Respiratory Distress

[AndreaGS]

One of my hens had been crowing for a couple days. Everything I looked up said that it was a behavioral/hormonal issue. Then, last night, I found her on the floor of the run, struggling to breathe. We rushed her to the emergency vet, but they couldn't determine what was wrong from an external exam. An internal exam was prohibitively expensive, might not have found anything, and might have killed her--so we made the decision to euthanize her.

Now, this morning, another of my hens is showing signs of mild respiratory distress.

There is no mucus--nothing I can see wrong with her. Just the occasional cough/sneeze sound. Any ideas? Should I try dosing her with antibiotics? I have an appointment for her tomorrow morning, but can't seem to find anything earlier, and I'm afraid with how quickly the other hen passed that tomorrow will be too late.

Has anyone had this happen before?

 

[chickenvet97]

It can be any of the upper respiratory diseases- New castle, Mycoplasma, Infectious Bonchitis or Avian influenza. have your vet send cloacal or tracheal swabs to your state lab for testing. They can also draw blood and check for titers. There is also a lab called zoologix that runs a respiratory panel for about $100. The testing through the state labs are generally very affordable, usually the most expensive test is the Avian influenza swab- about $35 but they can pool up to 5 samples.

 

[AndreaGS]

Thanks, chickenvet97. I'll bring that up when I take her in tomorrow. The one that's sick now is my huge brahma hen, that I raised from a chick with a lot of handling. She is so friendly and cuddly, and she follows me around the yard at free-range time. She's top of the pecking order and hilariously chatty in that annoyed old lady way. I adore her. I'd be heartbroken if she passes away.

I separated her from the flock, so she's in isolated in a kennel right now.

 

[casportpony]

It can be any of the upper respiratory diseases- New castle, Mycoplasma, Infectious Bonchitis or Avian influenza. have your vet send cloacal or tracheal swabs to your state lab for testing. They can also draw blood and check for titers. There is also a lab called zoologix that runs a respiratory panel for about $100. The testing through the state labs are generally very affordable, usually the most expensive test is the Avian influenza swab- about $35 but they can pool up to 5 samples.

Welcome to BYC!

Did you know that the CAHFS labs at UC Davis will do the respiratory panel for much less? Think it's about $10 for residents or $20 for anyone not in CA. They will also let you use their FedEx account, so overnight shipping should be about $10.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

One of my hens had been crowing for a couple days. Everything I looked up said that it was a behavioral/hormonal issue. Then, last night, I found her on the floor of the run, struggling to breathe. We rushed her to the emergency vet, but they couldn't determine what was wrong from an external exam. An internal exam was prohibitively expensive, might not have found anything, and might have killed her--so we made the decision to euthanize her.

Now, this morning, another of my hens is showing signs of mild respiratory distress.

There is no mucus--nothing I can see wrong with her. Just the occasional cough/sneeze sound. Any ideas? Should I try dosing her with antibiotics? I have an appointment for her tomorrow morning, but can't seem to find anything earlier, and I'm afraid with how quickly the other hen passed that tomorrow will be too late.

Has anyone had this happen before?

Sorry for your loss. Necropsies for us in CA are free, so I suggest that you have a necropsy done. Since you're in Sacramento, you could drop her off at the Davis lab.

-Kathy


http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/cahfs/local-assets/pdfs/fee lists/Poultry_fee_list_33115.pdf

 

[casportpony]

If you get the body of your deceased one to the lab today they will have a preliminary report by the end of the day.

http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/cahfs/services/lab_locations.cfm

-Kathy

 

[chickenvet97]

That's great that UC Davis is so affordable. The Zoologix panel is all PCR tests- which can be better at picking up current infection versus past infection.

 

[casportpony]

That's great that UC Davis is so affordable. The Zoologix panel is all PCR tests- which can be better at picking up current infection versus past infection.

And you can't beat a free necropsy! Not positive, but I think the Davis swab tests are PCR because I see that quite often on the paper work I get from them.





-Kathy