Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[MaryJanet]

@BY Bob, This loss of calcium really hit me kind of hard. Is there a 'condition' that can CAUSE this lack of absorption? I ask because this was an issue for Sansa as well.

I wish I was more biologically/medically knowledgeable, as I don't know what to make of any of this except that Lilly probably has a low grade infection......but what else?????
Hoping for good/actionable results from blood work.

If she's having trouble with her liver, it would affect the uptake of calcium from her diet, right?

 

[featherhead007]

Oh, this is at least not awful news for now. I am hopeful she gets some relief with treating the apparent infection, whatever her remaining days. Concerned as you are about what is going on inside her, but glad The Iron Beak is still with us for now, if she can be comfortable. On tenterhooks for the next news with the labs. So sweet you sat with her for awhile. Good ride back with Hattie too, and an easy roosting I hope.

What Bob didn’t tell us, is he let Hattie drive back!

 

[BY Bob]

I also appreciate you sharing about an injectable, 7-day, slow release Doxicycline option. Very good info. It’s great stuff (my last line of antibiotic defense before enrofloxacin) and not to have to dose her daily is awesome!

Can you share dosing info?

Edited to add: meaning how much did they give her and how much does she weigh? I’d like to try to calculate mg/lb per day.

I understand what you wish to do. Sadly I do not know what the dosage was. They drew it up and injected her.

 

[BY Bob]

Oh, this is at least not awful news for now. I am hopeful she gets some relief with treating the apparent infection, whatever her remaining days. Concerned as you are about what is going on inside her, but glad The Iron Beak is still with us for now, if she can be comfortable. On tenterhooks for the next news with the labs. So sweet you sat with her for awhile. Good ride back with Hattie too, and an easy roosting I hope.

I will post on roosting later. I had some drama. Of course.

 

[Ponypoor]

Lilly is back home tonight

I felt it best to put that right out there. Now I will endeavor to explain what the visit to the vet revealed, did not reveal, and what action was taken.

Revealed

1. Lilly has lost muscle mass. Her keel bone is significantly more prominent than it was back in November. The doctor noticed it immediately. At the time of the initial exam the thought was that this indicated even more fluid weight.
2. Lilly's liver is enlarged.
3. Lilly has a temperature of 108F (42C). This a degree higher than the vet would prefer.
4. X-rays revealed no eggs in the works, no crazy calcium deposits, nothing significant in the reproductive tract at all. (I was not surprised by this at all. My hope is that she really is done laying eggs forever.)
5. X-rays reveled some fluid build up but not enough to explain the weight gain and distension of her abdomen.
6. X-rays show a noticeable loss of calcium from her bones. (Can elderly chickens have osteoporosis?)

Not Revealed

1. The vet was not able to withdraw any fluid for analysis. This shocked us both.
2. The x-rays did not reveal any easily identifiable mass in her abdomen. However, apparently chicken x-rays are difficult to read for masses. She would need to send the x-rays to a chicken radiologist to be certain that she was not missing something.
3. No single easily identifiable cause for her symptoms was uncovered.

Action Taken

1. Lilly came home. With no solid prognosis at this time there was no way I was taking any other action but bring her home at this time.
2. The vet and I agreed that there has to be some kind of an infectious process going on. Therefore she got a dose of Doxycycline. I say a dose but it is a 7 day course of time release antibiotic in one shot. The perfect method to give a chicken an antibiotic. She remembered me saying how difficult twice a day was with Sansa and went and got this newer method of treatment for her chicken patients.
3. A comprehensive battery of blood tests were sent out. They could be back as soon as tomorrow and she will call as soon as they are back.
4. We held off sending the x-rays to the chicken radiologist until the lab work is back.

So no definitive answers at this point. Lilly is back with the tribe. Hattie too. I spent quite a bit of time with Lilly sitting in my lap at the vet's. It was fun to hear her and Hattie talk to each other as Hattie scratched in the carrier while Lilly sat in my lap.

The Queen is still with us. Long may she reign.

To be realistic, I still expect the final verdict to be bad news. For now there is hope and I will give her that chance until I KNOW otherwise or she has demonstrated that she is no longer interested in carrying on.

@Ribh @MaryJanet @Aussie-Chookmum @LozzyR @micstrachan @ChicoryBlue @Shadrach

Thanks for the update, how old is Lilly?

I would say osteoporosis is likely common with females of many species, as oestrogen levels decline in older years.

Have to say she looks good for an old bird, sure hope she improves, she is very pretty.

 

[BY Bob]

@BY Bob, This loss of calcium really hit me kind of hard. Is there a 'condition' that can CAUSE this lack of absorption? I ask because this was an issue for Sansa as well.

I wish I was more biologically/medically knowledgeable, as I don't know what to make of any of this except that Lilly probably has a low grade infection......but what else?????
Hoping for good/actionable results from blood work.

I too am perplexed by the calcium loss. She is not laying eggs so why is she losing calcium?

Even though I just bought all flock, I need to move everyone to layer. I just used up the layer I bought for Sansa. I mean she has been on layer food! This is weird.

 

[Ponypoor]

What Bob didn’t tell us, is he let Hattie drive back!

Hopefully Bob isn't a backseat driver!

 

[BY Bob]

Good observation that calcium was an issue for both of them.

Bob, I have some thoughts, but will reserve them until you are feeling like discussing potential strategies. For tonight I hope you just find some comfort in knowing she is home.

Thanks. Let's get the lab work back and see what it says about calcium.

 

[featherhead007]

Hopefully Bob isn't a backseat driver!

Bob’s car doesn’t have a back seat!

 

[Ponypoor]

I to am perplexed by the calcium loss. She is not laying eggs so why is she losing calcium?

Even though I just bought all flock, I need to move everyone to layer. I just used up the layer I bought for Sansa. I mean she has been on layer food! This is weird.

Are you also supplementing with oyster shell also? I have been doing that, but now I am paranoid maybe I should flip over to layer even if it means Pangoo gets that...