- Aug 17, 2008
- 3
- 0
- 7
We have a free range hen that has what I think is a blocked esophagus.
Her crop seems fine, but she seems to have a blockage just ahead of her crop. She's had it for around a week. It's pretty horrible. Her esophagus has expanded out to a diameter of maybe 1/2 inch and it's protruding out in a big half loop in front of her (curve radius of around 1 inch). She keeps her head back to accompany the hugely expanded organ.
Once it became obvious what had happened we've been giving her just liquids: water, pineapple juice, papaya juice, and occasionally yogurt. (the vet said the two juices would help dissolve things). She seems to be in stable condition, but she's still blocked up.
We're not really sure what to do. The esophagus is very hard to the touch. I can't imagine being able to massage the contents back out her mouth. I could feel near where the esophagus enters the crop, a sharp hard object in there, I'm thinking she swallowed a piece of plastic or something. (The esophagus is a little softer at that point.)
I read a lot about impacted crops, and the surgery option, but opening up the esophagus would be a whole different matter, right?
Any help and advice would be great! Even if there's no way to empty out her esophagus, advice on liquid diets would help.
Her crop seems fine, but she seems to have a blockage just ahead of her crop. She's had it for around a week. It's pretty horrible. Her esophagus has expanded out to a diameter of maybe 1/2 inch and it's protruding out in a big half loop in front of her (curve radius of around 1 inch). She keeps her head back to accompany the hugely expanded organ.
Once it became obvious what had happened we've been giving her just liquids: water, pineapple juice, papaya juice, and occasionally yogurt. (the vet said the two juices would help dissolve things). She seems to be in stable condition, but she's still blocked up.
We're not really sure what to do. The esophagus is very hard to the touch. I can't imagine being able to massage the contents back out her mouth. I could feel near where the esophagus enters the crop, a sharp hard object in there, I'm thinking she swallowed a piece of plastic or something. (The esophagus is a little softer at that point.)
I read a lot about impacted crops, and the surgery option, but opening up the esophagus would be a whole different matter, right?
Any help and advice would be great! Even if there's no way to empty out her esophagus, advice on liquid diets would help.
