Suprelorin implant (Virbac) stops hens with egg peritonitis laying anymore

[Lshepherd]

Normally, simply supplying a proper diet will cure the problem.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...er-egg-problems-causes-and-cures#comment-list

Then;

http://hoeggerfarmyard.com/calcium-the-key-to-beautiful-eggs-and-healthy-hens/

"Supplement now; avoid issues later
Many people ask “If my hens have good shells now, why supplement at all?” The problem with egg shells and calcium is that when you start to notice problems, there could already underlying issues which can be dangerous or even life-threatening to your hens. Waiting until seeing a soft shell just means gambling with some of your best laying hens. Why gamble?"

 

[Daisyflower]

Thanks Gold for your thread on this topic. My girl Beryl had an implant a week ago. I'm worried her belly might be filling up with fluid again but after reading your post it may be the case that she needs it syringed again because the implant takes a little time to work. Beryl my hen is so beautiful and I love her dearly. I've got a terrific Avian vet im Melbourne. Will see him in about a week for a follow up. Thanks again for your post.

 

[tofupup]

My understanding is that the implant has been out of stock worldwide since August and was expected to be shipped out again from its manufacturer at the end of October, but no one in the U.S. has gotten it yet. Do you know if your vet had an old one in stock that he used on Beryl, or if the manufacturer is finally shipping them out again?!?! Because I, and many other people in the U.S., are freaking out that there are no implants available right now. When you go back to your vet in a week, can you ask him?

 

[Gold Coaster]

Hello Daisyflower and Tofupup.

I'm sorry I didn't see your messages sooner and I hope I'm not too late to offer you some advice for your chicken Beryl, Daisyflower.

I've been using the Suprelorin implant for quite a few years now and with various chooks for different problems.

The Avian Vet and a general dog/cat vet (who also administers the Suprelorin implant for me without me having to travel to the Avian Vet in Brisbane) told me that after 7 days the implant is in full effect. It's a gradual process. If Beryl is still heavy with fluid she needs to be drained by a skilled Avian Vet, because there is the risk of puncturing an air sac. It happened to one my chickens once, luckily she survived and an infection did not set in. If you do not seek veterinary assistance, Beryl can still pull through, but it will be a long process as she will need to reabsorb the fluid into her system, and if she is an older chook she might struggle with it. It can take up to a month or more. There is also the risk that the pressure of the fluid can cause inflammation to her organs that can make her very sick and maybe even result in death.

Unfortunately, even after the fluid has been drained, there will always be some egg matter left behind that will 'mummify' inside her abdomen (the vet's words not mine). This will become a toxin to her system that can cause problems down the line such as a stroke. The only way this mummified egg matter can be removed is by surgery, where she will need to be put under. It's a very expensive procedure and there are risks involved, but I cannot provide any feedback as I have never requested this surgery.

Tofupup, you're spot on. My Avian Vet still had some 6 month Suprelorin implants available, but he had limited stock. My dog/cat vet has run out completely and he is in Burleigh on the Gold Coast. However, there is another option. An injectable drug that an Avian Vet can obtain, but it's more costly than Suprelorin (double the price) and needs to be injected once a month I think? Ask your Avian Vet about it because I can't recall the name. I believe it's a liquid drug and not an implant, because it needs to be diluted depending on the size of the bird or chicken etc.

The Suprelorin implant may be available again at the beginning of next year, at least that's what I've been told. Unfortunately, it seems that the 1 year Suprelorin implant may be discontinued permanently, as it was rarely requested. This is all what my Avian Vet was telling me when I last visited him for two implants about 2 weeks ago, but I'm not sure if the same goes for the states Tofupup.

Daisyflower, the best thing you can do for Beryl is to jot down when she had the implant and make sure you put the next implant in before 6 months has expired. The implant can last longer or shorter than 6 months, so be extremely vigilant. There are tell tale signs with number 5 being the most urgent:

1. Her comb will get larger and brighter red.
2. She will become more active.
3. She will eat more than usual.
4. She will be visiting the next boxes even if she doesn't lay anything
5. Her abdomen will fill up with fluid as she lays internally.

Let me know how you go with Beryl Daisyflower. If either of you do find out the name of the drug I mentioned please post it up on this thread for all to read up on.

Cheers,
Gold Coaster

 

[tofupup]

Actually, the Suprelorin/Deslorelin implant is back in stock worldwide (including the U.S.) now. I just got five hens implanted with it last week and another hen this week. Since the manufacturer is in Australia, it should be available now in Australia easily. Virbac is the U.S. distributor, and if your vet orders from them (rather than the manufacturer directly) they won't get to the vet until end of November.

And, yes, the alternative to the Deslorelin/Suprelorin implant is the Lupron injection. This costs about $100 USD but only lasts one month. And they develop antibodies to it, so you can only use it a few times.

The average time I've had the implants last is four months, but it's well worth it

I hope Beryl got hers!!!!!!!!

