Hen with a very hard abdomen / back end

[CuteChick369]

Thanks cafarmgirl! Yes, when it rains it pours! The vet said one one acl goes, normally the other goes in about 6 months.If that happens, we are going to look into this:

http://www.mypetsbrace.com/home

Maybe this can help your rottie too. It sounds like these pets wear these braces for years and see great improvement. Checking into it, they are about $800 for a larger dog.

Thanks again for your help. A chicken friend of mine is coming over to help drain some fluid and I hope that's the issue!

 

[CuteChick369]

My friend came over today and helped me drain fluid. We drained 50 cc's of fluid, which was a yellowy color!! We could have pulled more out, but we were really stressing her. I then put her into a cage, on a towel, and she dripped enough to soak the towel through!

I am giving antibiotics that my vet gave me last year for another sick chicken. It's sulfamethoxazole.

What is going on with her? Why so much fluid in her abdomen? And, the yellow color I assume is an infection. Is this something I'll have to continue to drain, or is there something I can do to cure this?

Thanks so much for your help, I hope she is feeling a lot better now. Her breathing has improved and no more purple comb. Tomorrow I think I'll put her back outside again, if she's looking ok.

Thanks!

 

[Eggcessive]

Did you read the links in post 10? They show yellow fluid being drained, and that is normal for ascites. It sounds like she really needed that fluid drained off since she is breathing better. Mix some electrolytes and vitamins into her water, and make sure that she drinks. Gatorade or Pedialyte will work. I'm glad you did such a good job.

 

[CuteChick369]

Thank you, Eggcessive. So, I just spent the last hour reading that post and another and I feel I have a good game plan. I do fear that this is liver or heart related. She's a RIR so bred for laying, and I knew that there was a chance my chickens wouldn't live long lives. She's three years old now. But, I'm going to do everything I can to keep her happy and alive as long as possible.

I ordered Milk Thistle and Zyfend. I'm going to ask my vet about Lasix to keep water down, if needed. I also think there is still some water left, so tomorrow I'll try to drain a little more.

So, I feel better with a plan and will do whatever I can to help her out! Thank you again for your help!!