What are the Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure in Chickens?

[the Old Rebel]

Does anyone know the symptoms of congestive heart failure in chickens? I've got a 5 and 1/2 year old hen whose feathers are ruffled. Her comb is pale (although it doesn't seem as pale tonight as it has been). She makes a small honking noise when she breathes sometimes. She has developed a baseball-sized ball behind her legs that is soft, not hard. She eats and drinks and walks around the house, pecking at the floor when we let her out of the infirmary cage she is in. She is not in the penguin position. She's been like this for about three weeks. We've already been through a week of Terramycin. I don't think she is egg-bound or internally laying, but what do I know?? For some reason, I think it may be congestive heart failure. If that is the case, is there ANYTHING I can do for her??

Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

[joedie]

I THINK I read on here that the comb may be blueish? I can't remember the post but I think Speckled Hen answered it. You might try to PM her.

 

[seminolewind]

I think more info is needed. Pale comb may mean parasites of some kind. , she might be anemic? Tumor? Actually CHF can be edema in the lungs and body.

 

[chickensioux]

Hi friend!!! I have searched and searched different diseases, etc. Look up "aspergillosis" in poultry. Nothing that I have read about encompasses all of her symptoms. I'll keep searching tho'. Hugs....

 

[speckledhen]

Heart issues result in a purplish comb and sometimes very shallow, rapid breathing. I lost a pullet whose heart basically exploded due to a previously unknown defect. When their abdomen is full of fluid/infection, the comb will turn deep purplish-red on and off due to stress on their organs. Terramycin is useless. If she has an infection in there, she needs penicillin injections. If she has ascites (just fluid buildup) she needs to have the abdomen drained.

 

[Nan C]

First let me say I am sorry to hear your chicken is not well. Though I do not know what is wrong with your chicken, I would like to share some info on heart failure. My rooster was diagnosed wih heart failure at the University of Florida Small animal Hospital this past weekend. I noticed his eyes were sucken in. He was breathing though his beek which was part open and his breathing was making as gouging sound. The local vet sent me to the university. He has many heart issues including An irregular heart beat and enlarged heart. Because of this he has accumulation of fluid in the lungs. His treatment is complicated with 4 heart meds. It requires mixing these drugs and tubing this mixture into his crop. His prognosis is grave.

Hopefully this can help with symptoms to look for. These are the symptoms my rooster has but they might be different in other chickens.

 

[seminolewind]

Nan, this is an old thread but really useful information. I believe I had one as well. It's pretty cool that you ended up at UF. What meds is he on? I love my roosters too, I know many don't find much value in them, but all mine have been really nice. Welcome to BYC!

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC!

-Kathy

 

[Nan C]

Spanky is om Pimobendan to slow his heart rate and help the heart pump blood better. Digoxin treats the heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Enalapril helps vasodilator the blood vessels so the heart doesn't have to work so hard. And lastly. Furosemide to remove fluid from the lungs.

The U of F has not seem this in chickens so they are excited to be able to work with Spanky so they learn from him and help other chickens in the future.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you so much for sharing. Sure hope the meds and your TLC help Spanky to feel better.