Heart and breathing issues?

[cairns3chooks]

Hello all, thanks for reading.

About a month ago I noticed one of chooks was occasionally breathing with her beak open. She had no other symptoms but I took her to the vet for a check over. He said her airways were all completely clear and he thought it was likely a problem with her heart. He said there was nothing to do and just to keep her safe until she dies essentially

Sometimes she looks a bit out of breath and her face/comb will go very dark red almost purple, but other than that shes been very healthy and active. However today she is making a loud noise when she breathes, like a trumpet. The kind of noise your nose makes sometimes when its almost completely blocked but a tiny bit of air gets through.

Just wondering what you guys think about this? Could it be another respiratory issue? Would the weird breathing noise be explained by a cardiac problem or should I get a second opinion? How long to chickens normally last with a heart problem?

Is there any particular foods or vitamins I can give her to try and keep her heart as healthy as possible? She has very good body condition and is still feisty and active.

Any thoughts or opinions very welcome!

 

[Eggcessive]

Make sure that your coop ventilation is good, there is no ammonia odor, it is not too hot, dust from feed or bedding is kept to a minimum, and wet or moldy conditions are prevented since those can all promote respiratory diseases. Aspergillosis from mold, bacterial or viral diseases can be common. Hot temperatures can cause panting. A dark comb can be indicative of either heart or breathing problems. I have seen overweight hens pant more. Here is a good link to read with symptoms of respiratory diseases:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[cairns3chooks]

Thanks for the reply eggcessive.

I'm not sure if she does have a respiratory problem, as the vet seemed to think she was fine in the respiratory department and it was her decreased heart function causing her to gape.. I'm always a bit weary of taking only 1 opinion though!

She is really struggling this afternoon, she sounds like bagpipes. An old dog of ours had heart failure and his lungs slowly filled with fluid, do you think it could be something similar? She shows no signs of runny nose, eyes or swelling that might indicate a respiratory problem. Just the breathing.. It is definitely not panting, it's a distinctive open-mouth breathing.

I'm trying to avoid taking her back to the vet as she really hates being handled, but if you think it could be respiratory I will book her back in!

Thanks again

 

[WalnutHill]

Hello all, thanks for reading.

About a month ago I noticed one of chooks was occasionally breathing with her beak open. She had no other symptoms but I took her to the vet for a check over. He said her airways were all completely clear and he thought it was likely a problem with her heart. He said there was nothing to do and just to keep her safe until she dies essentially

Sometimes she looks a bit out of breath and her face/comb will go very dark red almost purple, but other than that shes been very healthy and active. However today she is making a loud noise when she breathes, like a trumpet. The kind of noise your nose makes sometimes when its almost completely blocked but a tiny bit of air gets through.

Just wondering what you guys think about this? Could it be another respiratory issue? Would the weird breathing noise be explained by a cardiac problem or should I get a second opinion? How long to chickens normally last with a heart problem?

Is there any particular foods or vitamins I can give her to try and keep her heart as healthy as possible? She has very good body condition and is still feisty and active.

Any thoughts or opinions very welcome!

What breed?

Certain breeds such as Cornish Cross broilers are very prone to heart failure. Any cause of poor lung oxygen exchange, either heart issues or fluid in the lungs, can cause the purple comb issue. Heart failure can also cause pale comb.

Be sure she is not eating so much as to be obese, as that can cause breathing issues.

Is there any inflammation around the head, or bubbles in the eyes or nostrils or mouth?

 

[cairns3chooks]

Hey, thanks for the reply

She is a Belgian D'uccle. Definitely not over weight, spends most of her time on the lawn foraging and scratching. As far as I can tell their coop and litter is all good too - not too dusty or damp. We keep their coop under our veranda so it never gets rained on.

She has no other symptoms.. partly why I'm so confused! Her eyes are bright, her nose is clear, no bubbles or anything unusual. No swelling anywhere that I can find.. Just the laboured breathing. Usually it's only occasional (maybe 5 times a day for a few minutes) but today it has been almost constant, and the very loud bagpipe breathing noises are alarming me. She seems fine in herself though, still eating, drinking, scratching, bathing, bullying the others..

I am tempted to try an anti-biotic just in case there is any respiratory infection there. I was quite forceful with the vet, and made sure that he was sure (?) there were no respiratory symptoms. He was sure her chest etc. sounded fine and clear. That was 3-4 weeks ago now though. Could symptoms be hidden like that? Or perhaps she's picked up an infection because she is weak from her heart issues?

Thank you so much for all of your help! Much appreciated! They do like to worry us...

 

[WalnutHill]

How is the weather there at present? If it's cool, cloudy and damp, offer a sheltered area with a heat lamp and see if she takes advantage of it. You can offer it like a "spa" treatment a couple of times a day.

She may have simply inhaled some irritating grass hulls or a blade of dry grass, or may have been stung by an insect causing swelling of the trachea. A sick hen will generally show ruffled feathers, dull eye, less activity.

It could also be either a cause or symptom of her apparent heart issues. Antibiotics are not helpful unless the correct kind is administered, and that can be determined only by a lab test. If it does not cause her too much distress (wrap her snugly in an old bath towel for examination), shine a bright flashlight down her throat and look for a blade of grass or some other obstruction of the airway.

 

[Eggcessive]

It may well be a heart problem, but I would look into aspergillosis as a possiblity. Looking into her airway for obstruction (or yellow or grayish tissue that could be infectious) is a good idea. Aspergillosis is caused by mold, so there is not treatment except for keeping bedding dry and preventing wet conditions. Hay or straw can become moldy. Some use oxine to spray in the coop, and by aerosol to prevent mold and to give to the chickens that might be suffering. Aspergillosis causes silent gasping, but it can be complicated with viral or bacterial illnesses as secondary infections. For that reason, I would probably give her 5 days of Tylan 50 injectable or tylosin (given orally) 1/4 ml once or twice daily. It will require a needle and syringe to remove the medicine from the bottle. Tylan is a cattle medicine in feed stores.It treats bacterial diseases and mycoplasma that cause respiratory infections. Here are some articles to read about oxine use and aspergillosis:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/7/aspergillosis/
https://poultrykeeper.com/respiratory-problems/aspergillosis/
http://www.revivalanimal.com/articles/how-to-use-oxine-ah.html
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...s-users-please-share-usage-dosage-storage-etc
http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/oxine.htm

 

[cairns3chooks]

Thanks again for the replies and suggestions. This morning she is really in a bad way..

I think it must be heart related as you say she has no other symptoms or sign of blockage. The bagpipes noise has lessened now but she is stationary, her hole face is darkening, and she is really gasping for air such a rapid decline, but I guess that's what happens with heart failure

Good idea about the heat lamp, I would offer it if we were anywhere else in the world but we live in Cairns in Australia, and even though its winter it is a pleasant temperature. Winter is their favourite time of year.

Don't think it could be aspergillosis as there is no mold anywhere in their coop or surrounding areas. I change their bedding once a week and most of the time their roaming the lawn. Thanks for the suggestion though, I will mention it if I get to a vet.

I will take her to the vet first thing this morning to see if there is anything they can do to make her more comfortable but I think they will only suggest to put her down. Poor old girl, so sad to watch. Bloody chickens

 

[Eggcessive]

So sorry that she appears to be dying.

 

[cairns3chooks]

Thanks eggcessive, poor girl passed away not long after I sent that message. She soldiered on and insisted on coming out on the lawn, bless her. I sat with her while the other chooks scratched and pecked about around her, and she passed fairly quickly and peacefully. I think she was happy enough, at least happier than she would have been at the vet.

Thanks again for all help and suggestions.