Please help with large tumor!!!

[TheBrahmaBunch]

Thank you vert much, Tesumph!! I have put feelers out for a vet in my area, but if I can't find one, I'll try doing what you explained.

Don't try it if you're squeamish!!!

 

[windychicks]

Looks like she has a cancerous tumor. Could be lots of fluid and infection due to that condition as well, called ascites, which almost always has a serious underlying cause and is chronic. I'm sorry, but there is no cure for that. You can take her to a vet for a hysterectomy, but it could end the same way this is going to anyway, in her demise. I'm sorry to tell you this.

 

[BlueChai]

I hope this goes well for you, I've never seen this before and I'm very curious of the outcome.

 

[windychicks]

Golden Brahma 64, Assuming that it is a cancerous tumor, what would you advise? Let nature takes it's course (as long as she isn't suffering, which she surely doesn't seem to be at this point)? If so, should I have a necropsy done to see if it was Marek's?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Looks like she has a cancerous tumor. Could be lots of fluid and infection due to that condition as well, called ascites, which almost always has a serious underlying cause and is chronic. I'm sorry, but there is no cure for that. You can take her to a vet for a hysterectomy, but it could end the same way this is going to anyway, in her demise. I'm sorry to tell you this.

Can you explain more about how a tumor, cyst or abscess on what appears to be the outside of the breast can be caused by Ascites and how would a hysterectomy benefit a hen with this type of growth?

 

[ronott1]

Ascites is the buildup of fluid in the space surrounding the organs in the abdomen. When ascites is caused by cancer, it is called malignant ascites. Malignant ascites is most most common in chickens with Uterine cancer.

A hysterectomy is an operation that removes both fallopian tubes and both ovaries. This procedure is usually done at the same time the uterus is removed (either by simple hysterectomy or radical hysterectomy) to treat endometrial cancers. How would it not benefit the hen ?

It is more likely that the cancer is secondary mareks cancer. If so it is fatal.

Hens have one reproductive tract and do not usually survive anesthesia very well.

To the OP, do the lab test to see if it is mareks cancer.

 

[rebrascora]

Ascites is the buildup of fluid in the space surrounding the organs in the abdomen.

Yes but this mass is on the breast of the bird not the abdomen. There is no indication of ascites here so far and from what I have read it is usually very risky to try to remove the ovary of a grown chicken due to the large blood supply to it, in a similar way that caponizing cockerels needs to be done young age before the blood supply to he gonads develops. Usually a "hysterectomy" in a chicken involves the removal of the oviduct (often because it is impacted as a result of salpingitis) but the ovary is left and hormone implants are given to suppress ovulation. I have no medical training but this is what I have learned from reading. I am happy to learn if this is incorrect. It is so easy to pick up and spread misinformation but it did seem logical when I read it.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What about a breast blister? In the right area, looks like bruised tissue?

 

[rebrascora]

I think it is good to consider all options and breast blister is good thinking but the lumpy nature of this mass and the fact that it is hard and has a large blood supply and it's location on the side rather than underneath where a breast blister would normally develop from rubbing a roost bar etc probably all indicates away from that simpler cause unfortunately.

 

[windychicks]

I wish it was a breast blister, but don't think so.
It is very smooth, not bumpy, but very veiny.
When I let them out this morning she was still run around just fine, bless her heart.
I had a call in to a vet and the extension office yesterday, but didn't heat hear from either one.