- Thread starter
- #111
lisasea
Chirping
- Nov 14, 2016
- 22
- 66
- 64
THREAD SUMMARY AND NECROPSY RESULTS
Hi all - we got fairly conclusive necropsy results back this week. It looks like Noodle was battling a chronic, likely hereditary/genetic kidney disease. For the well versed, she was diagnosed with severe necrotizing nephrosis with gout tophi (renal gout) and systemic gout (both visceral and articular, the hereditary kind). Screenshots of the actual report are below.
While gout (the remains of junk not able to be cleared by their kidneys) can be seen in an xray, we were told the root cause is nearly impossible to pinpoint without a necropsy. It doesn't bring her back, but it is comforting to know we were up against something that couldn't be beat. While it was initially emotionally hard to have her sent to a lab, we recommend this route 100% for the closure and protection of the rest of the flock. She was a very progressive chicken, and I'm sure she would have wanted her organs donated to science anyway.
For all those who are searching this thread for answers in dealing with a chicken with similar symptoms, I've provided a summary of what we learned from everyone in this thread so you don't have to read all of it in detail. Use this as a checklist and hit this thread/website for more info. I hope that you are not also dealing with kidney disease - the odds are that you are battling one of the below! Keep your head up!
Noodle's symptoms - Diarrhea increasing in severity over about 4 months. Starting as brown loose stool and evolving into clear liquid with no substance. Extreme weight loss. Completely normal behavior and energy levels until the last few weeks. Decline in appetite over the final two weeks. Had already weeded out worms and cocci before starting this thread.
Roundup of possible ailments/cures
Crop issues:
Again, thank you everyone for your time and knowledge. We know we did all we could, and are so appreciative to have had you throughout this process.
Hi all - we got fairly conclusive necropsy results back this week. It looks like Noodle was battling a chronic, likely hereditary/genetic kidney disease. For the well versed, she was diagnosed with severe necrotizing nephrosis with gout tophi (renal gout) and systemic gout (both visceral and articular, the hereditary kind). Screenshots of the actual report are below.
While gout (the remains of junk not able to be cleared by their kidneys) can be seen in an xray, we were told the root cause is nearly impossible to pinpoint without a necropsy. It doesn't bring her back, but it is comforting to know we were up against something that couldn't be beat. While it was initially emotionally hard to have her sent to a lab, we recommend this route 100% for the closure and protection of the rest of the flock. She was a very progressive chicken, and I'm sure she would have wanted her organs donated to science anyway.
For all those who are searching this thread for answers in dealing with a chicken with similar symptoms, I've provided a summary of what we learned from everyone in this thread so you don't have to read all of it in detail. Use this as a checklist and hit this thread/website for more info. I hope that you are not also dealing with kidney disease - the odds are that you are battling one of the below! Keep your head up!
Noodle's symptoms - Diarrhea increasing in severity over about 4 months. Starting as brown loose stool and evolving into clear liquid with no substance. Extreme weight loss. Completely normal behavior and energy levels until the last few weeks. Decline in appetite over the final two weeks. Had already weeded out worms and cocci before starting this thread.
Roundup of possible ailments/cures
Crop issues:
- Pendulous crop: try a crop bra - there are DIY tutorials on this site, massage crop
- Impacted crop: check for stinky breath, feed bread soaked in olive oil, consult a vet
- Flock bullying: separate to feed, or let her eat with a friend if she won't eat alone
- New feed: They might not like their feed. Try something yummy like a 20% protein grower feed (and add calcium/oyster shell for them on the side)
- Internal laying: bit of remaining egg cause bacteria to grow inside them
- Egg bound: likely not the case if these symptoms are prolonged over monthsas in our case
- Marek's disease: there's a small possibility that they can contract this despite being vaccinated
- Injuries on her feet that may be keeping her from getting food
- Food that is out of reach
- Deficiencies in diet or consumption of poisonous stuff (metals, paint, etc)
- Nutridrench: squirted directly into mouth of sick hen for extra vitamins
- Probiotics: in the flock water
- Ask your vet if you can bring your chicken there first, some are lab pickup sites - otherwise you will have to mail them in which I imagine feels awful. For Bay Area folks, Dr. McInnis in Half Moon Bay is wonderful and provides this service.
- For more info: http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/cahfs...on forms/StandardSubmissionForm_11-16_BYF.pdf
Again, thank you everyone for your time and knowledge. We know we did all we could, and are so appreciative to have had you throughout this process.
