Good morning all. I'd love some opinions on what could be going on with our Merry. I have posted about him before but hoping to get additional input. He had a rough start at life, dumped in the woods and picked up by animal control. He's been living with us for several weeks now. He's completely separate from all other chickens and we're doing our best at biosecurity. I know there are major and deadly risks associated with bringing in stray chickens.
We suspect he was dumped when he started to crow. He came to us on March 12th. Within a couple of days we noticed he seemed lethargic and poofed up. Due to the severity, we took him to a local emergency vet. They felt he was dehydrated, had increased lung sounds, and were concerned about his breathing. He spent a little while in oxygen, received fluids, came home on clavamox. We hadn't noticed any outward respiratory signs at that point. They took xrays and the specialist felt there looked to be inflammation in his intestinal tract pointing towards a potential inflammatory or infectious enteritis. It was fairly nonspecific though. He was also tested for Avian Influenze and Newcastle Disease (both negative).
We began to see respiratory signs (increased noise and respiratory effort) that did not improve on the Clavamox. He went to one of our regular vets who noted swelling of his little ankle joints and injuries to his foot pads, suspected as a result of being in the woods. Fast forwards, still not improved at the end of Clavamox and back to the vet he goes.
Vet took xrays and suspects a mass in his abdomen/intestinal area. Worsening of the original concerning area on xray. They switched him to Doxycycline and sent out labwork. They aren't sure he's as young as we initially suspected. Labwork showed increased white blood cells, especially his lymphocyte count. After 2 days on the doxycyline, we're seeing improvement in the respiratory signs.
Other than the initial lethargy and poofed up-ness that sent us to the emergency vet, he has been bright, alert, and eating very well. He crows like a champ, has gained weight, and doesn't seem all than unwell. He had diarrhea when we first brought him to the vets (negative fecal) and that has mostly improved. I did notice a couple of episodes of yellow diarrhea. I've also noticed a few episodes when the tips of his comb have taken on a blueish color.
Today we're taking him in to be tested for Marek's. I'd love opinions on what this could be. Picture of him in the bathtub for attention
We suspect he was dumped when he started to crow. He came to us on March 12th. Within a couple of days we noticed he seemed lethargic and poofed up. Due to the severity, we took him to a local emergency vet. They felt he was dehydrated, had increased lung sounds, and were concerned about his breathing. He spent a little while in oxygen, received fluids, came home on clavamox. We hadn't noticed any outward respiratory signs at that point. They took xrays and the specialist felt there looked to be inflammation in his intestinal tract pointing towards a potential inflammatory or infectious enteritis. It was fairly nonspecific though. He was also tested for Avian Influenze and Newcastle Disease (both negative).
We began to see respiratory signs (increased noise and respiratory effort) that did not improve on the Clavamox. He went to one of our regular vets who noted swelling of his little ankle joints and injuries to his foot pads, suspected as a result of being in the woods. Fast forwards, still not improved at the end of Clavamox and back to the vet he goes.
Vet took xrays and suspects a mass in his abdomen/intestinal area. Worsening of the original concerning area on xray. They switched him to Doxycycline and sent out labwork. They aren't sure he's as young as we initially suspected. Labwork showed increased white blood cells, especially his lymphocyte count. After 2 days on the doxycyline, we're seeing improvement in the respiratory signs.
Other than the initial lethargy and poofed up-ness that sent us to the emergency vet, he has been bright, alert, and eating very well. He crows like a champ, has gained weight, and doesn't seem all than unwell. He had diarrhea when we first brought him to the vets (negative fecal) and that has mostly improved. I did notice a couple of episodes of yellow diarrhea. I've also noticed a few episodes when the tips of his comb have taken on a blueish color.
Today we're taking him in to be tested for Marek's. I'd love opinions on what this could be. Picture of him in the bathtub for attention
