Old Hen Waterbelly - post Drain Distress

[casportpony]

Is a vet an option?

 

[Lady Peckerton Spokesman]

Is a vet an option?

It's an option but I promised myself I'd not take her to a vet bc she is very independent and doesnt let me get near her and I know it would stress her out too much. I've taken quite a few of my hens to the vet but the younger more friendly ones.

 

[AinaWGSD]

I'm sorry you and your girl are going through this Unfortunately, as you probably saw in your research, water belly is a symptom of some other internal condition, most often organ failure. Draining the belly will help alleviate symptoms associated with the increased abdominal pressure but it doesn't treat the underlying causes.

I wouldn't take her to the vet either, especially if she doesn't like being handled, because the stress will almost certainly push her over the edge and kill her. If she were mine, I would humanely cull her.

 

[Lady Peckerton Spokesman]

She was walking around the yard yesterday, I just figured all these other hens who have waterbelly get drained and seem to come back to life for a few months at least until they need draining again until the underlying condition eventually takes them. I don't know why this happened with the first ever draining, only 8 mins. I don't know how fluid got into her airsacs. I did everything everything right with he draining. I'm just hoping the fluid in her airsacs will eventually re-absorb, and she keeps shaking her head and fluid comes out so maybe she can reduce it naturally that way to help her be more comfortable.

I'm gunna syringe her some fluids and egg yolks this afternoon, so at least she's not running on empty.

Culling her right now is not an option for me. I think I would like her to go naturally if anything.

 

[Lady Peckerton Spokesman]

I really do appreciate the responses. If she's starts improving enough to free range with the ladies, I will definitely repost and update. Just FYI no news is most likely bad news in Miss Rogue's case ... Thanks for the help!

 

[Lady Peckerton Spokesman]

Evening Update: I let her out of the coop to free range with the ladies and she was very happy about it. She's definitely taking her time but ever since I let her free range her gasping episodes have gone way down. She's currently laying down under a tree. She's trying to peck around as she can. Looks like more outside time is on the script!

 

[Lady Peckerton Spokesman]

Next Day Update: She's surprisingly doing very good this morning! I've only noticed her gasping maybe on 1 occasion all morning and no mouth breathing. She is eating and actively walking around the coop and interacting with everyone. I will definitely be letting them out to free range longer today since she reacted so well to it yesterday.

 

[Lady Peckerton Spokesman]

Day 2 Update: last update, she is basically back to normal. No mouth breathing no episodes. She's very active and back to herself So looked like the draining worked, she just had some distress right afterwards. I think when/if I have to do it again, I'll do it in the morning instead of night to give her a chance to eat and drink right afterwards to make up for the fluid loss.