My cockerel is getting worse--- Help please

[azygous]

Worming is the last thing I'd do right now. If he does have worms, it's coincidental to what is causing the swelling on his head, unless he has eye worms, but you'd probably see those poking out of the corner of his eye. (Don't even go there, and stay away from videos on the subject, trust me on this.)

Any broad spectrum antibiotic should work on most bacteria unless the bacteria is resistant like staph is becoming these days.

What antibiotic is it you have?

 

[azygous]

Let him just lie down. If you need to feed and water him, then rig up a sling for him if it makes it easier.

I'm afraid your little cockerel is dying. I know you realize this on some level, too. At this point, I would gather my courage and stop the suffering.

I would urge you to locate an agricultural lab. They can humanely euthanize him and then do the necropsy. Or you could euthanize him and refrigerate his body until you can locate a lab.

He has all the symptoms of the virus that I have in my flock - Lymphotic leucosis. It can manifest in these swellings and lumps around the face and eyes, causing a "blood blister" lump just as you are seeing. It can also make a bird go lame. There is no way to diagnose it from out here, though. Only a lab can do it by examining tissue and looking at his organs. But if you have this virus in your flock, you need to know.

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x

 

[mustangrooster]

I'm thinking about taking him to the vet, where they can check him out and either provide something for him....or....put him to rest. Its hard to think about, but I know it needs to be done if hes in extreme amounts of pain. Though, I'm not sure how realistic it is to drive him into town to see the vets which is one hour away. He's still alive, drinking honey and water/antibotic water, and eating garlic and scrambled eggs with manuka honey. I put him into a sling last night whilst he ate and drank, which he liked, and then I got him out of it so he could sleep.

He seems to be panting alot, although its raining heavily. I wish there was something I could do to save him, but I'm preparing to loose the sweet boy.

 

[ChickNanny13]

It's not an easy decisions but one we all must make at some point in our lives when raising animals. IF you do take him to the Vet/euthanize him, you may want a necropsy done to know what the problem was for future reference. So sorry

 

[azygous]

If it's any consolation, though small, I've got a very sick pullet right now that is on her third day of amoxicillin and still is sliding downhill. You get to a point where they seem to be reaching a tipping point and you start to think about making that final decision.

Here's my cut-off: when they are too weak to eat and drink any longer, and they just stand or lie there with their eyes closed, not interested in moving around or food and water. This pullet is normally the most in-your-face high octane curious and sociable chicken of the flock and now she refuses to be held. She can still get onto the roost to sleep, but she hasn't wanted to eat or drink on her own. I've had to hold the water and food under her beak so she will take notice.

I spend everyday on this forum helping other people figure out what's wrong with their chickens, and I'm not able to help my own. Sometimes that's just the way things shake out.

 

[mustangrooster]

Thank you guys for helping me, I really appreciate it. @azygous I'm so sorry about your pullet

The little frizzle is....well....I'm not sure. I was thinking, that if it wasn't for his excessive panting, his pale face, and the fact that he can no longer walk, I wouldn't think that he was unwell; He is eating all his food like a little pig and he is drinking plenty of water. He isn't tucking his head into his body with his eyes shut tight, he's just sitting there with his eyes open and looking around (and panting) if he could walk I'm sure he would be.

I'm sitting on the fence because I feel like he still has some fight left in him. If he was not eating, drinking, and not opening his eyes at all, I would euthanize him, but he's currently not doing that. I'm not sure how much longer he will survive for, but....I guess all I can do is try and help him.

Heres him in his sling last night:



I'm currently going over all the possibilities of how he has gotten this sickness. And, I was thinking. Not too long ago, he found his way into a horse trough and nearly drowned. He was found with his head just resting on the edge of the horse trough, a minute longer he would have drowned. I was thinking that this:



Was from resting his head and putting all his weight on it whilst he tried to stay afloat, he never was 100% well after that happened, which was only a week ago. But I don't see how that would affect his walking etc if the thing on his face was a bruise. Not too sure what to think, because if it was a bruise, thats a pretty weird bruise.

 

[azygous]

Each day it seems you provide more information. Now that you've told us he may have suffered some injuries when he fell into the horse trough, it's possible his woes stem from that accident. It's also possible the accident was merely coincidental to these symptoms appearing and they may have little or nothing to do with the near drowning. But let's go on the assumption his symptoms are from injuries.

It's possible he received some skin abrasions that became infected with staph bacteria, and that has caused the nasty swelling and pus filled lesions. Does that sound plausible? I think so. It would certainly explain the head lesions, but not the lameness. That's where the theory breaks down.

But let's say it's possible he strained or injured his spine in the accident. He may be experiencing pain and inflammation that is causing him not to be able to stand and walk. So that would explain the lameness. Sound plausible?

Since we've hit a brick wall and he isn't responding to treatment, here's what I would try. Switch to a different antibiotic to target staph. You may need to enlist the help of a vet to get one. Then I would start him on vitamin B complex and vitamin E 400iu to try to heal the inflamed nerves in his spine. A tiny bit of selenium will help in the uptake of the vitamin E.

Since he's alert and eating and drinking, it's entirely possible he has injuries and not organic disease issues. It can't hurt anything to give this a try.

 

[mustangrooster]

Sorry, I should have provided that information when I started this thread, I had posted a thread before asking what was on his cheek and mentioned the near-drowning part...that was silly of me to not provide that information here too.

Yes, it does sound plausible and very well likely.

We will try and get into town as soon as possible, and go to the vet and get what is needed. I just hope he hangs on untill a town trip can be made.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Glad you recalled the "accident" ... Don't forget the vitamins.... It may take a while for results but hoping your guy starts recovery. Keep us posted.