sick chickie

[casportpony]

Maybe? I am not sure. It's so hard I can't really even feel around much... but I don't feel any solids or lumps. I have a feeling this is going a bad way. Now I am wondering about her being and internal layer or that other issue (starts with an "a") where the body cavity just fills with fluid.

The "a" word is ascites syndrome - http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/204601.htm. It could also be blood or peritonitis. You could try draining it and seeing what color it is. There are a bunch of people here that have done it and prolonged the life of their chicken. It's worth a try.
Link on EYP - http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/205804.htm

 

[casportpony]

I hate to be negative, but if she starts breathing through her mouth, she'll probably die.

 

[jkulp00]

Yeah i was just reading up on that whole process.... I am a little nervous about inserting a needle into her abdomen. I really am no vet although the last week has really beefed up my skills.... I didn't notice the swollen belly until today (though admittedly I hadn't handled her without wrapping her in a towel first since her bath last week because her butt was poopy) - any chance that administering the safeguard could have resulted in this temporarily? Pipe dream?

 

[jkulp00]

Well she isn't doing that. If she is going to die then it is what it is, I just want to make sure I can do everything I can to help her. It just sucks when you can't help.

 

[cowcreekgeek]

Ok today i administered the Tylan, wormed her with safeguard and administered about 80-100 cc of mash/electrolytes/probiotics. I also gave her about a half hour long bath and cleaned her vent up and cut away the feathers around her vent as they were very pasty again, white and yellow. She fell asleep in the tub. She pooped a mostly brown poop this morning but it was still somewhat runny and had some yellow and white in it. I am very concerned at this point because she is no longer eating mealworms for me - just syringe feedings, and her abdomen is very enlarged and hard. I tried to massage it as much as possible while she was in the hot water in case we were dealing with a blockage/egg bound issue. I couldn't feel anything distinguishable to be an egg or mass just the whole abdomen is large and hard (sort of like a softball in size). I felt some of my other hens for comparison and its definitely an issue. I tried to feel around in her vent for something but couldn't get my finger in very far and felt nothing. Sigh. I guess only time will tell.

I'm wonderin' if it's EYP / Egg Yolk Peritonitis, although it could just be 'cause it was discussed recently in another thread ...

:: edit ::

Saw additional posts, and wanted to add:

If the chicken's gonna die, then there's no logical reason to not attempt any procedure which you feel could be beneficial ...

Also, that we all lose a few, despite any level of knowledge or experience; it's just somethin' that comes along w/ keepin' birds )-;~

:: /edit ::

 

[jkulp00]

Yes that crossed my mind as well.... We will have to see how the next few days go and if she seems to be going downhill and feeling badly I guess I will have to suck it up and cull her so she doesn't suffer anymore. She was so relaxed and calm in the warm bath, I almost wished she would have just gone to sleep for good in there.

 

[cowcreekgeek]

Yes that crossed my mind as well.... We will have to see how the next few days go and if she seems to be going downhill and feeling badly I guess I will have to suck it up and cull her so she doesn't suffer anymore. She was so relaxed and calm in the warm bath, I almost wished she would have just gone to sleep for good in there.

Sorry, but I failed to make my suggestion clear -- not that you should cull, as the bird's most probably nothing more than mildly uncomfortable at this point. What I'm sayin' is that you should step up to the proverbial plate 'n take a swing, or however many time and condition will allow ... worst case scenario isn't that she dies as the result of some erroneously performed procedure, as you'll at minimum gain a bit more experience in whatever attempt(s) you make: Stop worryin' about gettin' too dirty, or hurtin' the bird, and simply go on 'n try whatever procedure(s) and/or treatment(s) the situation calls for.

I'm a bit more accustomed to the losses than most, but I prefer to see folks learn what they can, every chance they get ... that's far more important (from my point of view) than the individual bird.

 

[casportpony]

If there is fluid, it will build up and put pressure on everything, lungs, heart, intestines, etc. Draining the fluid is your best option. Try starting a new thread and title it something like "how do you drain fluid from abdomen", people that have done it might see it and give you good advice. Or maybe cowcreekgeek can find some info for you...

 

[cafarmgirl]

I've had two chickens in this last year who developed ascites. One was caused by a heart defect which in turn caused poor circulation with resulting fluid build up. The other bird had egg yolk peritonitis with accompanying ascites. My avian vet drained the first bird but she passed away quickly due to the heart problem which was found on necropsy. The second bird is still living. Had a course of antibiotic's and had a large amount of fluid drained about 6 weeks ago. At this point she is starting to show signs of fluid build up again. I am not going to treat her further.

I am personally on the fence about draining these ascites birds. It does nothing to cure the cause although it may give them some extra time, depending on what else is going on. But in the end you are always going to eventually be back at square one as the fluid always returns. It's just a matter of how long you personally want to keep trying and how much treatment you want to put the bird through.

 

[cowcreekgeek]