Urgent crop issue

[MandS]

I have another post on here, so forgive me posting twice but my need is pretty urgent and it might get missed.

We have an ill chicken. Salpingitis with a large mass in her abdomen. She is on antibiotics and pain relief.

She has not eaten for 3 days now but is drinking all the time.

The problem: Her crop is absolutely full - even if I remove water as she falls asleep, in the morning the thing is like a balloon.

What can I do? It is not draining but it is not smelly either (her breath is fine).

I am trying to use Emeraid Omnivore today but I am concerned that she is so full, it will possibly flow out of her as she moves her head down.

Any advice please? I need to get some food into her pretty urgently but cannot understand why the crop is this distended.

 

[Chookchicken]

Try massaging her crop, it helps sometimes, and in situations like this anything that might help is worth a try. I don’t know very much about this and so far this is all the info I can give you (considering your already doing everything else I would recommend). I am wishing you and your chickens the best of luck

 

[theoldchick]

The mass might have grown to the point where the crop can no longer empty. Try massaging it gently and withhold all food for six hours and see if the crop reduces in size.

 

[Waves]

I think @azygous would suggest to give her Miconazole but maybe she can detail more!

 

[azygous]

In the past, I've been leery of the women's vaginal yeast cream available in Europe since it has alcohol in it. But some weeks back, a European member decided to use it anyway since the situation was desperate, and it seemed to have no ill effects. It sounds like this hen has a yeasty crop. It may be impacted, as well. Here's my tutorial on crop issues that can hopefully guide you. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[MandS]

Sorry for my delay in responding. The day did not go well....

I phoned another vet who is prepared to do the operation to remove the congealed egg mass that must have been pressing on her stomach and intestines. She was not local so suggested I get Rosie stabalised first by removing the fluid from the crop and then feeding her with Emeraid. So I took her to my usual vet.

She didn't have sour crop - just 120ml of clear water with some food remnants in it. He then gave her Emeraid straight into the crop and injected her with some water and glucose to give her a bit of hydration and energy.

However she came out looking a completely different chicken - before she was standing up and very alert, now she was basically defeated. Just lying still and with her eyes closed.

We took her home and let her rest. When I came to get her to go to the other vet's, she was head down and little short breaths. There was a clicking noise as she breathed and I knew she wouldn't even make a car trip let alone an operation. If I stroked her, she spoke quietly. I put her onto my lap and kept stroking her. After a while she suddenly looked up, all alert, looked at me and then took 3 breaths, each one bigger than the first, and died.

I cannot tell you how devastated I am. Not only have I lost my beloved little pet but also the goal was so close. I keep going through the "if onlys" and realise if I had found the other vet (who was recommended to me only the evening before, she may have lived. This vet was very kind and said she did these operations quite a lot (chicken specialist) and although some are lost on the operating table, most are not.

I know where to go in the future but it is too late for Rosie.

So thank you for all your help. Yesterday is not a day I would like to repeat ever again.

 

[theoldchick]

So sorry for your loss. Don't let the second thoughts, what ifs beat you down. You did your very best. Time, however, was not on your side.

 

[Chookchicken]

It isn’t your fault, I think everyone who loses something they love goes through the “what if” stage. It’s best just to remember that it isn’t your fault and you’ll learn from your mistakes. She had an incredible life, and you gave her all the love she could every ask for. Through life and death she will always be by your side even if you can’t see her she is always there. I am very sorry about your loss, and I’m hoping the rest of your flock the best of health

 

[ChicNmom]

So sorry to hear that. The "what if's " will just make you crazy and break your heart.

The reality is that it's really hard to know exactly what is going internally with chickens.
She was lucky to have an owner that cared enough to try. I'm sure you gave her a great life and she appreciated it.

 

[MandS]

Thank you so much for your kind words.

I wish you all the best with your flocks and me and our flock send our love.