please help, sick white leghorn gurgling/sneezing with swollen abdomen (slightly graphic pictures?)

[Hungry Chicken]

This thread is about my 3 year old white leghorn, I was not sure if I should have continued my old thread or posted a new one so I apologize if I am clogging up things. She had poop near her vent, hadn't laid for a while and was kind of lethargic, sitting around and limping slightly. This morning I treated her with Tums/calcium, vitamin B complex and D3. Still figuring out the dewormer dosage since I bought the wrong kind. I cleaned her vent a few days ago, but it got dirty again. Was cleaning it today and I noticed her abdomen was swollen. She was also doing a weird sneezing/gurgling thing which she was not doing this morning when I gave her the medicine. Comb darker than normal too. Ate and drank today. Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks in advance

Video of her gurgling? below, hopefully the sound works

 

[The Coop Crew]

Is she an everyday layer? When did she lay last? How does her crop feel?
If she hasn’t laid in awhile she could be egg bound.
Her poor belly looks pretty swollen. It could be water belly but I would rule the other stuff out first.

@azygous @Eggcessive

 

[The Coop Crew]

Is she an everyday layer? When did she lay last? How does her crop feel?
If she hasn’t laid in awhile she could be egg bound.
Her poor belly looks pretty swollen. It could be water belly but I would rule the other stuff out first.

@azygous @Eggcessive

@HollowOfWisps @TwoCrows

 

[azygous]

If there is information or other helpful information is on your other thread, copy it to here so we don't need to go hunting for it.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Your hen has Ascites also known as water belly. Swollen abdomen, gurgling noises, panting bluish discoloration of comb/wattle/face and listless… every one of those is a symptom of ascites and unfortunately your hen is showing all of them.

 

[The Coop Crew]

Your hen has Ascites also known as water belly. Swollen abdomen, gurgling noises, panting bluish discoloration of comb/wattle/face and listless… every one of those is a symptom of ascites and unfortunately your hen is showing all of them.

That’s what I thought too but I wasn’t 100% sure.

 

[ChicNmom]

Sadly, if she is to the point that she is panting and gurgling there isn't much you can do for her. I've drained the fluid off several birds. It usually just makes them more comfortable but I've had a few live a bit longer.

 

[Hungry Chicken]

If there is information or other helpful information is on your other thread, copy it to here so we don't need to go hunting for it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ld-be-much-appreciated.1629967/#post-27837518
1) What type of bird, age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
White leghorn hen, almost 4 years old. Seems lighter than other chickens, and also lighter than her usual self

2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Kind of lethargic, breathes in a weird gasping sort of way? Video below. Limping slightly. Has a lot of poop stuck near her vent. Eats and drinks, but less than normal. Hasn't been laying as often but we think that could also be from old age? Also comb is droopy and paler than normal

3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
A few days? We've been busy lately so we haven't been able to keep a close eye on the flock in the last few days. However the poop has actually been there a little longer, we bathed her a few times but it keeps getting stuck. Didn't think much of it until she had other symptoms too, not sure if they're related?

4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No, all other birds healthy

5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No bleeding but limping a little

6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Not sure

7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Layer feed, scratch, water (same as rest of flock)

8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Slightly runny and sticks to vent

9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Separated her from flock, was considering adding something to her water but unsure what to add

10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Would hope to treat her at home, we don't have a vet nearby

11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
Pictures attached, couldn't figure out how to attach a video of weird breathing

12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Fully enclosed run with wooden roosts, metal rolling nesting box because they eat their eggs otherwise

 

[Hungry Chicken]

Sadly, if she is to the point that she is panting and gurgling there isn't much you can do for her. I've drained the fluid off several birds. It usually just makes them more comfortable but I've had a few live a bit longer.

Would draining just delay the inevitable? I've read some unpleasant stuff about water belly, is she too far gone?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She was also doing a weird sneezing/gurgling thing which she was not doing this morning when I gave her the medicine. Comb darker than normal too. Ate and drank today.

Would draining just delay the inevitable? I've read some unpleasant stuff about water belly, is she too far gone?

The gurgling she is doing is because of the fluid in her abdomen. It's a symptom called Ascites.

Personally, looking at your other thread which was a week ago (give/take), and now hearing the gurgling and seeing the swollen abdomen, I'd consider putting her out of her misery.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...t-any-help-would-be-much-appreciated.1629967/


That said. Draining may help for a short period of time or not - hard to know, some hens feel better while others continue to decline. You can try draining if you wish. Yes, there's risks involved in anything you do - only you can determine if it's worth a try.