Need tips on how to manage hydration with peritoneal fluid draining.

[mama23]

I've got a production red who is 8 years old. I'm shocked to see this breed at her age, but she has been a fantastic hen. She started looking wide in the hips about six weeks ago. No fluid at that time. Started a week ago with fluid. Seemed to come on overnight. The last two times I had a similar condition in production reds, I did a slow drain on them (inserted small 22 gauge needle, then pulled out and let it drip), I faced awful dehydration. Even though it was a slow drain they still lost so much fluid and both ended up primarily passing from severe dehydration. I have lactated ringers here and can give fluids under the skin, but even that didn't help last time. I think I'm going to make the two hour trip to the avian vet this week and let her show me what to do. But if there is any advice from anyone here, I'd really appreciate it. So far I have held off doing anything but the fluid is making her miserable. She has stopped eating as well this week. I suspect ovarian cancer. She doesn't fit symptoms for internal laying. Thanks for any help or advice.

 

[LaFleche]

I would drain only a little at first and supplement her with potassium and magnesium even before and while draining as draini g too much can cause potassium deficiency causing heart failure.

 

[mama23]

I would drain only a little at first and supplement her with potassium and magnesium even before and while draining as draini g too much can cause potassium deficiency causing heart failure.

There's no way to stop the leak. I used a tiny 25 gauge needle on her and when i took it out, she's leaking like crazy. She's going to dehydrate. I tubed her some fluids but she kept fighting me so I gave up. I need to plug this hole. Cornstarch doesn't work (not blood of course). I can't think of anything to plug this hole from the needle.

Updating in case this helps anyone going through this in the future: I used paper tape over the hole. Wiped the fluid and placed the paper tape real fast. So far so good. Hoping it'll stay on while her skin seals over.