Lupron Hormone Injection for Ascites?

[rebrascora]

Hi
Thanks for updating us. Great to hear that your hen is doing so well. I don't know if being on the hormone implant may upset the seasonal cycle and perhaps she will not moult when expected. After all, it will be a hormone change triggered by the pineal gland sensing the shorter days that causes moult I would imagine, so perhaps when the implant runs out, it takes a while for their hormones to return to normal. Did you explain to the vet why you felt that a second implant at this time of year might not be relevant? I don't know how much knowledge of chickens your vet has, so just wondering if they had considered that she would (hopefully) start moulting soon and her egg production naturally stop. I would imagine the manufacturer of the implant is going to recommend constant cover, but I would probably have given her a break from it and perhaps given her a few days of significantly reduced light to see if you could induce a moult straight away. Having made so much progress with her I can understand not wanting to risk having a relapse though. Do her feathers look a bit tatty like she is ready to moult?

 

[ClareScifi]

No, her feathers are perfect. She went through a mini-molt in the summer, about 2 weeks after the first implant.

 

[ClareScifi]

Interestingly, with this implant the feathers grow back in a different color. They are a richer, deeper red now, and soooo very soft, much softer than before.

 

[ClareScifi]

My vet IS a specialist in avian veterinary medicine, but I forgot to tell him I don't use artificial light in the winter. He may have assumed I do. I did tell him last time that I thought she wouldn't need a second implant with the winter coming on, but he said that hens can and do often ovulate, even in the winter, so perhaps that is why he recommended a second one.

 

[rebrascora]

Maybe that is why she needs the implant then. It could be that the implant changes the seasonal cycle and caused an early moult and as a result she would start to ovulate again despite the shortening days because her body has already had a "rest and rejuvenation" period.

 

[ClareScifi]

Oh, I bet you HAVE figured it out, Rebrascora! Thanks for the info. Yep, I'll bet that is IT! I feel better now...

 

[rebrascora]

It is lovely to read that her feathers have come back in such good condition. I know you will have spent a lot of money on her for this treatment and it must be a great reward to see not only her health issue improved but also her looking so well. I'm so pleased for you.

 

[ClareScifi]

Thank you so much, Rebrascora. Henny-Honey IS a true delight!

 

[ClareScifi]

Update on my hen: Recently I noticed she was looking larger than usual, and when I picked her up, I felt the water balloon effect. So I took her to the vet yesterday. Her last Lupron hormone implant had been on September 21. The first one had lasted 4 months, so I assumed the second one would, too, especially with it being winter. But, no, she had significant fluid build-up. The first two times I took her for implants the vet didn't drain her, but yesterday he did, and he gave her her third implant. She seemed fine yesterday, after the implant, but today she's acting rather lethargic, and I'm a bit worried. I read it can take the implant 24-48 hours to kick in, and that they sometimes fall out. I hope she's better tomorrow. She did eat 10 meal worms today and went out with the other girls for a while to walk around, but she is sitting hunched, and I've seen her tail move up and down a little bit. Please say a prayer for my Henny-Honey. She didn't do these things after the first two implants.

 

[rebrascora]

Sorry to hear she has slipped back and needed the implant sooner. Normally they have almost immediate relief after they have been drained, so I can understand your concern if she is looking less good. Will be keeping my fingers crossed for you and her. I have one suffering from this at the moment but unfortunately my funds don't run to veterinary treatment, so I'm trying to psych myself up to euthanize her. She is still up roosting with the others most nights but occasionally she sleeps in a nest box on the ground. She is able to waddle about and is still eating but I know she is living on borrowed time.