- May 29, 2019
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Two days ago, I was sure my 6 y/o BO was dying. She was having almost seizure-like convulsions, wings down and acting drunk (terrible balance), almost like an extreme bout of involuntary crop adjustments. She then started expelling large amounts of non-smelly fluid, including chunks of watermelon (she'd gouged herself on watermelon a couple days prior), seeds, and whole bugs. This caused her to aspirate, and her breathing became incredibly labored and raspy, as though her lungs were thick with fluid. Her crop was huge and boggy. She continued to have convulsions, let out a bunch of fluid, and aspirate periodically. She could not/would not lay down because it seemed to cause her to vomit and also impaired her breathing further.
Over the course of the day, she deteriorated. Her comb went blue and she would cry out/gasp for breathe. I was certain she would die any moment (see video). Oddly, she was pooping pretty normal looking poops this whole time, though with a few undigested chunks of bugs in it.
I stayed up with her almost all night, thinking she'd pass soon, but eventually went to bed. The next morning, she was sleeping quietly--finally laying down as though collapsed with exhaustion--with much improved breathing (little to no open mouth). Her crop was much smaller. When I roused her with a little mash, she eagerly ate, but could barely stand due to exhaustion (from the day prior). She spent much of the day sleeping but would eat and her poops became completely normal looking.
The next day through today, she is back to walking (with minor balance issues), and will lunge towards food, eat well, drink, and poop well--plenty and firm. Her crop seems to be emptying okay. No breatjong issues whatsoever. However, she occasionally still has those minor crop adjustment convulsions and will leak a stream of odorless fluid out of her mouth, even though there's not much in her crop (I've been rationing her food to make sure everything clears fine). I'd like to put her out with the others, but I'm worried about the persistent vomiting and I worry gorging herself could be possible if not supervised.
Important background on her health:
- She hasn't layed since April
- Vet suspects reproductive tumor due to an abdominal mass that feels more fleshy than hard or watery (this was back in March). However, over the summer I do think she may have some fluid building in her abdomen, too.
- Her abdomen feels more water-filled over the past month, but not as big as it did when she had thr episode a few days ago. Her breathing was only labored during said episode.
- Beyond the episode, she has been eating well, though leading up to it I noticed her poops getting much smaller and harder. But after the episode, her poops are big and healthy looking again.
- As her abdomen grew this summer, her balance has deteriorated, though she still gets around great--will jump on a hen to defend herself, run, jump for treats and push everyone out of the way, etc. She just stumbles or falls over occasionally if doing anything crazy (her right wing/leg seems to be thr unstable side and I think i feel a bit more swelling on that side). She will stand on roost bars in the run, but sleeps in a nesting box.
- the last couple times she's had access to frozen watermelon, she ends up eith an enlarged crop/crop issues. A month ago, she was treated for a stubborn sour crop issue. I think she gorges herself beyond what her system can process and that becomes a tipping point.
Any thoughts on what could be going on or how I can support her is much appreciated. I know if she does have a tumor, it'll eventually take her, but for now, she has such a zeal for life and still loves doing all the things chickens love to do--so I want to support that best I can. Since her crop is emptying okay, is it possible she has an impacted gizzard slowing things up? Is there anything I can give her that will safely help?
(Figuring out how to link video)
Video of her during her aspiration episode:
Over the course of the day, she deteriorated. Her comb went blue and she would cry out/gasp for breathe. I was certain she would die any moment (see video). Oddly, she was pooping pretty normal looking poops this whole time, though with a few undigested chunks of bugs in it.
I stayed up with her almost all night, thinking she'd pass soon, but eventually went to bed. The next morning, she was sleeping quietly--finally laying down as though collapsed with exhaustion--with much improved breathing (little to no open mouth). Her crop was much smaller. When I roused her with a little mash, she eagerly ate, but could barely stand due to exhaustion (from the day prior). She spent much of the day sleeping but would eat and her poops became completely normal looking.
The next day through today, she is back to walking (with minor balance issues), and will lunge towards food, eat well, drink, and poop well--plenty and firm. Her crop seems to be emptying okay. No breatjong issues whatsoever. However, she occasionally still has those minor crop adjustment convulsions and will leak a stream of odorless fluid out of her mouth, even though there's not much in her crop (I've been rationing her food to make sure everything clears fine). I'd like to put her out with the others, but I'm worried about the persistent vomiting and I worry gorging herself could be possible if not supervised.
Important background on her health:
- She hasn't layed since April
- Vet suspects reproductive tumor due to an abdominal mass that feels more fleshy than hard or watery (this was back in March). However, over the summer I do think she may have some fluid building in her abdomen, too.
- Her abdomen feels more water-filled over the past month, but not as big as it did when she had thr episode a few days ago. Her breathing was only labored during said episode.
- Beyond the episode, she has been eating well, though leading up to it I noticed her poops getting much smaller and harder. But after the episode, her poops are big and healthy looking again.
- As her abdomen grew this summer, her balance has deteriorated, though she still gets around great--will jump on a hen to defend herself, run, jump for treats and push everyone out of the way, etc. She just stumbles or falls over occasionally if doing anything crazy (her right wing/leg seems to be thr unstable side and I think i feel a bit more swelling on that side). She will stand on roost bars in the run, but sleeps in a nesting box.
- the last couple times she's had access to frozen watermelon, she ends up eith an enlarged crop/crop issues. A month ago, she was treated for a stubborn sour crop issue. I think she gorges herself beyond what her system can process and that becomes a tipping point.
Any thoughts on what could be going on or how I can support her is much appreciated. I know if she does have a tumor, it'll eventually take her, but for now, she has such a zeal for life and still loves doing all the things chickens love to do--so I want to support that best I can. Since her crop is emptying okay, is it possible she has an impacted gizzard slowing things up? Is there anything I can give her that will safely help?
(Figuring out how to link video)
Video of her during her aspiration episode:
