Heartbreaking news. I'm so sorry. Please give our love to the girls, and don't be hard on you. You did everything you could for that big sweet boy.
Rooster with mass in neck, possible tumor, thymus response -- Marek's
- Thread starter Nambroth
- Start date
Very sad news today. Although his life was short, Trousers was able to enjoy it fully because of the considerate and loving care that you provided for him and all your pets. In this way he was lucky; not all are as fortunate. He was a gentle and noble soul. Thank you for sharing his story, and I hope the coming days bring you peace.
- Aug 16, 2012
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I am deeply sorry, you and Trousers had such a special connection, what a sweet guy. I know you did everything you could for him, and he had to have felt comforted by your tender care for him.
My heart breaks for you. Trousers was so very loved. You did so very much for him, and he knew that he was deeply treasured. I am wishing you strength right now.
- Thread starter
- #135
Hello all,
Thank you for your words.
My vet called me today even though she was very busy, bless her, to discuss what she found in the necropsy. Trousers had a large tumor on his heart that had grown into the muscle wall and the ventricle (I regret I forget which side she said, I think right). His lungs were clear so she thinks that this was causing his increased breathing distress, because the heart was still pumping and sounded properly but literally could not distribute his blood properly. He also had advanced and large tumor masses on his liver and spleen. His fist stomach (gizzard) inner walls were abnormal. She said that the nerve clusters and bundles (sciatic nerves) seemed normal to slightly enlarged, though she could not tell how much without comparison as he was a larger chicken (he was huge) than she was used to seeing. She documented them with photographs and took samples for further pathology, because it is often the sciatic nerves that are effected in Marek's disease. Right now, everything is pointing to "maybe Marek's" but we won't know for sure until we send away for lab testing, which will be done next week. My vet is leaning toward it, however. There are a few other avian retroviruses that can cause the symptoms seen here and we will explore them as possibilities if testing comes back as negative for Marek's.
I am exploring possible methods for disease to have been introduced. My flock initially all came from a hatchery as day old chickens, (vaccinated against Marek's). Trousers was introduced after I placed him in a 40-day quarantine in late November, he came from a flock that has suffered no losses/known disease (and continues to be healthy, I have been in touch with her). He was not vaccinated. She hatched him under a broody from eggs purchased from a breeder, but I understand that Marek's cannot be passed vertically. I have not visited the grounds of anyone else with chickens and have always taken biological control seriously. It is hard to know the origin of the virus if indeed that is what it is. It seems that it can be blown in on the wind from miles away? Time will further educate us.
It is my understanding that day-old chicks are inoculated with a turkey retrovirus, is this correct? And that my current hens would not shed the virus because they were vaccinated, but would only shed the virus if they were later exposed to the virus and developed immunity (and thus shed the virus without symptoms)?
I understand if it is Marek's that I can never introduce another non-vaccinated bird to my yard, and that I can never adopt any of my birds out.
Thank you for your words.
My vet called me today even though she was very busy, bless her, to discuss what she found in the necropsy. Trousers had a large tumor on his heart that had grown into the muscle wall and the ventricle (I regret I forget which side she said, I think right). His lungs were clear so she thinks that this was causing his increased breathing distress, because the heart was still pumping and sounded properly but literally could not distribute his blood properly. He also had advanced and large tumor masses on his liver and spleen. His fist stomach (gizzard) inner walls were abnormal. She said that the nerve clusters and bundles (sciatic nerves) seemed normal to slightly enlarged, though she could not tell how much without comparison as he was a larger chicken (he was huge) than she was used to seeing. She documented them with photographs and took samples for further pathology, because it is often the sciatic nerves that are effected in Marek's disease. Right now, everything is pointing to "maybe Marek's" but we won't know for sure until we send away for lab testing, which will be done next week. My vet is leaning toward it, however. There are a few other avian retroviruses that can cause the symptoms seen here and we will explore them as possibilities if testing comes back as negative for Marek's.
I am exploring possible methods for disease to have been introduced. My flock initially all came from a hatchery as day old chickens, (vaccinated against Marek's). Trousers was introduced after I placed him in a 40-day quarantine in late November, he came from a flock that has suffered no losses/known disease (and continues to be healthy, I have been in touch with her). He was not vaccinated. She hatched him under a broody from eggs purchased from a breeder, but I understand that Marek's cannot be passed vertically. I have not visited the grounds of anyone else with chickens and have always taken biological control seriously. It is hard to know the origin of the virus if indeed that is what it is. It seems that it can be blown in on the wind from miles away? Time will further educate us.
It is my understanding that day-old chicks are inoculated with a turkey retrovirus, is this correct? And that my current hens would not shed the virus because they were vaccinated, but would only shed the virus if they were later exposed to the virus and developed immunity (and thus shed the virus without symptoms)?
I understand if it is Marek's that I can never introduce another non-vaccinated bird to my yard, and that I can never adopt any of my birds out.
x2
No one will laugh. There's a special part in our hearts that only an animal can touch and fill with love. Only people who have loved an animal and have been loved back by one would ever be able to comprehend this. I'm so sorry for your loss and wish there was something i could say or do to ease your pain.
As I mentioned in the Derp thread, I hope your hens are not sick as well.
I am so sorry for the loss of Trousers. He will be missed. I cannot express my feelings properly through words so I won't even try. 
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I don't know what to say that someone hasn't already said, but I'm so sorry Nambroth!! Trousers will be missed by the Derp fans, I know.
He was such a great rooster.
My heart goes out to you Jennifer, I too am devasted by this horrible twist of fate that has caused his demise. Trousers was an awesome roo...... 
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