Heavy Metal Poisoning

[Vgcmd1962]

Hi everyone. Have a 3y/o rooster that suddenly lost his balance and walks like he is drunk. Took him to an avian specialist yesterday, took X-rays and found 2 densities consistent with metals. He didn’t know which one’s. Took thorough blood samples and started him on 7 chelation injections. Hate seeing my baby like this. Anyone have had similar experiences? Will he get better? He’s also anemic with a PCV of 33%.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your rooster. I haven’t had this experience but there are numerous threads on BYC to look for. Here is some info I found:
https://www.bird-vet.com/LeadtoxicityinChickens-chickenvet.aspx

http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/lead-poisoning

 

[Vgcmd1962]

Sorry about your rooster. I haven’t had this experience but there are numerous threads on BYC to look for. Here is some info I found:
https://www.bird-vet.com/LeadtoxicityinChickens-chickenvet.aspx

http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/lead-poisoning

Well after 7 chelation therapies his balance has been restored. The veterinarian called me to give me the results of his blood drawn on Tuesday but I missed his call. I’ll have to wait until tomorrow. I’m anxious to see what was found. Since he improved with chelation therapy it implies indeed there was some type of heavy metal poisoning. I’ll post tomorrow.

 

[Swbertrand1]

Hi everyone. Have a 3y/o rooster that suddenly lost his balance and walks like he is drunk. Took him to an avian specialist yesterday, took X-rays and found 2 densities consistent with metals. He didn’t know which one’s. Took thorough blood samples and started him on 7 chelation injections. Hate seeing my baby like this. Anyone have had similar experiences? Will he get better? He’s also anemic with a PCV of 33%.

Glad to hear the chelation therapies worked. How's he doing now?

We may be in the middle of a similar experience with a 6 mo old Silkie hen. Her X-rays show what the vet believes to be metal (about 12 pieces), and the only thing we can think of are pellet-gun pellets, some that missed the target and are whole, some that hit the target and are "pancaked".

Do you have any idea how long PRIOR to your roo showing symptoms that he might have gotten in metals? We're trying to figure out what kind of window we might have for treatment of our girl.

Thank you!