Peahen with pneumonia

[countryannie]

I got some Baytril from the vet and she got her first dose last night. She made it through the night and got a second dose this morning. She is up and standing. She is still opening her beak to breathe in, but stopped making the horrible sound, especially when she exhaled. She has food and water, but I don't think she is eating or drinking. I am afraid to try and give her water especially with her gasping. Would it be OK to use a syringe to get the water past her glottis? I could pulverize and dampen some food too. Thoughts??

 

[casportpony]

I got some Baytril from the vet and she got her first dose last night. She made it through the night and got a second dose this morning. She is up and standing. She is still opening her beak to breathe in, but stopped making the horrible sound, especially when she exhaled. She has food and water, but I don't think she is eating or drinking. I am afraid to try and give her water especially with her gasping. Would it be OK to use a syringe to get the water past her glottis? I could pulverize and dampen some food too. Thoughts??

Tubing fluids would be safer. Can you call your vet and get them to sell you a size 18 french red rubber catheter and a 60 ml catheter tip syringe? If you can get that I can teach you how to safely tube fluids, then fluids and food.

 

[countryannie]

Tubing fluids would be safer. Can you call your vet and get them to sell you a size 18 french red rubber catheter and a 60 ml catheter tip syringe? If you can get that I can teach you how to safely tube fluids, then fluids and food.

I will see what I can get. I have tube fed tons of farm animals. I have also butchered chickens so I understand their anatomy. I don't think I would have much of a problem but any hints and input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[casportpony]

If she were mine I would start by making sure she is warm enough, then I would tube fluids at 14 ml per pound, wait 60-90 minutes and repeat, and I might even do it once more in 2-4 hours. She is almost certainly a little dehydrated, and hydration should always be corrected before giving food.

Various tubes and syringes that can be used.


This is aquarium air line. If you use this you need to melt the end so it is not too sharp.


How To Crop Feed Your Bird Diagram

This is probably the best tubing video on the web:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vUjFZRDp1W3eT9RWJVJ5DBKsFC9cMuYh/view?usp=sharing
These are using a crop needle, not a plastic tube.

This one uses a tube like I use

[/QUOTE]

 

[countryannie]

If she were mine I would start by making sure she is warm enough, then I would tube fluids at 14 ml per pound, wait 60-90 minutes and repeat, and I might even do it once more in 2-4 hours. She is almost certainly a little dehydrated, and hydration should always be corrected before giving food.

Various tubes and syringes that can be used.


This is aquarium air line. If you use this you need to melt the end so it is not too sharp.


How To Crop Feed Your Bird Diagram

This is probably the best tubing video on the web:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vUjFZRDp1W3eT9RWJVJ5DBKsFC9cMuYh/view?usp=sharing
These are using a crop needle, not a plastic tube.

This one uses a tube like I use

[/QUOTE]
Thanks. I have the supplies on the way. All I could get in catheters was a number 8. I didn't think of aquarium tubing. I have tons of that and can definitely blunt one end. I just didn't know how much water or how often. I was going to put some of her food in my nutribullet and make a slurry to feed her. She is 6 pounds, is regular water fine or should I add a little sugar??

 

[casportpony]

Thanks. I have the supplies on the way. All I could get in catheters was a number 8.

An 8 is way too small.

 

[casportpony]

I just didn't know how much water or how often.

Start with Liquid - 14 ml per pound, repeat in 60-90, then once more in 2-4 hours.

 

[countryannie]

An 8 is way too small.

That is the biggest to be found in the entire county. I have one on order. In the meantime at least I figures too small is better than too big or none at all and I can get some fluids in her.
Thank you. I assume warm water and maybe some food tomorrow??
You have been so helpful, it is really appreciated. She is the surviving member of a "wild" flock. There were over 200 in an old barn that was torn down and about 20 of them moved into my maple tree. Myself and the neighbors all being farm people thought is was pretty cool. Then they build a small housing tract behind me and some city asshole shot them all but her. I built a huge aviary 45 x 100 feet with greenhouse hoops with a 15 foot apex covered in 2 inch seine netting. There are trees and bushes out there. Last year I got a 2 year old male brought to the animal rescue. He is quite vocal and I hope the city neighbor hears him every time he alarms!!!

 

[casportpony]

Yes warm water
*please* watch this.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vUjFZRDp1W3eT9RWJVJ5DBKsFC9cMuYh/view?usp=sharing

 

[countryannie]

Yes warm water
*please* watch this.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vUjFZRDp1W3eT9RWJVJ5DBKsFC9cMuYh/view?usp=sharing

Thank you, that was very helpful. It is much easier to tube feed a bird than a 120 pound bull calf ! Although the only catheter I could get was a number 8 was able to get the recommended amount of warm water into her. Two people would have been nice and a peahen is a lot more to hold onto than a parakeet, but it was fairly easy to do once I adjusted my hold to pin her wings, under my left arm so I could also hold her head with my left hand, then I had my right hand to insert the tube and work the syringe. She is still gasping and wheezing but not as loud or as strained, but just got her third dose of meds right before the fluids. Hopefully she is alright in the morning. I figure fluid is more important than food right now. She is in a 400 size dog kennel on a heated tile floor. I will give her more water in the recommended 90 minutes. You mentioned 4 hours. Is that 84 ml every 4 hours or just four hours after the 90 minute lavage? If after the 90 minute lavage, then how often?