Hen with persistent infection in face/cheek

[Winchikn]

Hello - my first post to the site seeking advice for a 1 yr old Caramel Queen hen with a persistent infection in her face. The hen is otherwise in very good health with bright comb and wattles, good appetite, and regular laying.

We believe the infection started from a peck wound last fall that gradually increased in size over approx 7 mos. The spot looked like a lump in her cheek and would swell and then shrink, sometimes getting a scab that would then heal. About a month ago the lump swelled significantly, got pecked by some of the flock and did not heal up properly again.

We took the hen to a local vet who was willing to investigate and after assessment agreed to attempt surgery. We administered antibiotics [Aventi-clav] for a week prior to surgery. The surgery took place on June 2 and revealed encapsulated infection in a few pockets in the cheek and under the eye, which the vet believed she thoroughly removed. Healing appeared to be going well for the first week (with 3 days antibiotics [Aventi-clav] post-surgery), but on June 9 I noticed a bit of swelling returning to the site, and today it is noticeable. Our hen has been isolated throughout treatment (approx the last 2 weeks) from our small flock of 10 chickens.

Looking for any advice as to whether further antibiotics might be of any benefit and if another surgery would be more intervention than is ethical. Our vet is new to chickens but willing to pursue care, and we are willing to go a bit further with treatment.

Photos below show progression of wound from late Nov, to mid Jan, to a blurry shot of the day before surgery on June 2. The first two pics are times when the wound was looking worse - there were extended periods where it would heal over completely but a lump would remain under the skin.

 

[coach723]

If malignancy is ruled out then I would think it needs to be cleaned out again. Chicken pus is firm rather than liquid, so even if a tiny bit is left in there then the infection will come back. Just like when treating bumblefoot, every bit of the gunk has to be gotten out for healing to happen. Antibiotics may be helpful, but the gunk will still have to come out first or they won't do any good. I don't think it would be unethical to do it again, it's just a matter of what you want to do and are able to handle financially.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Thank you for the counselling, compassion and support, on every level.

We attempted an initial surgery before taking her to the vet the first time and I don't think we can try it again. My husband is an experienced wildlife biologist, trained in handling animals, but even he felt out of his league and like we shouldn't be doing surgery of the kind we were attempting without anesthetic - and the location of the infection so close to her eye makes immobilizing her head difficult and any slips potentially catastrophic.

I fear we are left with the decision of when to cull and I am having trouble finding the ethical path through that choice. I want to do the right thing and know she must be in pain. Do we wait any longer given she is still acting like a chicken and eating and drinking and roaming around with her buddies? Do we wait for it to ulcerate and become even more painful? I know this is an extremely personal decision - I just hoped that she would give us a clear sign at some point and that hasn't happened yet...

I know my opinion is just from an internet stranger, but I wouldn’t judge you if you waited. When or if you are ready, cervical dislocation is the most humane way to do it yourself, but if it makes you nervous, there are other alternatives that are almost as humane. Or you can call a vet who is willing, which would probably be the easiest. I truly wish you and your sweet hen luck in your journey.

 

[coach723]

I just wanted to throw out there for consideration my experience with sugardine for treating stubborn infections of bumblefoot. It might also work on this hen, but not sure how I would go about poulticing that particular area, would have to experiment with that. I have a 6 year old roo that has had his third bout of bumblefoot. Really nasty ones with no central core, but rather ribbony through the foot. Last bout took over a year to heal, incredibly frustrating. This bout is now healing, almost closed up as of yesterday with sugardine treatments. Plain white sugar mixed with betadine/providone iodine 10% solution. For bumblefoot I have packed the hole with sugar, and then put a drop or two (you don't need much) into that and then covered with a duoderm bandage (you can get on amazon) cut to size and then wrap with co wrap. Initially I changed daily, then went to every other day. Then every 2nd or third day, just depends on how it's doing. It has been slowly, slowly getting smaller, no pus generation, as of yesterday the hole has almost healed up (from the inside out). I was really out of options with him since nothing else has really worked and I was unwilling to do any more surgery and tissue removal since his feet have already had so much done to them, this was a last ditch effort and it has surprisingly worked very well for him. Sugardine is commonly used for horses particularly for hoof issues, which is where I heard of it. So figured I would give it a try. Happy I did. I imagine my roo is also.
@Winchikn , if you decide to try (entirely up to you and I understand why you might not) I think I would go in at the back/bottom of the swelling, away from the eye. As long as you get that infection out of the cavity, it doesn't necessarily have to be at the spot below the eye. Then you would not be so near the eye, and easier to work on. If you decide to euthanize, no one will question your decision.
https://www.americanfarriers.com/ar...-mess-that-works-when-treating-wound-injuries

