waterbelly

[Pgmiller9]

sorry this is a duck not a chicken, but I assume the basics are the same.

3year old Pekin started to gain weight and I noticed her not going off with the Flop as often about a week ago. Then I noticed how big her butt was getting.
Her poor belly has become huge in the last week, feels like a balloon, and she has labored breathing.
Pretty sure it's not an egg bound issue I manually checked and did an Epsom salt soak.

anyway......
I decided to try to draw some of the fluid out, and instead of getting the clear yellow fluid I expected, I got black liquid.
Does this mean there's an infection?
Do I continue to draw that fluid out?

I used a 20g x 3/4" needle (that's all I had) and went down & to the right of the vent.

I cannot justify a vet bill, as much as I love her.
so Cephalexin is all i have as far as antibiotics, though I'm sure I can get fishmox.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Generally ascites indicates some sort of organ failure. Black fluid may be old blood from a hemorrhage.

 

[Pgmiller9]

Generally ascites indicates some sort of organ failure. Black fluid may be old blood from a hemorrhage.

yes I know the organ failure part, so i should just continue draining?
I only got 10ccs ...not nearly enough i feel, but I'm getting a larger syringe in the morning and draining it with that (leaving the needle in place and swapping out syringes so I don't stick her too much).

so much going on with this girl, its hard to know what to do.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I generally cull sick birds, especially if their odds of survival is low, so I cannot comment on what you should do.

Maybe @Wyorp Rock can give some advice.

 

[AmyJane725]

yes I know the organ failure part, so i should just continue draining?
I only got 10ccs ...not nearly enough i feel, but I'm getting a larger syringe in the morning and draining it with that (leaving the needle in place and swapping out syringes so I don't stick her too much).

so much going on with this girl, its hard to know what to do.

I'd get a bigger needle for draining if you can. A 14 gauge is ideal, but (in my experience at least) those are kind of hard to come by. 16 would be alright.

As far as I know, this is just a matter of time kind of thing. Birds with fluid like that basically have that fluid building up because of other major (usually un-fixable) problems. If anyone does know a true "cure" I'd be all ears.

 

[Pgmiller9]

yes I definitely need bigger needles.
had some 18g but I'll have to run to the supply store.
someone suggested egg yolk peritonitis?

I just figured she's been a good little duck, if I can make her comfortable she deserves that much.
if not I'll do her a favor and euthanize.

 

[Granitestater]

How did she resolve P? I'm draining my hen GeorgieGirl presently, my first time a this. 60 mls yest. and 130 mls today. Using 18 gauge needle. Reading I learned it's liver disease and multiple pssible causes for that. Yellow fluid here. Did you find out why yours was black? God bless your little duck. Some of us really do love our little charges.