Hen has a Swollen face and Eyes Shut after eating mountain laurel....4 days later she has not improv

[MarylandChicks]

I had a hen eat a lot of mountain laurel 5 days ago and she has been in poor health every sense.

Timeline:

1. After i noticed her eating mountain laurel I went out and stopped her, about 30 minutes later her face was swollen and her eyes were shut.

2. About 2 hours after she ate the mountain laurel I gave her a 1 tsp epsom salt to 1 oz warm water solution to trigger a flush of the laurel

3. The following day I purchased VetRx and began administering that (rubbing on face and under wings, dripping the solution in nostrils)

4. Two days after she ate the mountain laurel I began administering Tylan 50 orally 1cc a day incase the face swelling was caused by a upper res. infection.

5. Today is day 4 for her on Tylan 50 and she has seen no real improvement in the past 4 days. Her pop is more normal now (for a while it was green liquid)


She has been separated from the flock and she has eaten and drank well the whole time (I have to help her find it). She will only open her eyes if she is very started and it is only for a split second, she forces them open for a second then closes them again, her eyes look red and a little cloudy but that could be gunk in them.

Does anyone have any idea?

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry that your hen has not improved. That was probably a good move to treat for a respiratory infection because of the eye swelling. Eye swelling is usually just in one eye in most cases of MG or coryza. Usually most people see an improvement in respiratory infections after 3 days of Tylan, but Tylan50 is best used as a shot into the breast muscle. I hope someone else has a suggestion for you or has had experience with this type of poison.

 

[yawningreyhound]

I'm new and no expert on chickens, but when an animal experiences a reaction like this (like a bee sting to the face or paw) at the Animal E.R. I tech at, we give them steroids to bring down the swelling. Let me call work and I'll ask the DVM working what she would recommend or she can look it up on VIN.

 

[MarylandChicks]

Sorry that your hen has not improved. That was probably a good move to treat for a respiratory infection because of the eye swelling. Eye swelling is usually just in one eye in most cases of MG or coryza. Usually most people see an improvement in respiratory infections after 3 days of Tylan, but Tylan50 is best used as a shot into the breast muscle. I hope someone else has a suggestion for you or has had experience with this type of poison.

I did administer 1/2 cc in the breast on day two along with a 1/2 cc orally. Do you think that I should continue administering the Tylan 50 via breast muscle injection past the 5 days reccomeneded since its mainly been administered orally. also the swelling is only on one side of her face but she keeps both of her eyes closed.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[MarylandChicks]

I'm new and no expert on chickens, but when an animal experiences a reaction like this (like a bee sting to the face or paw) at the Animal E.R. I tech at, we give them steroids to bring down the swelling. Let me call work and I'll ask the DVM working what she would recommend or she can look it up on VIN.

Thanks, alot that would be great.

 

[Eggcessive]

I did administer 1/2 cc in the breast on day two along with a 1/2 cc orally. Do you think that I should continue administering the Tylan 50 via breast muscle injection past the 5 days reccomeneded since its mainly been administered orally. also the swelling is only on one side of her face but she keeps both of her eyes closed.

Thanks for all your help.

Yes, I would probably give the Tylan50 injections for at least 3 days, no more than 5. Oral Tylan sometimes is given for 7 days, so I would probably give 3 days of shots. And try the steroid recommendation of the last poster.

 

[yawningreyhound]

The DVM couldn't find anything on VIN specific to mountain laurel toxicity and chickens, but she sent me this link. She said the poison in ML is grayanotoxins and that treating for the respiratory issue was a great idea. Keeping the respiratory infection under control allows the chicken to survive any pneumonia and if the heart isn't affected, she should survive. That's about all she could offer and advised continuing to look for a vet familiar with the poisoning in chickens.

I'm sorry I couldn't find something definitive for you!

http://books.google.com/books?id=Db...AA#v=onepage&q=grayanotoxins chickens&f=false

 

[MarylandChicks]

The DVM couldn't find anything on VIN specific to mountain laurel toxicity and chickens, but she sent me this link. She said the poison in ML is grayanotoxins and that treating for the respiratory issue was a great idea. Keeping the respiratory infection under control allows the chicken to survive any pneumonia and if the heart isn't affected, she should survive. That's about all she could offer and advised continuing to look for a vet familiar with the poisoning in chickens.

I'm sorry I couldn't find something definitive for you!

http://books.google.com/books?id=Db...AA#v=onepage&q=grayanotoxins chickens&f=false

Thanks alot, no you have all been a tremendous help. I will finish out the Tylan 50 giving her 1/2cc breast injections for 3 more days and continue to keep her going and hopefully she will make a recovery before too long.

thanks all.

 

[MarylandChicks]

I have finished the injections of Tylan 50 and she has made no improvement, both eyes seem to be more swollen now. Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do, I do not have the money to take her to one of the pricey vets around here unless anyone knows a good vet to work with in the MAryland are.

 

[MarylandChicks]

She doesnt really have any discharge from her eye and no odor, other than very swollen eyes she does very well. What can i do for this girl!