Open mouth breathing - flu? Video *update* - vet dx airsacculitis/pneumonia can we treat with antibiotics?

[Wyorp Rock]

Love it!
I know she's not completely well and you will have to monitor her, but it's good to see her moving about with her friends and "chickening" .
Make me smile

Use your judgment on what your temps are. If you feel she will benefit from being warmer at night inside for a while longer, then bring her in. You have a good handle on reading her.

Thank you for the video, she's lovely, so are her friends. Hoping she continues to improve. Take it day by day.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Bad news but at least it’s news. The vet felt her abdomen was distended and took out a syringe of completely clear liquid. They drained 1.8 pounds of liquid from her after looking at X-rays. So much fluid her lungs were 1/10 of the size they should be at least and everything was pushed out of place. Poor thing - likely heart failure. We go home with her for now with diuretics while a radiologist reads the X-rays and we’ll make her comfortable and likely be back soon for euthanasia. Poor sweet thing. Honestly it feels good to know what’s going on, that it’s not contagious, and you called it from the very beginning! We’ll let you know the final outcome but just wanted to say thank you so much again. Unless anyone has a miracle way to keep chickens alive with heart conditions

Diuretics can make her more comfortable at least. So sorry for you and your sweet girl!

 

[egz]

A quick update for anyone currently or in the future following this thread.

We got the radiologists report back who suspects reproductive cancer over heart failure. The exact phrase is: "The top differential for this degree of coelomic effusion is ovarian neoplasia (most often ovarian adenocarcinoma) and carcinomatosis".

I think this fits...the vet was shocked when she pulled out a syringe of completely clear fluid (see photo) rather than fluid that was milky yellow. The rest of what drained was translucent yellow. I read online that clear fluid in the abdomen can be a sign of reproductive cancer: "Cancerous fluid removed from a chicken’s abdomen is often translucent rather than opaque (either a translucent yellow or completely clear)." It's also sterile so no need to treat with antibiotics. We also got a very funny shaped egg before she got sick and wonder if she's the one who laid it. Her last egg was very small and had a sort of a ridge halfway through. The respiratory and crop issues were certainly secondary.

If anyone is interested, I found this article that long-term consumption (i.e. years) of flaxseed can result in a reduction of ovarian cancer and severity.

As far as how My Favorite One is doing (yes that is her name, in context with the other hens it makes sense - there's The Shy One, The Sick One who is usually sick, and The Other One who is just as loved but has no defining characteristics) she is out and about with the flock living her chicken life, eating, not laying but very happy with life. We are giving her a diuretic every 8-10 hours and checking her to see if she needs to be drained (coelomocentesis). It'll be a sad day when there are only 3 but for now it's a joy getting to watch them enjoy spring!

I'll update again when it's her time to pass so others can know how long to expect.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

A quick update for anyone currently or in the future following this thread.

We got the radiologists report back who suspects reproductive cancer over heart failure. The exact phrase is: "The top differential for this degree of coelomic effusion is ovarian neoplasia (most often ovarian adenocarcinoma) and carcinomatosis".

I think this fits...the vet was shocked when she pulled out a syringe of completely clear fluid (see photo) rather than fluid that was milky yellow. The rest of what drained was translucent yellow. I read online that clear fluid in the abdomen can be a sign of reproductive cancer: "Cancerous fluid removed from a chicken’s abdomen is often translucent rather than opaque (either a translucent yellow or completely clear)." It's also sterile so no need to treat with antibiotics. We also got a very funny shaped egg before she got sick and wonder if she's the one who laid it. Her last egg was very small and had a sort of a ridge halfway through. The respiratory and crop issues were certainly secondary.

If anyone is interested, I found this article that long-term consumption (i.e. years) of flaxseed can result in a reduction of ovarian cancer and severity.

As far as how My Favorite One is doing (yes that is her name, in context with the other hens it makes sense - there's The Shy One, The Sick One who is usually sick, and The Other One who is just as loved but has no defining characteristics) she is out and about with the flock living her chicken life, eating, not laying but very happy with life. We are giving her a diuretic every 8-10 hours and checking her to see if she needs to be drained (coelomocentesis). It'll be a sad day when there are only 3 but for now it's a joy getting to watch them enjoy spring!

I'll update again when it's her time to pass so others can know how long to expect.

View attachment 3079871

Thank you for the update.
I'm glad that you were able to get more information and for the links as well, I'll have to study those. Always learning!

I do hope The Favorite One continues on for a good while, happy within herself and enjoying each day.

Please do keep us updated as you continue on this journey.

 

[azygous]

Thanks so much for keeping us updated. Your chicken names crack me up.

 

[egz]

I can’t believe it’s been a month! A quick update - The Favorite One is still alive, in fact she seems great and has started laying again! I haven’t drained her since the vet did although I bought the syringes and have them ready. If you didn’t know her history you wouldn’t know she was sick.

I’ll keep updating here periodically but again just a huge thank you to everyone who helped get us to this place!!

 

[egz]

I’m so happy to report that The Favorite is still alive and doing great. We have drained her twice with a 60cc syringe from TSC and can get quite a lot of fluid (it’ll continue to drip after you take the needle out) but she seems happy as ever. Hope this update gives someone hope if they’re following this thread!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I’m so happy to report that The Favorite is still alive and doing great. We have drained her twice with a 60cc syringe from TSC and can get quite a lot of fluid (it’ll continue to drip after you take the needle out) but she seems happy as ever. Hope this update gives someone hope if they’re following this thread!

I'm glad to hear she's still doing well!
Thank you for continuing to give us updates.