UGLY PROLAPSE - HELP!

[BigBlueHen53]

there was a fourth vet who briefly saw Ruby and said that I could've put SUGAR on the prolapse.

In one of James Herriott's books (All Things Bright And Beautiful, All Creatures Great and Small, etc.), the author, a country vet, tells of his boss's treatment of a cow with a prolapsed uterus. Treatment was to support the organ on a clean slab or tray of some kind, sprinkle it liberally with common table sugar, and insert it back into the vulva, tacking the opening with a stitch or two. (The cow's hind feet, IIRC, were first stood on some kind of raised support or blocks so they were higher than her front feet.) The sugar caused the organ to shrink as it pulled moisture from the membranes, and I believe (???) also served to sterilize the field(???) Not positive about that last, has been a while since I read these books.

 

[Perris]

In one of James Herriott's books (All Things Bright And Beautiful, All Creatures Great and Small, etc.), the author, a country vet, tells of his boss's treatment of a cow with a prolapsed uterus. Treatment was to support the organ on a clean slab or tray of some kind, sprinkle it liberally with common table sugar, and insert it back into the vulva, tacking the opening with a stitch or two. (The cow's hind feet, IIRC, were first stood on some kind of raised support or blocks so they were higher than her front feet.) The sugar caused the organ to shrink as it pulled moisture from the membranes, and I believe (???) also served to sterilize the field(???) Not positive about that last, has been a while since I read these books.

Sugar is still used by one of Herriot's trainees and successors here to shrink a prolapsed uterus (cleaning beforehand is done with plenty of water and modern liquid cleanser), and the stiches are done with a large ribbon that the farmer can remove in due course. A TV show called 'The Yorkshire Vet' shows it sometimes.

 

[MaeM]

Update:

Today I took Ruby to the avian specialist who operated her. The other vet showed him the images of her oviduct and the avian vet confirmed the diagnosis of salpingitis.

BUT he said that it's too early to tell if it's chronic or acute. He extended the Enrofloxacin from 15 days to 20 days, and we will repeat the ultrasound by then.

He said that after that, if her oviduct is still inflammed, he will prescribe another round of antibiotics. But not Enro, because as some of you said, it would mess up with the bacteria in her gut and etc.

If that 2nd round of antibiotics doesn't do anything, only then, he will say that her salpingitis is chronic and we'll see how to proceed.

For the time being, I must continue with Enro twice a day, and provide her with no more than 8 hours of light. He wants to make sure that she spends as much as possible without laying an egg so that her body can recover more easily.

Still, I have to give her high protein foods as she lost some weight in the middle of all this.

As for what caused her salpingitis, there are no tests available but he took into account that Ruby's sister, Bianca, had some sort of pneumonia last year, survived it and often lays soft-shelled eggs and he said that they're probably carriers of the infectious bronchitis virus.

Some birds (the rest of my flock) are asymptomatic. Some others have their lungs attacked by the virus (Bianca, currently with tracheal stenosis). But the virus also likes to attack the hens' oviducts. So there you have it.

Nothing to do about it other than not introducing new birds to the flock and just keep an eye on the current members...

 

[azygous]

Thanks for the very informative post. It's wonderful she's getting such good treatment.

You may give her a daily probiotic, pill form, as all antibiotics are hard on good intestinal microbes to some extent.

 

[MaeM]

Today I took Ruby to the vet and he repeated the ultrasound.

We were expecting to see her oviduct with less or no inflammation (after a round of antibiotics), but instead, he said that it is atrophied.

This decreases her chances of going back to laying eggs, which are good news because she will be healthier this way (especially after that ugly prolapse).

The vet told me to stop the antibiotics. Now, the only "treatment" will be providing her with a maximum of 8-9 hours of light per day. Not more because we don't want her to produce an egg.

And if she spends another month without laying an egg, that's it, she will definitely become infertile, and stay with me as the awesome pet she is.

Here's a picture of her after the ultrasound. I find her posture very funny. Like, the device is not even there anymore but she continued with her legs open for a while probably feeling weird about the gel.

 

[azygous]

Just imagine the experiences our cherished backyard chickens get to have that commercial flocks don't. What a little sweetie.

 

[MaeM]

Guys, you won't believe this. Hell, I can't even believe it.

Today I went back from work and Ruby had a ****ing prolapse again. I found a weird shaped egg with some blood that perhaps is hers, though she had yolk in the prolapse so IDK.

I don't know if she is going to make it, guys. In a way, I don't want her to make it because this is too much for her, and for me.

She went through another surgery, in which the vet fixed the prolapse, removed necrotic tissue, and repaired a ****ing HOLE that she had on the oviduct.

She had a hole and yolk was leaking from it.

I can't explain what I feel right now. They let me see her after the surgery. She lost a lot of blood and was in respiratory distress. They put an oxygen mask on her.

She had her eyes closed, she reacted to my voice but could barely keep them open.

The vet told me that if she survives this, she must be neutered, but she must be stable first (after all, it is another surgery) and not lay an egg in the meantime.

I don't...see it.

Now, I had to leave her there. Hospitalized in another city.

I kinda said goodbye to her when I left. I don't know if she will survive this and I don't think it is a good thing that she survives this because now she is suffering, and then she must be neutered. It is too much.

I'm going to sleep now, it's super late here. They will communicate with me in the morning.

 

[MaeM]

Guys, you won't believe this. Hell, I can't even believe it.

Today I went back from work and Ruby had a ****ing prolapse again. I found a weird shaped egg with some blood that perhaps is hers, though she had yolk in the prolapse so IDK.

I don't know if she is going to make it, guys. In a way, I don't want her to make it because this is too much for her, and for me.

She went through another surgery, in which the vet fixed the prolapse, removed necrotic tissue, and repaired a ****ing HOLE that she had on the oviduct.

She had a hole and yolk was leaking from it.

I can't explain what I feel right now. They let me see her after the surgery. She lost a lot of blood and was in respiratory distress. They put an oxygen mask on her.

She had her eyes closed, she reacted to my voice but could barely keep them open.

The vet told me that if she survives this, she must be neutered, but she must be stable first (after all, it is another surgery) and not lay an egg in the meantime.

I don't...see it.

Now, I had to leave her there. Hospitalized in another city.

I kinda said goodbye to her when I left. I don't know if she will survive this and I don't think it is a good thing that she survives this because now she is suffering, and then she must be neutered. It is too much.

I'm going to sleep now, it's super late here. They will communicate with me in the morning.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Aww, Mae, I'm so sorry. I've been following this. The two of you have been through so much. Nobody can tell you what to do, it's your call. You've done so much for her. It's obvious you love her and don't want her to suffer. Your love will help you make the right decision. Blessings to you both.

 

[MaeM]

She made it through the night. She no longer needs oxygen but she doesn't want to eat or drink.

I want to try feeding her myself but she is really far from me.

The vet took this picture of her.

I still think this isn't a good idea but I can't cull her when she looks like this.

At the same time, I don't know if she is letting herself die by not eating or she is "simply" in pain.

If she survives this, she will be neutered in about 10 days.