Lethargic Hen - Running Out of Ideas

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I apologize for the very late reply; it's been difficult to write this. After my last update, things started slowly going downhill with Henrietta's condition. She stopped taking any food from the method we developed (sort of a hand feeding) and she just layed on the ground all day not moving. Knowing she was near her end, we offered her all her favorite treats. Initially she scarfed them down, and the next day her crop was back to being impacted, but eventually she stopped eating her treats even. During that time she had an abundance of food pellets, mash, crumbles, grit, and water available in our home chicken ICU. She continued to lose weight and that weird breathing sound never went away. We went to another vet in town who sees exotics and ran a fecal. He said he saw maybe 1 roundworm egg but I'm not sure if I really trusted his evaluation (2 seperate fecal test showed nothing at the other vet, this last vet wasnt very professional and we got very poor care / service). We did one last ditch effort and tried Ivermectin to treat in case she had worms that became resistant to the other treatments we did. With no improvement, we made the tough call which was the first time I've had to do that with a pet. It's been really difficult without her. When she was a chick, I was able to get her out of her weird sickness and now I feel like a failure that I couldnt help her out of this. I did everything I could but I feel like I still fell short. I wish I knew more and could have helped her more. She was so special and I miss her terribly and all the little things that made her great. My greif feels completely irrational at times but I'm comforted in knowing the community here has probably felt the same way at some point.
 
NatalieP said:
@azygous Carol, I'm so sorry to hear that. Is that the gray one who you were treating with Valtrex? Been away from here for a bit now but was following so I can learn.

And thank you guys ❤
Click to expand...
Yes, she's no better, and I'm only waiting for the Marek's test kit to arrive, then I may euthanize her after I get the results back if it's positive. If it's negative, I will then need to have a necropsy done. So, May is on borrowed time.
 
I am so sorry about Heni, and don't worry about your grief not being rational, it is an echo of your ability to love, which is boundless and beautiful. Yes, your grief if known to us here. The best you can do is what pidgejr said, remember all the good, all the love and all the fun. You gave her the very best life anyone ever had. She knew love and tenderness each day of her life, how is that not wonderful? She had food in abundance all her days, never knew scarcity. A short life, but a charmed one. All thanks to the best chicken-mom ever. We are witness to your efforts, your heart and your success in caring. There is only success and love in your care for her. Lots of both.

*hugs*
 

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