Very Bloated Chicken

[junebuggena]

Bloating, lethargy, weakness, and difficulty breathing are all symptoms of congestive heart failure. It mimics egg-binding/internal laying, but the added symptom of panting/shortness of breathe is a hallmark of heart trouble. And heart failure can take months to really show that something is wrong.

 

[Eggz]

We've cleaned up her bum a bit and the area underneath her vent is swollen and red, and she has runny diarrhoea... she might be off to the vet soon. Still, any more ideas?

 

[Eggz]

Thankyou for your advice everyone we are keeping her comfortable while we decide what to do next. Will keep you posted on what happens.

 

[Kiki]

I'd try to make her comfy (don't know how this could be done" or end her suffering.
She can't possible be comfy right now.

Best wishes.
Keep us updated, I'd like to know what the vet says to do.

 

[Eggz]

Hiya, we took her to the vets who said that it was either heart failure or she was egg bound badly(she suggested the yolk might have burst and be causing problems in the gut which might be why she was so swollen), and to find out more we would have had to do x-rays. She said either way she was very poorly and even if we went onto more invasive stuff there was a good chance she would die anyway. We had her put down and buried her in the garden just now. Good diagnosis everyone and thank-you for helping me out. RIP Snow.

 

[Kiki]

Hiya, we took her to the vets who said that it was either heart failure or she was egg bound badly(she suggested the yolk might have burst and be causing problems in the gut which might be why she was so swollen), and to find out more we would have had to do x-rays. She said either way she was very poorly and even if we went onto more invasive stuff there was a good chance she would die anyway. We had her put down and buried her in the garden just now. Good diagnosis everyone and thank-you for helping me out. RIP Snow.

I am sorry for you loss.
Thank you for the update.....isn't it great to have such knowledgeable people at our finger tips.
Some smart folks here on BYC.

 

[lilmillefleur]

I'm so sorry about your hen.

 

[ChickenLover200]

Sorry to hear about the loss. I was going to suggest having her put down. I had to do this with a hen of mine last week. It was hard, but I know it was for the best and I'm happy he isn't suffering anymore.