heatstroke????? HELP please!

[blessedchick]

I came home to find one of my 3 mth old SGs down on her side in the pen and cool to the touch - panting heavily. I dunked her right into their water tub which is about 85-90* with the temp being so high right now. She perked up some, I grabbed a towel and got her into the house. Got some electrolytes (~1 ml from a syringe) down her and she is now fighting me a bit (good?)

The problem seems to be her distended abdomen all the way back to her vent. She isn't laying yet and there doesn't seem to be an egg there, just very fluid filled and distended. I used another small syringe to see if she was impacted near her vent and all seems clear. A bit of dried poo on her feathers around her vent that looked like it was diarrhea. I rubbed her belly very gently and she didn't like that at all...she is so distended!

Help!! I'm a total newbie at this and I'm praying for an answer! She is napping quietly on my lap sitting in a towel right now. Oh, the rest of the flock is perfectly fine. I run misters for them all day and tons of water in different places and everyone else is doing great, praise God.

Any advice would be SO APPRECIATED!

 

[TeamChaos]

How scary! You did the right thing by acting quickly! There are a lot of things a distended abdomen could mean, but I think your assessment of heat stress was right and before you judge the condition too critically, give her time to move around and get feeling better. Heat stress causes really watery diarrhea and her system might just be off balance from the heat.

 

[blessedchick]

Thank you for the encouragement, Teamchaos! She feels so cool...I wish I had a thermometer! (dingbat...chickie emergency kit is lacking)...Her respiration seems even and strong and she is very tired. If I move her a bit she does react fairly normally...AAAARRRGGGHHH!

 

[TeamChaos]

I think all you can do now is observe her- can you keep her separated for a while? You gave her electrolytes, so you know when her last fluid intake was and how much etc. I'd just see if she perks up or you get more symptoms to go on as to what's going on. I know it's hard to sit on your hands when you think something is wrong with a loved one (yes, even chickens count as 'loved ones') but one thing I've learned with my chickens is that heroic measures are rarely successful and sometimes it's better to be patient and know what you're treating rather than always worry it was your "treatment" that made them worse.

 

[blessedchick]

Since she is being so quiet right now I feel better about leaving her to rest for awhile. I'll go do chores so I won't be tempted to mess with her...you are so right about the "fixing" tendency! I will keep her inside with me tonight and she can go to work with me tomorrow if necessary. My office mates are used to the occasional chicken visit...just so worried about that poor belly...

 

[blessedchick]

Thankfully she made it thru the night. I'm going to try to get her in to see the vet today...I'm at a loss as to what else to do for her...