Sour crop- is it to late to save her?

[Sally PB]

Sending hope and love and hugs.

@azygous, thank you for being so helpful here on BYC. @#lovemychickens, thank you for taking such good care of your girl.

 

[azygous]

There may be something in the intestines or other parts of the digestive tract that the sulfa isn't able to respond to, a blockage such as a tumor. There's no way to know, but an infection should be responding to the sulfa by now, and the crop should be draining better than it is.

I'm only bringing this up because it would explain why we aren't seeing the progress we should be seeing at this point. It doesn't mean that this is a diagnosis. Even a vet wouldn't be able to tell without fancy imaging equipment.

All we can do is keep up with the meds, and hope they kick in soon.

One thing I've tried when a crop refuses to empty is to massage very gently, keeping to the lowest part of the crop, while cupping the crop in the other hand to elevate it so it is even with the crop drain on that diagram. This will help empty the crop unless there's a solid blockage downstream preventing it.

Yes, I'm very worried, too. Sometimes doing all we can isn't enough.

 

[azygous]

Cup her crop in your left hand and lift it up about two inches while making a tiny circular motion on the crop with your right fingers. Or just sit and hold her while raising the crop up two inches. Sort of like you're cupping a boob.

I don't think coconut oil will help. By the way, your innovation mixing the Nystatin in a little coconut oil is one way I've given Nystatin. Great minds.

 

[#lovemychickens]

This is the hardest part of keeping and loving chickens. When I have this situation and I know in my heart that there is no chance of my patient making it, I give myself and my patient a deadline, say tomorrow morning. If she is the same or worse, there is no more thinking involved. I just do it.

Damn this is hard! I think I’m going to say by tomorrow evening if she is the same then it just has to be done. I will give the medstatin a chance to work tonight and all day tomorrow.. and go from there. Thank you for helping me!

 

[micstrachan]

I'm so sorry about your hen. You are in good hands with azygous. I do wonder if your hen is getting dehydrated, which can make her weak. Do you have access to a vet (avian or otherwise) who might be able to administer subcutaneous fluids? It's just a thought.

I'm so sorry things are looking bad for your girl. Last summer I had a hen who had gotten severely anemic and seemed to have blood in her stool (stools were black). They did an x-ray to check for hardware disease, and it was negative for metal. She had gassy bloated intestines, and the avian vet did not know why. They prescribed an antibiotic and barium sulfate to coat (and hopefully sooth) her intestines. Amazingly, she eventually recovered! I had tried a different feed around that time and wonder if she had some sort of sensitivity to it.

I know this is a long shot, but I wonder if there is something you could administer that might coat and sooth her gastrointestinal tract? The trouble is, with a full crop that easily vomits, administering any liquid into the crop seems risky. I wonder if a pepto bismol type tablet might help give her intestines a chance to recover?

Also, the deep red comb sounds possibly like her infection could be going septic. Would you be wiling to check her temperature?

I know I am late to the thread and throwing wild ideas out there. Please know that if you feel it is time to let her go, I support you in that, as well.

Big hug.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'm so sorry this isn't going well. My heart is with you, I know how hard this is. So many of us have been there, and we're right there with you. Hugs and prayers to get you through.

 

[azygous]

As long as a chicken is fighting to live, I will put everything I have into the battle. Like my marathon with my Blue Australorp May. She isn't this first one I've devoted months of care and treatment to. May has never given up the fight and so I haven't, either.

I had an adopted Buff Orpinton Edith that had a significant wound on her tail nub. I spent weeks trying to get it to heal. It never did. It eventually got to where she was in significant pain and I euthanized her. I believe now the wound was actually a squamous cancer that chickens can get.

 

[KaseySnow]

So sorry that she didn't make it. You did everything you could to try and save her, I hope you can rest easy knowing that. Some people may think that's too much effort for a chicken....but everyone around here totally understands and is right there with you! They do bring a lot of joy and fun and are sweet little things. You loved her very well.

 

[micstrachan]

I’m so sorry you lost Miss Gracie, but I, too, am relieved she is no longer suffering. You did a great job with her snd she was loved.

 

[azygous]

Not too late. You are doing well in your treatment. Here's more information so you might find a way to fine tune your treatment. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Continue the miconzole twice a day for a full seven days. Update this thread as to her progress and the rest of us will offer thoughts that might help.