Thought egg bound, autopsy revealed…

[JAcres]

My poor leghorn. Found her laying in odd spot yesterday. Thought she was egg bound because a leghorn last year was a bit weird. Anyways, did all the nursing tips to help pass egg and she passed later. Autopsy was gross. So swollen and belly full of whatever this yellow stuff is. Can anyone tell me what in the world causes the guts to swell that much and what is that yellow gunk?

 

[JAcres]

Anyone?

 

[FeatherAndBloom]

Out of curiosity I googled this and the internet says egg yolk peritonitis. “Cooked egg appearance” with swelling in the internal cavity could indicate a bacterial infection. Wondering if there is a lash egg in there. From what I’ve read this is a super common disease though and usually looks WAY crazier with yellow hard fat/egg appearance everywhere. Lots of pics on BYC to compare. Maybe start there to compare? I wonder if anyone who has more experience can weigh in. Sorry for your loss

 

[C Siena]

Anyone?

I am not sure but also wanting to know what other members say.
Was there anything else you noticed as unusual in your autopsy?
How was she behaving before she passed? Eating? Drinking? Walking ok?

 

[Eggcessive]

I am not exactly sure of what was happening with your leghorn hen. It would have been good to see more of the organs—liver, spleen, intestines. And maybe to cut open one of the masses. Oviduct cancer comes to mind, but the veins going through the tissue sort of screams cancer. Lash material could be inside those masses. If you have any other pictures, that might help. I will tag @Wyorp Rock and @azygous for opinions.

 

[JAcres]

Didn’t notice her acting strange til yesterday morning. She was just laying on the ground in the sun, feet curled, one wing out and slight cut on top of head by comb maybe. I gave nutri dense and she stood a slight second..but then just stuck her head in a corner in the hospital and laid there closing her eyes. No drinking no eating. Very lethargic. After nurtidense her feet opened some and I was hopefully that was a positive sign. Kept checking on her and saw ants climbing on her. Tried epsom salt bath and after drying her, she went downhill. Shortly there after she passed. Unfortunately I didn’t take many pics as I guess I should have. This is the only pic. Heart seems pretty small and everything was just gross. Gizzard was maybe pretty big too if that’s the hard blueish part.

Thanks for everyone’s input

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Looks like the Oviduct was full of material. I'd say she had Salpingitis, but without seeing more, it's just a guess.

I'm sorry about your hen.

 

[C Siena]

Looks like the Oviduct was full of material. I'd say she had Salpingitis, but without seeing more, it's just a guess.

I'm sorry about your hen.

When we do an autopsy, should we take as many pictures as possible, showing condition of all organs?

I know to some this may be unacceptable, but should we post pictures and save the wrapped body in the fridge for a day in-case anyone has questions about a body part/organ?

I ask because in the early times, before I culled a bird, We lost a hen and I did not open her. I thought she was egg bound then what I noticed in the bath I gave her, it was yellow and almost like a partially cooked yellow. Now, I would open to check out.

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes, it is good to see the organs as they lie inside the abdomen. Then some will remove the major organs and take pictures of them. It would be fine to keep the body refrigerated iif you need to send any specimens in to your state vet or have a second look again yourself. Here is a good video of a vet necropsy:

 

[C Siena]

Yes, it is good to see the organs as they lie inside the abdomen. Then some will remove the major organs and take pictures of them. It would be fine to keep the body refrigerated iif you need to send any specimens in to your state vet or have a second look again yourself. Here is a good video of a vet necropsy:

Thank you.