Joined to find advice/tips on getting a necklace out of my chickens insides :(

[Nomadicus]

Please keep us up to date on her condition. We care along beside you.

 

[Galaxy_rules]

My chicken currently has a necklace with a long chain attached. Wondering if anyone could help with advice or tips and suggestions. Vet said the necklace was near her intestines. Any recommendations?

Welcome to BYC Jennifer

 

[Luv Ducks]

What kind of laxative was it? I may look into it but I don’t wanna give her it without knowing. Glad to know your cat was able to pass it. Our furry friends are sometimes hard to understand

It was from the vet and it was just for cats. His price was $500.00 for surgery, we are talking back in 1977! That was a ton of money for a cat surgery and he knew I had a very sick child I was taking care of. When I asked him what he would do if he didn't have the money he suggested the laxative. I got up all through the night even for every two hours to give it to it but it did live. What did the Vet suggest? I was surprised he did not offer surgery.

 

[Jennifer010605]

Yes. This is quite a dilemma.
I see two big issues one is the toxicity of the metal - depends what the necklace was made of - if gold or silver not a big worry. If zinc a bigger worry. The second is that a long necklace passing through the gut will tangle the intestines and probably cause necrosis of the gut. Third I guess is if there are any sharp parts that could perforate the gut.

I hate to be a downer, but there are more ways this will end badly than ways it will end well.

Grinding in the gizzard if it broke up the necklace would reduce the chances of the tangling issue in the intestines but increase the risk of metal poisoning.

I have no idea but my guess is that the metal poisoning is the lesser issue (you could give chelation pills starting now just in case).

The theory of the porridge is that it will bundle the necklace up in a big glob of sticky stuff and aid its passage down and out. Of course that might not work with how the gizzard operates.

What is chelation and how does it work? When we took her to the vet they gave us two medicines for her I feel like giving her more of what I don’t know of is risky.

 

[RoyalChick]

What is chelation and how does it work? When we took her to the vet they gave us two medicines for her I feel like giving her more of what I don’t know of is risky.

What did they give you?

 

[Jennifer010605]

It was from the vet and it was just for cats. His price was $500.00 for surgery, we are talking back in 1977! That was a ton of money for a cat surgery and he knew I had a very sick child I was taking care of. When I asked him what he would do if he didn't have the money he suggested the laxative. I got up all through the night even for every two hours to give it to it but it did live. What did the Vet suggest? I was surprised he did not offer surgery.

They offered surgery for us but it’s 100% risky and she wouldn’t make it. For us it was $600 with the X-ray and medicine and draining. My mom got a laxative for the chicken I’ll see it it works but she ate a necklace that’s the thing. What did your cat eat again?

 

[Jennifer010605]

What did they give you?

They gave us a pill a very tiny pill in half we have to cut and some pink medicine I could give you both of the names for them. She said it helps with pooping and bringing down her fluid they had to drain yesterday

 

[Jennifer010605]

Please keep us up to date on her condition. We care along beside you.

She isn’t eating as much as before I’m trying to find out what could we give her to help bring out the necklace or at least digest and break it down to poop it out. I’m curious if we could put our hands in her butt to pull it out but I’m not sure

 

[TwoCrows]

She isn’t eating as much as before I’m trying to find out what could we give her to help bring out the necklace or at least digest and break it down to poop it out. I’m curious if we could put our hands in her butt to pull it out but I’m not sure

Chickens intestines are pretty long and unless its starting to come out, you won't be able to get at it. However, a chickens intestines are several feet long. If you do start to see it coming out, you might cut off the pieces as they show so others don't bother her. I don't recommend pulling on it as it could tear part of her tract if it gets caught on something internally. If this is a necklace you don't want to cut, cage her until it comes out. Hopefully it does.

 

[FunClucks]

She isn’t eating as much as before I’m trying to find out what could we give her to help bring out the necklace or at least digest and break it down to poop it out. I’m curious if we could put our hands in her butt to pull it out but I’m not sure

I wouldn't pull it out unless it's already coming out on its own. Even then, I'd let her do as much as she can first. Chicken intestines are all tangled up inside, and have deadends and stuff. There's yards of intestine that necklace will have to make it through. I'd get educated on chicken internal organs if you're even considering it.

The Meat Bird Forum might be a good place to look if you don't mind graphic pictures of the insides of chickens. It's quite educational to see what the insides actually look like and where everything is, but might be traumatic if you see chickens firmly as pets and don't like to think about eating them.