Help hen having trouble breathing, pale comb!

[azygous]

Your update is welcome but discouraging. The only other thing I would recommend is to increase the metronidazole to a quarter tab twice a day.

I wish I could be more hopeful, but after trying several different medications and I see no improvement or even a reverse, I assume a greater underlying condition such as an avian virus that is producing tumors. If that's the case, the tumors would inhibit the immune system, and the medications would do little good.

@Wyorp Rock 's suggestion to get a test for parasites is a good one, and at least you can rule it out as a cause. If it turns out she has a load in her intestines, it opens up the possibility of a med that may turn this around in the hen's favor.

 

[Eggcessive]

Getting some poop checked is a good idea. A vet may also scrape the yellow pimples in the throat to look at under a microscope to see if it is fungus, protozoa, bacteria, or virus. Many vets will not feel comfortable treating chickens. Unfortunately avian vets are few, and any vet is expensive. But it can save a lot of guesswork.

 

[1 true Phoenix]

Getting some poop checked is a good idea. A vet may also scrape the yellow pimples in the throat to look at under a microscope to see if it is fungus, protozoa, bacteria, or virus. Many vets will not feel comfortable treating chickens. Unfortunately avian vets are few, and any vet is expensive. But it can save a lot of guesswork.

I will check into getting a fecal test done... Unfortunately there aren't any vets around that treat chickens.

Your update is welcome but discouraging. The only other thing I would recommend is to increase the metronidazole to a quarter tab twice a day.

I wish I could be more hopeful, but after trying several different medications and I see no improvement or even a reverse, I assume a greater underlying condition such as an avian virus that is producing tumors. If that's the case, the tumors would inhibit the immune system, and the medications would do little good.

@Wyorp Rock 's suggestion to get a test for parasites is a good one, and at least you can rule it out as a cause. If it turns out she has a load in her intestines, it opens up the possibility of a med that may turn this around in the hen's favor.

The improvement that has been consistently better is that when all this started she would not eat or drink on her own... After a couple of days she started drinking on her own... I was giving her sub q fluids before she started drinking on her own. Gradually she has started eating a little better everyday... I don't think she eats as much as she should but she eats better than she was.
How much longer can I give her the metronidazole? She's been getting her metronidazole in the evening so it's probably too late today to give her 2 as she didn't get a dose this morning.
I've done a lot of reading since this all started and I did treat her with safeguard last week in case works was the issue but maybe not the right dewormer?

 

[1 true Phoenix]

I do appreciate all the support and info from everyone and I intend on continuing to do what I can to help her.

 

[Eggcessive]

SafeGuard is a very good wormer if used at the right dosage. 1/4 ml per pound given once and again in 10 days will treat many chicken worms (roundworms, cecal worms.) The most serious worms (gapeworms, capillary worms) may require 5 consecutive days of dosing.

 

[azygous]

Safeguard is a very good all purpose wormer. If your patient had a significant worm load, you would probably have noticed some dead ones in her poop.

It won't hurt to do the second round of metronidazole using the twice a day dosage. After that, if there is no change, I don't think there's really anything else to try.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I will check into getting a fecal test done... Unfortunately there aren't any vets around that treat chickens.

The improvement that has been consistently better is that when all this started she would not eat or drink on her own... After a couple of days she started drinking on her own... I was giving her sub q fluids before she started drinking on her own. Gradually she has started eating a little better everyday... I don't think she eats as much as she should but she eats better than she was.
How much longer can I give her the metronidazole? She's been getting her metronidazole in the evening so it's probably too late today to give her 2 as she didn't get a dose this morning.
I've done a lot of reading since this all started and I did treat her with safeguard last week in case works was the issue but maybe not the right dewormer?

What dosage of Safeguard and for how long did you give it?

 

[1 true Phoenix]

What dosage of Safeguard and for how long did you give it?

Gave her a small pea size amount of safeguard and had planned to follow up 10 days later.

 

[1 true Phoenix]

SafeGuard is a very good wormer if used at the right dosage. 1/4 ml per pound given once and again in 10 days will treat many chicken worms (roundworms, cecal worms.) The most serious worms (gapeworms, capillary worms) may require 5 consecutive days of dosing.

Am going to check into getting fecal done by our dog vet... If they won't do it I will give her the measured amount of safeguard for the 5 consecutive days.

 

[casportpony]

Gave her a small pea size amount of safeguard and had planned to follow up 10 days later.

How much does she weigh?

Can you get any Baytril?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/baytril-enrofloxacin-sources.74374/