Sinus Infections

[Eggcessive]

Thank you @casportpony for this gross but education post. I have a hen with a sinus infection and just spent some time trying to clean out the gunk but I don't think I got it all...

I was trying to find a good pic of the sinuses because I found that inside her mouth (on the infected side) there was a visible clog. I got the dried plug out but there was a lot of white pus underneath. Unfortunately I was doing this solo so hard to take pictures. This was before I started cleaning the infection.
View attachment 4206791
View attachment 4206792

I'm wondering if I need to perform surgery now like in your examples...

Does the beak smell bad? Could that be canker?

 

[WingItRanch]

Does the beak smell bad? Could that be canker?

I was suspicious of canker at first but no, it doesn't smell bad. It doesn't have a 'cheesy' consistency either and it's cleary only on one side. A few days before her symptoms started, I gave the flock some yogurt and watched her literally nose dive into it. Her whole head was covered in yogurt. I think she got clogged up and it led to a sinus infection.

I also don't have any wild birds that can share feeder or waterers so I'm pretty sure it's not canker. None of my others are sick.

I'll get a couple more pictures of the outside and inside her beak.

 

[WingItRanch]

Hope these pics help. I had her on TiaGard (all i had) for 5 days. 8ml per gallon of water. She just finished her dosage yesterday. She's been eating and drinking. She's even continuing to lay eggs. I have her separate from the flock.

If you think this is fixable, I'd like to try. If you think it's canker, I'll put her down to prevent spread. I have a broody sitting on eggs right now and don't want to risk infection to the rest of the group.

 

[Eggcessive]

It doesn’t look like canker from the hole inside her cheek. Is one of the pictures reversed or does she have swelling on both sides? Hopefully @casportpony will help advise you.

 

[WingItRanch]

It doesn’t look like canker from the hole inside her cheek. Is one of the pictures reversed or does she have swelling on both sides? Hopefully @casportpony will help advise you.

Oops the pic is reversed. I tried to show that her other side is completely normal with no swelling but it was awkward holding her and using my phone at the same time so I flipped to front camera view.

 

[WingItRanch]

Can you get more pictures?

I added more pictures and would love your thoughts. Should I perform surgery? Do you have a suggestion on where to cut?

She's still acting fine. Eating, drinking, laying eggs. The bump is still there, though.

 

[casportpony]

Great pictures! That hole is big enough that you might be able to pull it out. Do you have a "blemish" tool like this?

 

[casportpony]

My walmart has this:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-B...XB4pffOCKc6n0XfmD7ojLcBb3Cmmyy_BoCVWMQAvD_BwE

 

[WingItRanch]

Great pictures! That hole is big enough that you might be able to pull it out. Do you have a "blemish" tool like this?
View attachment 4209608

Hmm I don't but I have a pair of needle nose tweezers that might work.

The confusing part is that from the hole in her cheek, I can see a build-up and should be able to work it out... but the bump on her face is pretty far above that. I imagine it's all connected but I can't see how clearing the bottom part will clear the bump below her eye. Maybe once I remove what I can see inside the hole, I can then slowly press on the bump and work it lower to the hole?...

I hope that made sense. It's so hard to explain.

 

[casportpony]

It does make sense. I would start by clearing out the hole. That area of the face is highly vascular, and sometimes it bleeds quite a bit. I have one I have to do today, so I will see if I can get pictures of it.