HELP! Second hen to get bloating/green feces, emaciated breast

[NorthGAChick]

I've heard that tube feeding is really hard and that if you don't know what you're doing you can cause more damage.

Got any links for tube feeding? Or good written instructions anywhere?

Do you think amoxicillin is the best treatment for this? He said baytril is used in humans for major infections that nothing else can get rid of and that's why they don't want it used in food animals. That's a medical concern, not my concern - I'm not going to eat her and I doubt she will ever start laying again and are they saying that antibiotic stays in their system forever? ???

You didn't say anything about the respiratory problem after sulfa drugs - you got any clues on how to help that?

 

[Toddrick]

Here is Kathy's tube feeding tutorial NorthGAChick:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/805728/go-team-tube-feeding

Good luck to you.

EDIT: Also, just look at Kathy's signature for the link

 

[casportpony]

I've heard that tube feeding is really hard and that if you don't know what you're doing you can cause more damage.

Got any links for tube feeding? Or good written instructions anywhere?

Do you think amoxicillin is the best treatment for this? He said baytril is used in humans for major infections that nothing else can get rid of and that's why they don't want it used in food animals. That's a medical concern, not my concern - I'm not going to eat her and I doubt she will ever start laying again and are they saying that antibiotic stays in their system forever? ???

You didn't say anything about the respiratory problem after sulfa drugs - you got any clues on how to help that?

Tube feeding is really easy, I guarantee it., and I will help anyone learn either here or on the phone.

Baytril (enrofloxacin) is *not* used in people (think I read that it can cause hallucinations in people, but don't quote me on that), but Cipro (ciprofloxacin) is. Both are in a class of antibiotics called "fluoroquinolones". Your vet is *wrong*, Baytril *is* used in beef and swine, but is banned for use in poultry.
http://www.drugs.com/vet/baytril-100-enrofloxacin-100-mg-ml-antimicrobial-injectable-solution.html
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/83/i32/8332baytril.html

Baytril is the best when it come to treating many bacteria... Amoxicillin is a good drug, but from what I know, Clavamox, aka amoxicillin and clavulanate (human form is Augmentin), is a little better, but more expensive. How long was she on Baytril? Sometimes amoxicillin or Clavamox are given after Baytril treatment to prevent bacterial infections.

This links has a table that shows the efficacy of some anitbiotics and their efficacy:
http://www.octagon-services.co.uk/articles/poultry/gamebirds.pdf

Did he look at the fluid under the scope?

As for the one with the respiratory problem, are you sure it started after the sulfa drugs?

-Kathy

 

[NorthGAChick]

RE: Snow White - hen with swollen belly.
NO, the vet did a fecal eval but did not test the fluid.
It was day 8 when I took her to the vet and I did not treat her with the baytril that day - so she had 7 days of baytril and flagyl and now doing the 7 days of amoxicillin.
She is losing fluid now - her bed is all wet in the morning so I hope that is good news. She is gaining a little weight but not sure if that's fluid or meat - breast still feels like bone.
I've tried to catch her pooping but I've missed that opportunity to see if there is more mass in it.
She's been walking around all day for the past three days with all of the others and not going in really early like she had been.

RE: Rooster - respiratory.
Yes, it was after the sulfa drugs and I remember April of 2013 he had the same problem and I tried everything to get him over it, but it was from antibiotics back then and I know I did something to get rid of it and I think it was the warm vapor humidifier. I did that for an hour tonight when he first went to bed. Snow is the only one in there with him and I hope it doesn't bother her condition. She had some respiratory stress but not since the fluid was removed. I could take her out of there and move her inside so I can watch the poo and food intake as well. It's just she seems to eat better with the crowd.

I'll watch the video Toddrick was kind enough to point out.

The one attacked by the possum - Wonder Woman - is so scared and she hasn't really regained her weight yet - I may have to do it for her as well - the feeding tube that is. She's scared of the rooster (she buries her head and he can't mount her) and the other birds as well. Only the one she came with, Sylvia, does she hang close with. Again, there's something about having them together. Snow White lost her BFF Jasmine in July - I really think from the same thing?

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING! REALLY HOPING AND PRAYING THIS ALL HAS HAPPY ENDINGS! MUCH GRATITUDE!!!!

 

[seminolewind]

Quote:
Yes! Antibiotics all have their "speciality". They can also be categorized by good, better, and best against a certain bacteria. It's unfortunate that we can only guess at the infective bacteria and treat it, and sometimes not know if the antibiotic is the right one.
One that surprised me was Tylan's use on Necrotic enteritis (Mycobacterium(?) Presently the drug of choice for it.

 

[NorthGAChick]

I can't find feeding tubes anywhere here. They only have them for cows and horses. This is real farm country and they don't go to this kind of trouble for chickens. Got any ideas? And no avian vets here either.

 

[casportpony]

I can't find feeding tubes anywhere here. They only have them for cows and horses. This is real farm country and they don't go to this kind of trouble for chickens. Got any ideas? And no avian vets here either.

No small animal vets? They should have them. If not, how about a pet store that sell aquariums, they will have air line that you can use. You *can* use the air line, but will need to modify it first.

Pictures:













When I am going to give less than 60cc's, I use a 35cc catheter tip syringe like this one.




-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Some people have used the tube in their toilet tanks. For those that do decode to tube feed, remember that hydration must be corrected before feeding. I usually tube fluids for about 24 hours at 30ml/kg (30ml per 2.2 pounds) every 6-8 hours. Force feeding a dehydrated bird or animal can cause death.

-Kathy

 

[NorthGAChick]

Snow White is eating some baby cereal w/B12 and molasses in it, on her own - and that is pretty watery.
Perhaps I should do pedialyte, too?
We did it Saturday in syringes myself without tubes, neither of us liked that experience.
The next day, Sunday, she ate it on her own.
Today the vet has feeding tubes waiting for me at the front desk, but I don't know that I need them now; will still pick up.
Her crop seems to be full when I check it, so she must be eating on her own, just not much.
Bed spot in the mornings is still just water and some green, no mass. Not as much fluid either.
If she is dehydrated could that be why she's eating and it's not processing? Or, she may not be eating that much either?
Hard to tell at this point. I would hate to think the low fluid and not so watery belly could be some other problem???
Her messy butt has a bit of brown now, not just green (two baths so far to keep her clean)
Her belly is not watery any more, but seems fuller.
She's molted and looks a lot better.
My scale broke so not sure about the weight. Still feels like bone, but a bit heavier?
Seriously cold here this morning 21 degrees, but the coop is 47 and the pen is 38.
ROOSTER: Vet Rx warm dropper in mouth, drops in ears, warm vapor at bed time for an hour
over the past three nights and much improvement with his antibiotic (sulfa) induced respiratory problems.
Still praying and pushing for Happy Results and Complete Healing for both!
Trying not to get relieved yet and keep a sharp eye on things...THANKS AGAIN!

 

[NorthGAChick]

Keeping her inside tonight because still no mass in bedding in the morning.
She got out of the coop before I got out there and her crop had just a little in it.
I just didn't see where she was eliminating.
She smells something awful and she had her second bath just the other day - it's a weird smell - not like poop but chemicals.
She finished the antibiotics almost a week ago???
She nibbled a little tonight and no water yet, but she's just been in right before dark/bed time.

Do you know what I'm talking about with that "weird smell"?