Multiple hens with diarrhea

[Eggcessive]

What did the vet do for her problem? What meds is she on? Glad that you could get a diagnosis.

 

[uisceros]

What did the vet do for her problem? What meds is she on? Glad that you could get a diagnosis.

They gave her an x-ray to make sure there wasn't a blockage or an egg. Luckily nothing showed up. They also gave her subcutaneous fluids, and took blood to check her levels (as of now she's only showing elevated kidney levels due to dehydration, and a messed up glucose level due to stress).

They gave her a laxative (lactulose), an antibiotic (sulfatrim), and an anti-inflammatory (meloxicam). She's also on a highly digestible food (emeraid), but doesn't really seem interested in eating yet.

Still constipated as of now, but I'm hoping she can get it out soon!

 

[Eggcessive]

Hopefully, she will start passing droppings and eat. Have you considered using the chilled coconut oil?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm glad you were able to see the vet. I hope she improves.

 

[uisceros]

Hopefully, she will start passing droppings and eat. Have you considered using the chilled coconut oil?

I'm glad you were able to see the vet. I hope she improves.

Good news! She’s actually starting to pass droppings now! I gave her a long warm bath which really seemed to help. It took about 30 minutes, but everything seemed to soften and she was finally able to pass the first solid poop she’s had in nearly a week! She’s gone again a few more times, each time more being relieved.

I’m going to try another bath in the morning to make sure everything passes, but I’m so glad everything is working.

Thanks for all the advice and moral support everyone! I’m a softhearted animal lover, so seeing poor Lily in so much pain was heartbreaking.

(I actually tried feeding her olive oil, as I didn’t have any coconut oil on hand - I’ll definitely get some in case this happens again)

 

[Eggcessive]

Olive oil works too, but it is best for her to take it on her own, or mix in egg or feed, so she doesn’t choke or aspirate the oil. The good thing about coconut oil is that when chilled slightly, it can be cut into pieces, and she would peck them on her own.

 

[ChknMama50]

They gave her an x-ray to make sure there wasn't a blockage or an egg. Luckily nothing showed up. They also gave her subcutaneous fluids, and took blood to check her levels (as of now she's only showing elevated kidney levels due to dehydration, and a messed up glucose level due to stress).

They gave her a laxative (lactulose), an antibiotic (sulfatrim), and an anti-inflammatory (meloxicam). She's also on a highly digestible food (emeraid), but doesn't really seem interested in eating yet.

Still constipated as of now, but I'm hoping she can get it out soon!

Just very interested in your whole story- thanks for the update at the end- I get so frustrated not getting to find out what happened/what the answer was, etc.... ;-)

Find it interesting that many of the vets I read about here seem to do some of the same things that they did for some of my kitties that were sickly in the past. Had a male kitty who was plagued by chronic constipation... and they always wanted to use Lactulose....and the SQ fluids- which we also did- can't pull water into the bowel to help if there's none "on board"... dehydration is often a major contributing factor in constipation as I'm sure you know... so makes sense!

I'm curious about two things though- 1.) for my own info- did she tolerate the Meloxicam? I tried that for a chicken I suspect has been dealing with EYP but she lost her appetite and another user warned me it could def be from that!

And 2.) What are the antibiotics for?? to start off with the ones you were giving- esp as they had diarrhea- I feel clueless as to why that would help and want to learn... and then by the vet- did they do any manual manipulation of her vent that they felt she needed coverage for prophylactically or did she give you a reason for putting her on that??

Just really trying to absorb all the info I can!!
SO glad you had a happy outcome!!

Thanks!! ps- love the name- have my own Lily!!

 

[uisceros]

Just very interested in your whole story- thanks for the update at the end- I get so frustrated not getting to find out what happened/what the answer was, etc.... ;-)

Find it interesting that many of the vets I read about here seem to do some of the same things that they did for some of my kitties that were sickly in the past. Had a male kitty who was plagued by chronic constipation... and they always wanted to use Lactulose....and the SQ fluids- which we also did- can't pull water into the bowel to help if there's none "on board"... dehydration is often a major contributing factor in constipation as I'm sure you know... so makes sense!

I'm curious about two things though- 1.) for my own info- did she tolerate the Meloxicam? I tried that for a chicken I suspect has been dealing with EYP but she lost her appetite and another user warned me it could def be from that!

And 2.) What are the antibiotics for?? to start off with the ones you were giving- esp as they had diarrhea- I feel clueless as to why that would help and want to learn... and then by the vet- did they do any manual manipulation of her vent that they felt she needed coverage for prophylactically or did she give you a reason for putting her on that??

Just really trying to absorb all the info I can!!
SO glad you had a happy outcome!!

Thanks!! ps- love the name- have my own Lily!!

Sorry for the late response!

I'm honestly very confused by the whole thing as well. I ended up losing this chicken (Lily), and three others. I only have a moderately good idea of what happened to one of them (my rooster probably died of Mareks), but the others are a mystery. For Lily it was odd, because her constipation got better but then she suddenly faded randomly.

Yes, she tolerated the Meloxicam well. My rooster had been prescribed it as well, and they both seemed to do decently well on it. Until they died... Lily lost a lot of her appetite overall, but my rooster was still eating a bunch until the end.

If I remember correctly, I believe the antibiotics were a just-in-case thing. This was specifically for Lily who was constipated. They did manually check and take x-rays. The vet did not see any eggs or a solid blockage. Just lots of droppings.

I understand wanting as much info as possible! I've had my girls for about a year, and I feel so lost sometimes. Most vets won't see chickens, and I just want to do as much as I can.

 

[ChknMama50]

OH my goodness- I'm SO, so sorry for your loss- and such a loss!! 3 of them?! I'm sorry to bring it up for you but if you are like me- it's not out of sight out of mind by any means!
We lost our "Puffy" in Feb. rather suddenly ourselves and really have no idea why- though I suspect she had reproductive disorders- like of the cancer kind or something really bad as she never did lay eggs- or if she did they were RARE but I've seen the odd one we thought may have been hers a time or two since so I'm thinking it may have been my Lily's all along- just a bit of oddballs for her but anyway- off topic ;-) We were just happy to have her around as long as we did- she would have been 3 later this month....

Yeah- yours is a bit of a head scratcher to me.... I did have to start one of mine on antibiotics and she did have diarrhea but that's not why I did- it was b/c it was yellow and she had several other symptoms that pointed to EYP... so that was her best hope... Somehow (thank you Jesus!) she is holding her own and has been doing great the past couple weeks now... no one really seemed to agree with my chosen med but I had access to it and honestly it worked- or at least didn't hurt ;-) haha
But seriously- the response and improvement was literally night and day within like 24hrs of the first dose....

Gave up on the Meloxicam with her at least.... she just lost all interest in food but took some time to gradually sneak in the Turmeric "golden paste" that was suggested as a more natural form of inflammation relief... good for all of them really due to various issues, so she's just getting whatever she eats of their fermented feed I mix it into- not ideal but she's doing pretty good... I am watching her closely though as I know it can be a chronic issue...
Best of luck in your quest for knowledge too... and again, I'm sorry for what you went thru!
Thank you so much for taking the time to write back!!