Guinea Hen with diarrhea and soiled vent

[LaFleche]

We actually found a vet that does online consultations, and she is highly knowledgable. She can only write prescriptions
if you live in California, which we do, but gets great reviews for all her consultations. We showed her photos of Winnie's issues and she is prescribing medications we hope can help Winnie. The website is Avian Health Consultants in case anyone needs advice. Rates are very reasonable.

Let us know how Winnie is getting along and if she improves with the prescribed medications.

 

[Grojo111]

Let us know how Winnie is getting along and if she improves with the prescribed medications.

Thanks. She appears to be getting worse since I started giving her meloxicam, and now we've added an antibiotic. Her tail is down and she arches her back to eat. Just hoping she improves but salpingitis can be tough apparently. I thought she might be egg bound, but I couldn't feel anything, except for her distended belly seems softer today. Thanks for checking in.

 

[Sydney65]

Thanks. She appears to be getting worse since I started giving her meloxicam, and now we've added an antibiotic. Her tail is down and she arches her back to eat. Just hoping she improves but salpingitis can be tough apparently. I thought she might be egg bound, but I couldn't feel anything, except for her distended belly seems softer today. Thanks for checking in.

Man, you are an awesome bird daddy! Your questions - what's the point of calcium - if birds don't get enough calcium, it can cause it can cause a decrease in eggs, osteoporosis in the hen. It affects the development of a shell. Sometimes we'll see perfectly formed eggs with a thin shell or no shell at all. Lethargy, weakness in the hen from a deficiency, bc it's vital for muscle energy. Severe deficiency can lead to paralysis. Often we'll see feather-pecking, which can lead to cannibalism. Layer feed has additional calcium in it, but that should only be used during laying season, & then you have the issue of separate feed bowls, bc excess calcium causes kidney issues in the boys. That's why many just offer the calcium grit.
Salpingitis. - I've not dealt w/that, but it does explains everything. Meloxicam is used off label sometimes to reduce pain & inflammation. Disturbing, but informative article https://the-chicken-chick.com/salpingitis-lash-eggs-in-backyard/

 

[Grojo111]

Man, you are an awesome bird daddy! Your questions - what's the point of calcium - if birds don't get enough calcium, it can cause it can cause a decrease in eggs, osteoporosis in the hen. It affects the development of a shell. Sometimes we'll see perfectly formed eggs with a thin shell or no shell at all. Lethargy, weakness in the hen from a deficiency, bc it's vital for muscle energy. Severe deficiency can lead to paralysis. Often we'll see feather-pecking, which can lead to cannibalism. Layer feed has additional calcium in it, but that should only be used during laying season, & then you have the issue of separate feed bowls, bc excess calcium causes kidney issues in the boys. That's why many just offer the calcium grit.
Salpingitis. - I've not dealt w/that, but it does explains everything. Meloxicam is used off label sometimes to reduce pain & inflammation. Disturbing, but informative article https://the-chicken-chick.com/salpingitis-lash-eggs-in-backyard/

Thanks Sydney. I think she's had this issue for a while. Last year she only laid for two weeks in spring, and this year it was one. Her eggs have always been rock hard though, but the lash material confirmed what it was. Just hoping she makes it, and that I won't have to try and drain that belly.

 

[Sydney65]

Thanks Sydney. I think she's had this issue for a while. Last year she only laid for two weeks in spring, and this year it was one. Her eggs have always been rock hard though, but the lash material confirmed what it was. Just hoping she makes it, and that I won't have to try and drain that belly.

Update?

 

[Grojo111]

Update?

Winnie was on antibiotics for 17 days as suggested by the online vet we found. Her abdomen is actually bigger now so she's waddling around more than in the past. We've decided we're not going to give her any more epsom soaks, as the trauma of catching her is too much.
Dr. Smith really leans towards it being a tumor, but said we could try and drain it, but she is so strong I know it would be difficult to do. If it gets to the point where it can only help, then we'll try it. For now she's still eating normally and waddling around, so we want to keep her comfortable. I'm going to give her some probiotics and add some eyebright in the water, as has been mentioned here, but I have no idea how much so I'm still searching.
I wish there were more mobile vets around to help when the time comes, but I guess it will be up to me to help her at the end. She did recommend a method which she says is fairly gentle, but it won't be for me. Thank you kindly for checking in Sydney.

Update?