I’ve asked this before, but never got a straight answer, so I’ll try to be more clear. I am trying to understand Egg Yolk Peritonitis a little better. My understand was that, by definition, it indicates infection (and not just inflammation) of the abdominal cavity due to egg yolk build up. I also thought “itis” in medical terminology simply means inflammation, with or without infection. Anyway, last spring I had a hen fall very ill quickly. She had had a bought with soft shelled eggs, with a couple hard (but thin) shelled eggs in between. The two with shells were also almost white, even though she was a New Hampshire Red. I brought her into the avian vet and she was diagnosed with egg yolk peritonitis. I watched the vet drain turbid, egg yolk colored fluid from her abdomen. she had abdominal lavage, IV fluids, anti inflammatory meds and antibiotics. The vet said when he inspected the fluid under a microscope, he saw inflammation cells without infection cells, but did not change his diagnosis. Do you agree it was EYP, even without infection? Or just internal laying? She was QUITE ill. On the brink of death, I’d say. I did not know enough at the time to ask more about EYP. Rusty responded well and I nursed her back to health. She gained weight, had a hormone implant, and did normal chicken things like free ranging, preening, being bossy to the puppy, etc.
Then she had a bought of ascites and I brought her to a second avian vet since her regular vet was unavailable. She drained clear, brown stained fluid from her, gave her subcutaneous fluids, and prescribed more antibiotics and antiinflammatories. She explained ascites could be from a number of different things, but in this case it was likely infection from the original EYP. Again, Rusty responded well. I don’t think she ever got strong enough to get back on the upper roost, but she seemed happy to live with her flock.
A third avian Vet also noted a crooked keel bone, like it had been broken. Not sure how or when this happened. I do remember one girl flying and crashing her chest against a feeder, but I don’t remember if it was necessarily her.
When Rusty’s hormones started wearing off and she started squatting, I enjoyed the cuteness and called the vet to ask about another implant. I was told it was up to me, but was informed the implants tend to wear off faster over time. I explained my goal was for Rusty to have a good life, not necessarily a long life, if that meant suffering. Not sure I accomplished that in the end, but I tried, she was loved, and I learned a lot.
At one point after the second draining, I attempted to drain her myself. She was weak and didn’t fight. It was more of a passive draining, as it dripped for close to an hour. The hole did not seal itself for a long time. Perhaps I introduced infection. I don’t know. But she seemed to recover from that, too. Anyway, about a month after she started squatting, she wasn’t feeling well again. She passed some material that at the time I thought was egg, but now that I know more, I think it was salpingitis material. I brought her in for another implant and she died a few days later. She was standing around a lot and when I picked her up, she gurgled.
Had I known about them at the time, I would have had her necropsied. I will never know for sure exactly what ailment(s) Rusty had, but would like to hear your best guesses based on the long story I just posted. EYP? Salpingitis at the end? Could the keel injury have caused damage to her shell gland? Why would she have a respiratory issue at the end? Infection took over? My main question is whether you agree with the diagnosis of EYP, even without detecting infection. I also wonder if you think she could have also had salpingitis at the end. The little bit of stuff she passed looked a bit like cooked chicken fat. On another note, she was always a small chicken, despite being flock leader before she fell ill. Also, Bagheera picked on her for months. I suspect she detected weakness. Thanks for reading and sharing your opinions.
Then she had a bought of ascites and I brought her to a second avian vet since her regular vet was unavailable. She drained clear, brown stained fluid from her, gave her subcutaneous fluids, and prescribed more antibiotics and antiinflammatories. She explained ascites could be from a number of different things, but in this case it was likely infection from the original EYP. Again, Rusty responded well. I don’t think she ever got strong enough to get back on the upper roost, but she seemed happy to live with her flock.
A third avian Vet also noted a crooked keel bone, like it had been broken. Not sure how or when this happened. I do remember one girl flying and crashing her chest against a feeder, but I don’t remember if it was necessarily her.
When Rusty’s hormones started wearing off and she started squatting, I enjoyed the cuteness and called the vet to ask about another implant. I was told it was up to me, but was informed the implants tend to wear off faster over time. I explained my goal was for Rusty to have a good life, not necessarily a long life, if that meant suffering. Not sure I accomplished that in the end, but I tried, she was loved, and I learned a lot.
At one point after the second draining, I attempted to drain her myself. She was weak and didn’t fight. It was more of a passive draining, as it dripped for close to an hour. The hole did not seal itself for a long time. Perhaps I introduced infection. I don’t know. But she seemed to recover from that, too. Anyway, about a month after she started squatting, she wasn’t feeling well again. She passed some material that at the time I thought was egg, but now that I know more, I think it was salpingitis material. I brought her in for another implant and she died a few days later. She was standing around a lot and when I picked her up, she gurgled.
Had I known about them at the time, I would have had her necropsied. I will never know for sure exactly what ailment(s) Rusty had, but would like to hear your best guesses based on the long story I just posted. EYP? Salpingitis at the end? Could the keel injury have caused damage to her shell gland? Why would she have a respiratory issue at the end? Infection took over? My main question is whether you agree with the diagnosis of EYP, even without detecting infection. I also wonder if you think she could have also had salpingitis at the end. The little bit of stuff she passed looked a bit like cooked chicken fat. On another note, she was always a small chicken, despite being flock leader before she fell ill. Also, Bagheera picked on her for months. I suspect she detected weakness. Thanks for reading and sharing your opinions.
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