 

[Winchikn]

Thank you for the counselling, compassion and support, on every level.

We attempted an initial surgery before taking her to the vet the first time and I don't think we can try it again. My husband is an experienced wildlife biologist, trained in handling animals, but even he felt out of his league and like we shouldn't be doing surgery of the kind we were attempting without anesthetic - and the location of the infection so close to her eye makes immobilizing her head difficult and any slips potentially catastrophic.

I fear we are left with the decision of when to cull and I am having trouble finding the ethical path through that choice. I want to do the right thing and know she must be in pain. Do we wait any longer given she is still acting like a chicken and eating and drinking and roaming around with her buddies? Do we wait for it to ulcerate and become even more painful? I know this is an extremely personal decision - I just hoped that she would give us a clear sign at some point and that hasn't happened yet...

 

[Winchikn]

Again - thank you all. The pine tar sounds like a good alternative.

We have chlorhexidine on hand and the only antibiotic we have is called Oxysol 62.5 (Oxytetracycline hydrochoride soluble powder). I think this is different from Tylan and I'm not sure I'll be able to buy Tylan from our vet here but we can ask.

I will update as to what we decide and I do have a few friends here in the Slocan Valley with far more chicken-keeping experience that I may be able to call on for help if we decide to attempt the surgery.

 

[Winchikn]

Quick update that I talked to our local vet who is willing and interested in working on chickens, but still fairly new to them. She did our hen's first surgery. I chatted through the ethical angles of 1) leaving this hen's infection to progress, 2) euthanizing when she didn't seem ready, and 3) doing a home-surgery.

Long and the short is that the vet has agreed to do another surgery. She doesn't think the odds are good of getting everything based on what she saw first time around, but she said she can debulk the infection and thereby buy some more time. I discussed pine tar with her and she is concerned about tissue and eye damage, given how location of the infection. Her recommendation is to try unpasteurized honey, which should have the same anti-bacterial and drawing properties.

Curious if anyone has any experiences with honey and chicken infections as I haven't seen it mentioned much on the site although I know it is coming to be more widely accepted and used by vets. Also wondering if anyone has advice on how open to leave the surgery site if we're wanting to draw infection out. She stitched it shut first time and second time we were left with a hole to flush with antibiotics and saline - which did not go well.

Surgery is schedule for this coming Thursday...

 

[Winchikn]

I can’t tell you the sleep I’ve lost and the tears I’ve shed over this hen. Any advice is most welcome and I will do whatever is within my abilities...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Was the vet able to tell what's causing that? Cancer or ?

 

[azygous]

You have all my sympathy and understanding, having just gone through a similar ordeal with a young pullet with an injured leg that I euthanized just two days ago. The emotional toll is heavy. How is she behaving? Some chickens deal with pain more easily than others. If she's perky and not lethargic, she's dealing with her pain.

However, I can assure you it hurts. And it hurts a lot worse than another surgery would. As @coach723 says, the wound needs opening again and cleaning out. I would add that you have two ethical options at this point- euthanasia or surgery.

If you choose euthanasia to spare her and you further agony, that would be a valid decision, having already done so much and still she isn't cured.