Hen with ‘lumps’ that are either tumors or soft eggs but antibiotics helped. What disease is this?

[Venusmarsdoodlenoodle]

So my chicken Mars (4 years old), has been going through a lot lately. About a month ago on July 1st I found her fallen in the run unable to get up when she was try to eat. Her symptoms then was: lethargic, can’t stand, super light, dehydrated, quiet, she was slow at walking a few days prior, not laying, and pale comb. She was practically on death’s doorstep. She also has a history of being egg bound. The next day I took her to the vet and she said she felt lumps in Mars that could be shell less eggs or tumors but couldn’t give a certain diagnosis. She recommended euthanasia but prescribed Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim along with Meloxicam to see if it would work. And it did, she got more active, put on weight, her comb was red and she seemed almost like herself. But then 2 weeks came and we stopped the meds and she went downhill again. Now her comb is pale and she doesn’t move as much as her progress is just plateauing. But the thing is the meds worked. If it was mareks or ovarian cancer i don’t think antibiotics and an inflammatory would have any effect. My best and hopeful theory is that it’s shell less eggs and they’re popping inside of her causing infection, since one of her poops once looked exactly like the white of an egg. Now that I have more observations I hope one of you could figure out what’s wrong and how I can get her better since I have to leave for college in about 2 weeks and my parents aren’t very willing to help her.

 

[Eggcessive]

How old is your hen, and when was she last laying eggs regularly? It sounds a though she may have salpingitis where there are egg masses inside the abdomen, E coli and a few other bacteria are frequently the cause. She probably started laying internally, and this has progressed to egg yolk peritonitis. Antibiotics may be helpful temporarily and help extend her life, but once the reproductive disorder has started and become advanced, there is not a lot you can do to make her better. Cancer is also very common. Their crops sometimes have problems emptying from pressure inside the abdominal cavity, and they may develop impacted or sour crop, and lose weight. Unfortunately, I would just try to keep her eating and drinking while making her as comfortable as you can. Check her crop early in the morning before she eats or drinks to see if it is emptying overnight. At some point, you may want to prevent her from suffering, and consider putting her down.

 

[Venusmarsdoodlenoodle]

How old is your hen, and when was she last laying eggs regularly? It sounds a though she may have salpingitis where there are egg masses inside the abdomen, E coli and a few other bacteria are frequently the cause. She probably started laying internally, and this has progressed to egg yolk peritonitis. Antibiotics may be helpful temporarily and help extend her life, but once the reproductive disorder has started and become advanced, there is not a lot you can do to make her better. Cancer is also very common. Their crops sometimes have problems emptying from pressure inside the abdominal cavity, and they may develop impacted or sour crop, and lose weight. Unfortunately, I would just try to keep her eating and drinking while making her as comfortable as you can. Check her crop early in the morning before she eats or drinks to see if it is emptying overnight. At some point, you may want to prevent her from suffering, and consider putting her down.

She’s 4 and I can’t quite tell when the last time she laid but my guess is maybe a month before I took her to the vet. I think you could be right about salpingitis but I haven’t seen any pieces of that being passed so maybe a big one is stuck in there? Would an epson salt bath help it pass or is there nothing you can do about it? She seems to be passing food through her crop as it looks empty in the morning and she’s gained maybe 3 or 4 pounds of weight since the vet visit. Thanks for your help!