Just can't figure her out...crop issues?

[tlouiselle]

I posted yesterday about a pullet that had just been treated with coccidosis. She was doing wonderful, then a day and a half started to go downhill again. I have had her seperated from the clock for a while because I treated her, left town and someone else too kcare of her for me, then when I came back she was worse than before so I retreated her. She was doing great until 2 days after her treatment ended.

She was back to being lethargic and weak. Droopy head. Droopy wings.

This morning I went to check on her and discovered her crop was very doughy. So I started researching on the internet. I ended up giving her warm water/olive oil with a syringe, I massaged it, then helped her throw it up...I did this twice. She perked right up. I read the give soft food so she ate scrambled eggs. She was talking.

Now once again she is standing there with her head droopy.

Even she she does well and she is active her head is slightly droopy. Any ideas?

 

[pattyhen]

She is a beautiful silky. Do you give her grit with her food? I would try yogart and applesauce for a couple of days. Electrolites would help her too. You can get the packages of electrolites at a feed store their only about 3.00. Good luck I hope she gets better soon.

 

[casportpony]

What does her poop look like? Has she ever been de-wormed with Safeguard or Valbazen?

-Kathy

 

[tlouiselle]

She does have grit in her food. Good news and bad news though. The good news is she is digesting (YAY). The bad news is I think she is having issues with drinking to digest because this is looking like wry neck. I am running to get her vitamin E and selenuim. I hate guessing what is wrong. Then it is all trial anderror. At least I have something to work with though!

 

[pattyhen]

I hope the vitamin e helps her. I think your right about your dianosis I never thought of that. Let us know how she does. Good luck

 

[tlouiselle]

She is doing AMAZING! (I needed some good news because we have been fighting so many health issues lately due to our unsanitary neighbors). I was honestly scared to check on her this morning. I half expected her to have not made it through the night with how she was yesterday. She was up, talking, running around. Goodness is the hyper. I had to transfer to a larger playpen because she was knocking everything over in her hospital cage. She did have slightly red in her poo but that could be the food. I started her on something for cocci just in case. She had gotten over it a little while ago, I treated her but left her in a playpen while I went out of town and a friend watched her, and it had come back while I was gone...she had to be re treated.

I have her on vitamin E, selenium (all in her food which is scrambled eggs and a mash of yogurt/chick crumbles). She is doing great eating on her own at the moment and has been PIGGING out all day. She is on her feet, alert, and will NOT sit still. A huge change from yesterday. Yesterday she didn't have much interest in eating, slept all day. If she was up she just stood around. I keep feeling her crop and it is digesting...I have not seen her drink water so I am giving her water with a syringe just to be on the safe side.

 

[casportpony]

Glad she's better! You've probably already seen this, but here is is just in case you haven't

. Brain injury is the cause I feel fairly certain about.

Water on the brain was seen in a necropsy of an affected bird in Florida. Prednisone (read on about different opinions on prednisone) was suggested as symptomatic relief and vitamin E and vitamins B complex are both good for neurological disorders. Selenium helps animals absorb vitamin E.

Here's what I do for affected birds. If started before symptoms get severe, the bird will usually totally recover.

The Most Important Treatment

It is important to be sure your bird gets enough to eat and drink while she has this problem. Birds with severe cases of crookneck can't eat and drink enough to survive. You will need to gently place their head in the feed dish and carefully dip just the tip of the beak in water. Be careful not to dip too far into the water and to not stress the bird while trying to help.

In severe cases, you will need to use a hand feeding syringe and hand rearing formula for cage birds. My boy Spot had to be hand fed for 2 months but he survived to father lots of healthy chicks.

If you and your bird are lucky, hand feeding and the vitamins will be all that is needed.

Giving Prednisone Must Not Be Abruptly Stopped

Before I present my treatment I need to mention that a couple vets have expressed concern about using prednisone. They suggested instead giving Celebrex or Metacam. They are also anti-inflammatory. I can understand their concern but I gradually reduce the dose and do not just one day stop giving prednisone. I have seen no adverse effects and prednisone is inexpensive while Celebrex and Metacam are expensive.

Many vets think prednisone OK and in fact is was prescribed for a bird of mine.

Veterinary Information on Prednisone

My Treatment for Crookneck

If started before symptoms get severe, the bird will totally recover. The following is for an adult about 2 pound bird. Scale back for smaller birds. Do not over do the selenium; it is toxic in large amounts. Animals are more tolerant of vitamin E especially and of vitamin B.

• For the first week I give
  • Once a day
    • About 1/4 piece of human vitamin B complex pill or a squirt of human B liquid vitamins
    • :25 micrograms selenium
  • Twice a day
    • 2.5 mg of prednisone
    • 400 IU of vitamin E
• For the second week I give
  • Once a day
    • 2.5 mg of prednisone
    • 400 IU of vitamin E
    • About 1/4 piece of human vitamin B complex pill or a squirt of human B liquid vitamins
  • Every other day
    • :25 micrograms selenium
• For the third and following weeks I give
  • Once a day
    • 2.5 mg of prednisone - less and less each day - none after third week
    • 400 IU of vitamin E
    • A piece of human vitamin B complex pill or a squirt of human liquid vitamins
  • Once a week
    • :25 micrograms selenium

Do not abruptly stop prednisone, the swelling rebounds. Decrease the dose gradually. Recovery can be slow; continue the vitamin E for several weeks at least.

You can get prednisone from a vet; just describe the problem of swelling in the brain probably due to injury. Yes Silkies' brains do stick out through a hole on the top of the skull. Print the pictures at Silkies Have a Hole in Their Head and show them to your vet.

Your vet might suggest a different anti inflammatory like Celebrex or Metacam.

You can get the vitamin E, selenium, and vitamin B complex or liquid vitamins at any pharmacy.

A Vet's Review of this Therapy

Diana Hedrick asked Janny Hermans, a poultry specialist in the Netherlands, to review this Therapy. Janny Hermans' reply is below. Janny Hermans warns about over doing the prednisone and agrees the vitamins E and B can also help. She does however address the possibility of poisoning causing the neurological problems. She suggests an antibiotic in case bacteria are the source of the poison.

Dear Diana,

I'll try to write English and I'm sure we'll understand each other. If you really found her on her back, that means she totally lost her balance. This is a severe neurological symptom and therefore I agree for a great deal with the article of Alan. I don't think your cat attacked her. Then you should see wounds on her head, if the symptoms are so bad.

It's more likely that she suffers from an intoxication of any kind. It's difficult how to react, because there are no real detoxification methods. Antibiotics are a good thing and I think your choice of amoxicillin was a right one. Amoxicillin passes the blood brain barrier and is our first choice antibiotic in Streptococcus or Staphylococcus infections in the brain. Amoxicillin also is the best antibiotic in an infection with Clostridium perfringens (a brother of the bacteria that causes botulism). These Clostridia bacteria all cause cramps or paralysis of muscles. The real problem is that these bacteria also produce toxins against which no therapy is possible.

So my therapy would be the same: Amoxicillin for a day or 7 and perhaps a little bit prednisone (I've never heard of the hole in Silkies brains, but prednisone causes no harm if you give it shortly). A little bit of vitamin E and B can help also.

I hope I helped you a bit!!

Janny Hermans Poultry veterinarian

-Kathy

 

[tlouiselle]

THANK YOU! I am saving this!!!! She is my favorite out of these babies too <3

 

[pattyhen]

I'm so glad she is better, thanks to your excellant care and research..