Cassondra53
Chirping
- Sep 29, 2020
- 49
- 66
- 89
Hello all!
I’m posting this with the hope that it may help someone else who has a hen going through something similar:
For 2-3 weeks Binx has been slowly showing symptoms that something wasn’t right: she stopped laying eggs, she started having slightly labored breathing, she had diarrhea that wasn’t going away, and her abdomen started getting big and firm.
I assumed the worst - I assumed ascites, which I know is often a death sentence. My friend recommended that I check with a needle and see if I could draw fluid from her abdomen. With an 18 gauge needle and lots of research on how/where to do the poke, I found that about 100 mL of dark yellow/brown fluid came dripping out (see pics).
I was devastated. Before all of this, I called my vet - their next appointment opening was 5 days away. I had to do something for her because I was scared she wouldn’t make it. So I did the draining procedure.
Today was her vet appointment. I was so stressed I was almost sick to my stomach. Finally, the vet called - it was an infection associated with her liver and strong antibiotics will likely save her life!!!
I read SO much about ascites, swollen abdomens, etc. I had assumed there was no hope for my sweetheart. But I am SO relieved. To anyone who has a chicken that is going through these symptoms, there MAY be something curable causing the symptoms - don’t give up hope!
Antibiotic treatment started today. I’m not giving up hope!!!
I’m posting this with the hope that it may help someone else who has a hen going through something similar:
For 2-3 weeks Binx has been slowly showing symptoms that something wasn’t right: she stopped laying eggs, she started having slightly labored breathing, she had diarrhea that wasn’t going away, and her abdomen started getting big and firm.
I assumed the worst - I assumed ascites, which I know is often a death sentence. My friend recommended that I check with a needle and see if I could draw fluid from her abdomen. With an 18 gauge needle and lots of research on how/where to do the poke, I found that about 100 mL of dark yellow/brown fluid came dripping out (see pics).
I was devastated. Before all of this, I called my vet - their next appointment opening was 5 days away. I had to do something for her because I was scared she wouldn’t make it. So I did the draining procedure.
Today was her vet appointment. I was so stressed I was almost sick to my stomach. Finally, the vet called - it was an infection associated with her liver and strong antibiotics will likely save her life!!!
I read SO much about ascites, swollen abdomens, etc. I had assumed there was no hope for my sweetheart. But I am SO relieved. To anyone who has a chicken that is going through these symptoms, there MAY be something curable causing the symptoms - don’t give up hope!
Antibiotic treatment started today. I’m not giving up hope!!!
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