MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

I once worked for a Scottish surgeon who had a patient from the local prison who swallowed razor blades and bed springs. By the time he was brought to the hospital it would have been very tricky surgery. The surgeon prescribed porridge. I don’t mean just at meals - the guy had to keep eating porridge until it emerged out the other end.
Apparently it formed clumps around the hardware so protected the lining of the gut while it all moved on down and eventually out.

I'm still reeling from this anecdote RC.

Porridge. Who'd have thunk it.

 

[RoyalChick]

I'm still reeling from this anecdote RC.

Porridge. Who'd have thunk it.

Sticky stuff, porridge!

 

[MaryJanet]

Sticky stuff, porridge!

It's probably not a good idea for Katie whose digestion is already not functioning very well. She's very well blocked up already.

 

[MaryJanet]

I've just been on the phone with Dr Marika and she's going to take bloods again today to gain visibility of Katie's kidney function by measuring her enzymes. But she won't take images today because she doesn't want to anaesthetise Katie again.

Katie's treatments appear to be effective, with her crop emptying well but she continues to poop mostly water so clearly her gut is still inflamed.

But she's not in extreme dehydration any more, the crop feeds, IV and her own drinking have improved her condition. Her attitude is strong with much scolding and fighting for freedom when she's being handled.

Dr Marika also reminded me that Katie's full range of symptoms, including what we know from her earlier bloods, are more aligned to zinc toxicity than lead.

I'll make a decision on soil testing at a later date. I feel like my head's a bit full right now.

 

[MaryJanet]

Oh and the test for whether it's zinc or lead is one of those tests they need to send off a sample for and the samples degrade en route, reducing the reliability of the test. So we're leaning on indications from on-site tests for suggesting zinc instead of lead.

 

[MaryJanet]

I wonder how her weight is going. I'll ask about that later.

 

[RoyalChick]

Oh and the test for whether it's zinc or lead is one of those tests they need to send off a sample for and the samples degrade en route, reducing the reliability of the test. So we're leaning on indications from on-site tests for suggesting zinc instead of lead.

At least here it is easy to get your soil tested for lead and other heavy metals. There are even home tests.

 

[Shadrach]

Brisbane, outer suburbs. No idea of the actual population. My suburb used to be market gardens. Chickens have always been a thing here. I often see/hear chickens when I walk but they still seem to be seen as a disposable commodity. I know nearly as much about chickens as my vet does ~ which is super scary as I'm not that knowledgeable. Just the same, they are excellent with pet owners & when Kirby was hospitalised I was allowed to visit, which I needed even if he didn't.

This is the problem I've found here in Bristol. Some vets will see birds but from what little contact I've had with them, don't seem to know much about chickens.

 

[BY Bob]

Oh and the test for whether it's zinc or lead is one of those tests they need to send off a sample for and the samples degrade en route, reducing the reliability of the test. So we're leaning on indications from on-site tests for suggesting zinc instead of lead.

This is just me but my scientific mind is telling me that it is more likely she ingested something like a galvanized nail than the soil is poisoned with it.

If the soil was poisoned with it, wouldn't they all have that problem? Especially those that have lived there longer?

 

[MaryJanet]

At least here it is easy to get your soil tested for lead and other heavy metals. There are even home tests.

Here too but I'm not sure about DIY test availability.

To be honest, having recently bought a veranda, a sofa, and Katie's hospitalisation and treatments, it's more the cost of remediating the soil that's giving me pause for thought.