More Lash Eggs to Pass, She Won't Take Meds

[BirdGuy2018]

Hi all -

Well have a very sick Rhode Island Red. She had a prolapsed egg a couple years ago--which you folks walked me through--and had another two nights ago.

Got the egg removed, but complications. For one, it was my first experience with a lash egg. Finally got into vet who did not appreciate the urgency, it seems. They did x-rays, saw like 4-5 more lash eggs in there.

But this vet is new and inexperienced--plus simply not making herself available for questions...so here I am once again.

For one, little girl too weak to eat or drink. I crushed antibiotic and anti-inflam and gave with dropper last night and this morning. Tried and tried to get ahold of vet last night and this morning and just now called.

Turns out there is a special way to give dropper or it goes in lungs and yes...she has lung congestion this morning. So add aspiration pneumonia to list. Dammit.

So...know not really much hope at this point, but thought would write and see any suggestions people have for: giving droppers, for helping lash eggs pass, etc.
So

 

[Pyxis]

What medication did the vet give you? Is the instructions something like 'give x drops a day' or did they give you measurements so you could draw it up into a syringe? A syringe will be easier to use to get the meds into her. You could use a dropper the same way, but a syringe is easier. Actually, it sounds like they might be pills? If yes, you could crush them and give with a syringe instead of a dropper.

Give the medicine like this. Draw up what you need, then aim the syringe towards the right (her right) of her throat. That's where the esophagus is. Slide the syringe down the throat a little way on that side and then squirt in the medicine. It will go directly into her esophagus and safely avoid her trachea.

Picture for reference:

If these are pills, you might try just forcing the pill down the side of her throat like this, instead of crushing it and trying to syringe it. It should still work and she should still swallow it.

Also, do you have a baseline weight on her? If not, I would get one. You're going to want to watch for if she starts losing a lot of weight, because if she does, you might want to consider tube feeding her until the medicine starts working and she starts feeling better to eat on her own. You can learn about doing that here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-guide-pictures-under-construction.1064392/

Regarding the lash eggs, did the vet say they expect her to pass those on her own?

 

[BirdGuy2018]

Hi Pyxis and thanks. Fortunately the aspiration appeared minor enough for her to get past.

Have been crushing the antibiotic and anti inflam and mixing with a little water, then painting edge of her beak drop by drop to get it down when she lick-swallows. May try using technique you describe to get more water down her. Am only getting a cc every hour or so.

The big issue is the lash eggs. Vet thinks there are 4 other lash eggs that are mummified and need to pass. Thinking will do another thread asking info on what to do with mummified lash eggs.

How big of deal is that surgery to remove?? Guessing big deal. Any other ways to get them to move besides anti-inflam, water, and time? We are at about Day 5 now.