I have often scoured this group for some of my questions, but haven't posted before. I have had chickens for 7 years, but this is the first illness we’ve experienced like this. It’s inside her mouth so getting a picture will be difficult, but the pics I've seen online are consistent with the possibilities I've listed.
Easter Egger - 4-5 years old - typically a very healthy girl - no weight loss (yet).
Originally found some issues inside her mouth after looking for worms as she was doing this weird open mouth thing and stretching her neck out. I saw white/yellow spots in various spots inside her mouth and a couple down in her throat. She’s not eating much, but is pecking around her isolation area and overall acting fairly normal. I'm thinking she may be in pain though as she doesn't even seem to be drinking well. I hand fed her some water before bed last night. I've tried mash food, and yogurt with blueberries chopped up to entice her to take some, but not taking much if any.
After lots of research I’m thinking it’s either wet pox, canker or thrush. Anyone with experience with either?
- thrush: I’ve read that anti-fungal creams work, but is that really putting an external cream inside their mouth?? I happen to have Nystatin ointment so will try that if so.
- No ideas for treatment for the other two
I think I’ve ruled out sour crop...she had a very strong smell coming from her mouth (yeasty/sour) and a pasty butt (washed her up), but she doesn’t have the common signs of crop issues, and it seems isolated to her mouth.
Any ideas?? Thanks!! A vet is a week out and I can't imagine her lasting that long if she continues to not eat. I may try half a baby aspirin later to see if that helps her to eat and drink a bit. I'm nervous to try too much syringe fluids as she struggles and I don't want to get it into her lungs.
TIA!!
Easter Egger - 4-5 years old - typically a very healthy girl - no weight loss (yet).
Originally found some issues inside her mouth after looking for worms as she was doing this weird open mouth thing and stretching her neck out. I saw white/yellow spots in various spots inside her mouth and a couple down in her throat. She’s not eating much, but is pecking around her isolation area and overall acting fairly normal. I'm thinking she may be in pain though as she doesn't even seem to be drinking well. I hand fed her some water before bed last night. I've tried mash food, and yogurt with blueberries chopped up to entice her to take some, but not taking much if any.
After lots of research I’m thinking it’s either wet pox, canker or thrush. Anyone with experience with either?
- thrush: I’ve read that anti-fungal creams work, but is that really putting an external cream inside their mouth?? I happen to have Nystatin ointment so will try that if so.
- No ideas for treatment for the other two
I think I’ve ruled out sour crop...she had a very strong smell coming from her mouth (yeasty/sour) and a pasty butt (washed her up), but she doesn’t have the common signs of crop issues, and it seems isolated to her mouth.
Any ideas?? Thanks!! A vet is a week out and I can't imagine her lasting that long if she continues to not eat. I may try half a baby aspirin later to see if that helps her to eat and drink a bit. I'm nervous to try too much syringe fluids as she struggles and I don't want to get it into her lungs.
TIA!!