Vent prolapse - NEED HELP

[kokopelli91]

Oh man, went from using the computer to using my phone to take and add pictures and it's not user friendly this way, so I'm sorry if things look weird as responses.

I gave her a bath, slathered the prolapse with Neosporin and tucked it back in, covered it in hydrocortisone cream, then wrapped a horse-sized roll of vet tape in kind of a harness to try to keep things where they should be. She can't walk too great at the moment, but I don't think I made it too tight - maybe just a bit uncomfortable. Here's pictures of her and the prolapse - it looks better in the pictures than it does when it's fully "out", it was actually kinda pulled close to her when I got the pictures as I was blow-drying her with a towel over her head to try to keep her calmer. Hopefully they upload correctly, here goes nothing.

I'm gonna keep my fingers, toes, and eyes crossed that this works.

 

[CoriM]

Good for you. Maybe if you can keep it tucked in for a few days swelling will go down, muscles strengthen and it will stay in. So far my girl has had luck that way, though she hasn't laid any eggs yet.

 

[Tookie]

You might want to take a look at this thread.->
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/successful-vent-prolapse-treatment-with-photos.1101406/

 

[kokopelli91]

Good for you. Maybe if you can keep it tucked in for a few days swelling will go down, muscles strengthen and it will stay in. So far my girl has had luck that way, though she hasn't laid any eggs yet.

I sure hope so. I went into the laundry room where the crate is a few minutes ago to check on her and it definitely smells much better in there than it did before her bath - I'm hoping to have a good update here in a few days.

 

[kokopelli91]

You might want to take a look at this thread.->
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/successful-vent-prolapse-treatment-with-photos.1101406/

That's the one I used for reference with the vet tape! I definitely didn't get it perfect, but it's harder to wrap a hen that I thought it'd be. Especially when she's trying to eat everything on the bathroom shelf.

 

[Tookie]

That's the one I used for reference with the vet tape! I definitely didn't get it perfect, but it's harder to wrap a hen that I thought it'd be. Especially when she's trying to eat everything on the bathroom shelf.

I saw somewhere else that they would also tilt the chicken forward to help the prolapse go back in, along with the vet tape.

 

[CoriM]

How's your girl doing today? How are you holding up?

 

[kokopelli91]

How's your girl doing today? How are you holding up?

She's doing about the same. The vet tape didn't hold, so I've been putting Neosporin on the prolapse and hydrocortisone cream on the vent after it's put back in to help make things more snug there to keep it in place. She's laid another 3 eggs, even though she's on reduced light, so I'm not sure how that's been working haha. I'm hoping she'll be up to snuff by this weekend. If I never have to touch another chicken butt in my life, it'll be too soon.

 

[CoriM]

I hear you - I was so traumatized that it was hard to even look at your pictures, much less think about going through it again. Did you read something that recommended putting Neosporin on the prolapse? I'd be interested to see that link. I'm sorry she's still laying eggs! That makes healing difficult, but winter is on the way and hoping that works in your favor.

 

[kokopelli91]

I hear you - I was so traumatized that it was hard to even look at your pictures, much less think about going through it again. Did you read something that recommended putting Neosporin on the prolapse? I'd be interested to see that link. I'm sorry she's still laying eggs! That makes healing difficult, but winter is on the way and hoping that works in your favor.

I can only imagine, you just went through this as well! I don't remember if I read anything about neosporin specifically, but I figured it'll work to help any possible infection around there - and if it doesn't, it definitely helps to lubricate it a little so it's easier to get it to go back where it's supposed to be. The hydrocortisone seems to be helping a bit though! I sure hope she realizes it's almost winter and just stops laying for a bit - two of my other hens molted last month and I think they're taking the rest of the year off, which is fine! Our other Orpington laid almost all through last winter, so I hope my little Henrietta doesn't decide to follow suit!