Hen with Breathing Problems

[Unitsi]

My girl does not look good.
I put Olive oil down her throat to help lubricate if something was stuck.
I can feel a knot in her throat.
What else can I do to help her?

 

[mtgrl]

That sounds like gapeworm, but then I'm pretty new at this and have never experienced it for myself, but have read about it. Sometimes parasites start growing in their throats and prevent them from breathing well. I also had a hen a couple weeks ago panting, and took her to the vet. She had a very high fever and was just about ready to kick the bucket, according to the doc. They put her on antibiotics and she's now recovering quite well. My advice is to take her to the vet, they can diagnose her properly and prescribe either antibiotics or antiparasitic medicine. There's not much you can really do without a proper diagnosis and some medicine.

 

[Unitsi]

She just passed away in my arms. But , please, any help, would be appreciated, just in case, I get others with same symptoms. At least I'll be prepared .

 

[mtgrl]

Ah :/ I'm so sorry. I just lost a little newborn chick in my hand about 10 minutes ago as well. That's why I'm here. Trying to figure out what to do. I'm afraid with my quail that there's a sickness going around and it's taking a toll on the weakest ones, and the chick might have caught it from his mother. Sorry for your loss. I don't know much about disease, but make sure to clean up after her so others aren't exposed and if they start showing any symptoms I'd take them to the vet right away. With my hen, it was the fever that was the biggest threat, and the immediate concern was lowering her temp, so if they seem to be panting, it could be a respiratory infection and you may want to move them some place cooler. It's hard to know when birds are really sick as they try to hide it, but keep an eye on them and if you notice anything else out of the ordinary I'd call the vet.

 

[Eggcessive]

She may have had something stuck in her throat or had a respiratory virus such as ILT, MG, or others. Gapeworm, although a possibility is rare. Giving oil is not a good idea, even though it is advised on here every day for impacted crop. If a chicken breathes in as it goes down, they can aspirate and die from lipid pneumonia. Did she do any sneezing or have any mucus from her nose, or watery eyes before she was gasping? I'm so sorry that you lost her, and know it must have been upsetting so suddenly.

 

[lithiachick]

Is there any local resources which can do a necropsy? I've seen other posts where it's mentioned done for free? At least you'll know. I think there are specifics you need to do with the bird right after it passes if it is offered. Sorry about your loss.

 

[Eggcessive]

If you are sure that you have gapeworm, the treatment is to use SageGuard Liquid Goat wormer 1/4 ml or 25mg per pound of weight for 3-4 straight days. Here is a link about respiratory diseases and gapeworm:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/602699/worming-chickens/10#post_7931055
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044