ROCK SALT

[VickiRheinhardt]

Help! Any suggestions nursing a hen back to health after ingesting rock salt? I’m giving her water through a syringe ever 30mins/hr and she’s bei mg kept warm inside with some towels. She won’t eat or move much. She keeps pointing her up and twitching almost with her eyes closed. I’m worried she’s not gonna make it.

 

[ChicNmom]

Did you see her eat the salt? If so how much do you think she ate? Ours never tried to eat it. Do you have any activated charcoal or bentonite clay at home? Both of those will help absorb any toxins. If you hold some sugar water up to her beak will she try to drink it? You have to get the tip of her beak in it so she can taste it. The more fluids she gets will help with the flushing.

Did you inspect her for other possible problems?

 

[VickiRheinhardt]

Did you see her eat the salt? If so how much do you think she ate? Ours never tried to eat it. Do you have any activated charcoal or bentonite clay at home? Both of those will help absorb any toxins. If you hold some sugar water up to her beak will she try to drink it? You have to get the tip of her beak in it so she can taste it. The more fluids she gets will help with the flushing.

Did you inspect her for other possible problems?

I’m pretty confident that she ate rock salt. I asked my husband to shovel a path in the run the last snow fall and he thought it was a good idea to put rock salt down also. The next morning one hen was dead and now this one is Sick. I do have bentonite clay but how would I get her to ingest it? I’ll try sugar water too.

 

[ChicNmom]

For the clay I would take a piece of bread and get it moist. Then sprinkle a half capsule of clay in the bread and roll it up. Then open her beak and put it in. I wouldn't try a full capsule because I don't know if it would constipate her. Or if you just have the powder than I'd start with a heaping tsp.

Then lots of liquids with electrolytes.

Then maybe in 4 hours do it again.

 

[VickiRheinhardt]

Thank you! I have the powder. I’ll try that with bread. Not sure about doing electrolytes since her body is probably on salt overload. She’s really not looking better. Head still pointing up eyes closed.

 

[ChicNmom]

Check the rock salt container to see what the ingredients are. Then do a search on treatment for pet poisoning from that mixture. There may be some other helpful info.

Also, if it is something that could be affecting her liver I would add some milk thistle or other liver detox herbs alternating with the clay.

I don't think you have anything to lose by trying.' Also have your husband go make sure there isn't any more salt they can get to. Check your other birds in case they all ate some.



"The symptoms of rock salt poisoning include lethargy, thirst, vomiting, and seizures. Be alert if your dog displays any of these symptoms, and call your vet immediately if you suspect your pet has ingested even the smallest amount."

 

[VickiRheinhardt]

Check the rock salt container to see what the ingredients are. Then do a search on treatment for pet poisoning from that mixture. There may be some other helpful info.

Also, if it is something that could be affecting her liver I would add some milk thistle or other liver detox herbs alternating with the clay.

I don't think you have anything to lose by trying.' Also have your husband go make sure there isn't any more salt they can get to. Check your other birds in case they all ate some.



"The symptoms of rock salt poisoning include lethargy, thirst, vomiting, and seizures. Be alert if your dog displays any of these symptoms, and call your vet immediately if you suspect your pet has ingested even the smallest amount."

I already scooped out any rocks I could see and had my husband flush the run with hot water. The salt is just sodium chloride.

 

[VickiRheinhardt]

The others seem to be eating and drinking ok so I’m just keeping an eye on them.

 

[ChicNmom]

Thank you! I have the powder. I’ll try that with bread. Not sure about doing electrolytes since her body is probably on salt overload. She’s really not looking better. Head still pointing up eyes closed.

It likely isn't true salt that is making her sick but the other ingredients. The twitching sounds neurological.

 

[VickiRheinhardt]

It likely isn't true salt that is making her sick but the other ingredients. The twitching sounds neurological.

I checked the bad and it’s the same salt used for our water softener. Just salt.