like eye ointment.

Hope you all have a nice day and that your feathered friends are doing well (Ginny, how's your girl now?...)
JJ

 

[Lunachick]

She didn't make it.

She died during the night on Friday. I found her stiff body Sat morning on the floor, she didn't have the strength to jump on her roost.

But she acted like she was getting better! I will miss her, she was a good flock leader til the end. I hope she's with Pearl now. She wasn't even 3 yrs old yet. I'm down to four now.

I already know BJ is a beautiful bird, but that Ellie is gorgeous! What kind of chook is she?

 

[jjthink]

I'm so sorry Ginny.

I was really pulling for her. I know at the very least that she knew she was loved and I'm sure this gave her a level of comfort she otherwise would not have had.

I wish she could have gotten well as both you and she deserved that

Edited to say that I thought Ellie's seemed more red and puffy today than last night, like it might be getting mad again but right now (5 p.m. EST) it's not bad. I will order some antibiotic from somewhere just to be ready in case it flares up or in case it happens again in the future. Ginny, Ellie may be a black star. I adopted her as an adult and the person I got her form didn't know.

Here's BJ and Ellie snuggling together looking for all the world like they are dead (this was taken awhile back).

This was taken just now. I tried to get her side with the eye but she keeps moving on me....BJ glistens so, doesn't he? He watches her so diligently, as he did Annie before her, and Betty before that.

And one where I realized how nicely they 'match'

JJ

 

[klf73]

wish you were closer(or it wasn't a holiday weekend), I could have given you one of my bottles of eye med

. Can do it Tuesday if you haven't found anything by then but I hope you do, that is a while to wait to be treated.... I read on another post that TSC sells eye ointment(I think that is what it said)

 

[jjthink]

Thanks Krista - I edited to add that as of 5 p.m. today it doesn't look bad - sort of like last night's photo. If one didn't have the other eye to compare to one might even think it was normal, but I can tell there's a little swelling and a little redness. Her comb is right now a bit pale but the same thing happened the other day and then it turned red again. She just inhaled cut up grapes with joy and energy so I think she's okay. Though I will have to get meds just in case. Looks like I will have to order something on line as none of the stores within at least 90 minutes of here has indicated they have anything in stock, including Tractor Supply. Crazy, isn't it...At least she seems very happy and utterly unconcerned, so I don't think she's hurting....I gave each and every one of the stores a bit of a lecture on how they need to be better equipped. That all but one have no idea what Tylan 50 is is very telling. It's pretty obvious that not many people bother treating their chickens because if they did, the stores would carry supplies. At somebody's suggestion I even made another round of calls to ask about terramycin eye ointment for horses and no one had that either. Sigh...The futile search pretty much characterized my whole day yesterday....
JJ