 

[missypebble]

Great post and thanks to the OP!!
A few hours ago, I lost my beloved hen and it could have been a case of EYP or tumor - I am not sure. I took her to the vet earlier today, he drained the fluid out from her body, but it was not a clear liquid fluid, rather, it was a light red fluid - not good at all. He didn't explain much to me what it was, but I was hoping he didn't puncture her in the wrong places. I took her home, then she went downhill from there. I'll mourn over her death for years for sure...I have a soft spot for hens...

Anyway, I have one more hen who is 4 year old, RIR. She did have a case of passing out a perfect egg with no shell, then soft shell eggs. I got lucky that she managed to pull through and still with me, but because of what had happened to my other hen, I'm determined to get the implant for my surviving RIR.

I heard about Lupron, but never heard about Suprelorin implant until I did a post in BYC. I'm going to call the vet tomorrow to ask about it and I'll report back here so others will know as well.

...things we do for our beloved chickens!

 

[tofupup]

My vet has the implants in stock in California, while everyone else I know is being told they won't be avail. until mid-Dec. If I only had a few hens, I would get them all the implant, as it also seems to suppress tumor growth in addition to stopping laying.

so sorry about your poor hen who passed. I've had hens who had bloody fluid in their abdomens (drained at vet during surgery) and it was almost always because of tumors.

 

[missypebble]

Hi tofupup - thanks for letting me know about the bloody fluid. Gosh...I can't imagine how painful it must be for hens to experience a tumor growth! The vet did the radiograph and said there's a "mass" in there, but it wasn't sure if it was because of the yolk built up or if it was something else, like cancer/ tumor. My visit yesterday's morning - Friday, with him, he told his assistant later to tell me that if I'd like, he would do an autopsy on her at no charge to find out. I don't think I'll want to do that. She'll be cremated....sorry if that seems strange.

You did mention about changes in personalities - did this happen to all of your hens? I've read that someone used to have a hen who used to be at the highest pecking order, then after the implant, she's at the lowest pecking order - did you see this happen with yours? Are you raising your hens as pets? Your icon suggests you rescue ex-battery hen as well (that was just a wild guess...)?

 

[tofupup]

Yes, missypebble! I run a non-profit 501c3 sanctuary for hens rescued from the egg industry and elsewhere.

There is a forum for people who have rescued ex-batts where they talk all about the implant: http://exbatteryhens.com/index/ .

You have to be approved to join that forum, but I think you would really appreciate it because everyone there has rescued their hens and they've been doing the implant in Europe (where there are so many groups doing mass rescues) for years now. It has only recently begun to catch on in the U.S.

But if you join that forum, you will be able to learn from decades of cummulative experience of people with rescued laying hens. I highly recommend it!

And yes, there was some personality change, but it depends on the bird. In general, I think they because less sassy, more reserved. Their feathers all grow back beautiful and plush, and their combs will shrink. In some birds, they got more energy (I guess the ones who were sick with EYP prior to being implanted) and in others, they just got more relaxed and didn't fight as much. (I have about 20 of the flock implanted; all donations go toward implants.)

Also -- I have a large hen that someone dumped here last summer because she wasn't laying enough, and she has a huge tumor in her body wall. She is not in pain, however, as is evidenced by her incredible energy and appetite. I think the fluid bulid-up is more uncomofortable than the tumor in many cases.

You should just join that ex-batts forum and you will be so excited to talk to other rescuers who are using the implant to stop laying and cure their hens.

 

[Gold Coaster]

Hello Missypebble,

'You did mention about changes in personalities - did this happen to all of your hens? I've read that someone used to have a hen who used to be at the highest pecking order, then after the implant, she's at the lowest pecking order - did you see this happen with yours?'

Yes, personality change will happen to all chickens on the Suprelorin implant. They will fall into two categories:

You'll have some hens that will suddenly have more energy, and happily bounce around like spring chickens. Their combs will still shrink, but they will be happy go-lucky in every other way. I've noticed this in my younger hen on the implant and also one older hen (5+ years) that had Egg Yolk Peritonitis and finally got some relief when she was put on the implant.

As for the majority of my hens, they suddenly become more quiet, reserved and appear lethargic. My Avian Vet described this as 'Screensaver' mode. They still eat, scratch, dust and walk around, but their personalities are toned down. The Avian Vet believes this is due to some chickens' personalities being linked to their reproductive cycle. As soon as the implant wears off, their personalities return. One of my chooks is 5+ years and is the head of the pecking order between 19 other hens. She has been on the implant for a couple of years and has never lost her position.

They will definitely all go into a heavy moult but their feathers will grow back more beautiful and lush than before. This is due to all their food intake being used for their own system rather than egg production. However, their combs will shrink and sometimes even go pale. If it goes dry and flaky just apply Aloe Vera gel frequently to moisturise it. Unfortunately this is a side effect of the implant that will occur in all chickens.

Cheers,
Gold Coaster