Suspected Water Belly. Can't Pull Fluid with 18G x 1" Needle

[RebeccaC83]

Good morning Everyone,

I've searched through the posts on this topic, but there aren't too many. I have a 3.5 year old Easter Egger who is my girl...basically my spirit chicken. I've suspected water belly for a while (she is no longer laying), but each time her bouts of lethargy and a swollen belly have resolved on their own. This morning she is in dire straights. I found her in the coop this AM, head down, puffed out and eyes closed. Her belly is swollen, pretty hard and red. I immediately gave calcium and some Nutridench.

I gave her butt a bath and finally pulled out my 60ml syringe and 18G needle & attempted to draw some fluid. I used alcohol and iodine to clean the area beforehand. The first time I got 1-2ml of clear, yellow fluid. The second time, I just encountered so much vacuum that I wasn't able to pull anything. I stuck her 2x in the same area, 3" down from the vent and 1-2" over to the right. I have attached some photos showing where I inserted the needle and how distended her belly is.

I know that if this is water belly, it is a terminal condition. But I'm suspecting it may not be? Either way, I was hoping to optimize her time with us. I only have 4 birds, so they are pets. Any advice or thoughts would be most appreciated. Thank you!

 

[Eggcessive]

She may have salpingitis (masses of solidified egg material) or cancer. I usually do a necropsy on hens when I lose one or suspect water belly to try and find the cause. Fatty liver disease, egg yolk peritonitis, and heart failure are other causes of water belly. After draining a hen with water belly, they can develop infection or thickened fluid which may not come out of the needle. Hard to know the reason for this. Many times when you get some fluid out, it will continue to drip through the needle hole for a few hours.

 

[RebeccaC83]

Thank you @Eggcessive. She just passed, but I appreciate you for giving some insight. She was in pain, so I'm so happy she went before I had to take other measures.