X-ray of Eggbound Hen- Vet Was confusing

[Sweettimesonthefarm]

All right. I have a very beloved chicken who I just brought back from the vet. The regular one wasn’t in today and they were kind of bumbling around, didn’t know what to do, didn’t know what the xray meant and so then referred to another vet that didn’t have any experience in chickens. They told me she was egg bound but I had just had one who had liver failure so I was nervous it was that and that there’s something toxic around my house.

Anyway the second vet injected oxytocin, calcium and other vitamins.

Just now we palpated her and were able to feel around the egg. It doesn’t feel that big but we’re having trouble with it.

Please take a look at the xray and tell me what you think or any tips.

 

[Sweettimesonthefarm]

I have a 2 year old ameruacana/olive egger, whos slightly underweight. She is lethargic, hardly eating, having diarrhea. Took her to the vet and they believe she is egg bound but brought her home and palpated and now we’re concerned it’s a growth instead.

To me she started getting more and more lethargic a few weeks ago, just hanging back when other birds would leave the coop but it wasn’t until 3 days ago I felt her crop and noticed it was empty. Otherwise she has been normal.

No sign of trauma, no other birds with the same symptoms.

The bird has been eating a tiny bit of nutrena pellets, oatmeal, not really interested in fruits and stuff like she normally is. Seems to be drinking fine.

The vet treated her as though she was egg bound, and gave calcium, oxytocin, vitamin b. After they gave her this dosage she declined, her face, waddle and comb became gray and I was scared they had almost killed her. The vet basically told me they don’t know how to treat chickens, I don’t know why they took my appt the regular chicken vet wasn’t in.

I have been giving epsom salt baths the last two nights. Other than palpating we haven’t done any other intervention. Both me and my husband have palpated and he believes it is attached and I am unsure. It does seem small if it is an egg it doesn’t make sense why she couldn’t pass it but maybe it is just oddly shaped.

I know it’s a lot to ask but if any of you have opinions about X-rays it is below. See if any of you agree it is a growth instead of an egg. Most of our chickens are not very close to us but this one is and we want to decide if we should drive an hour away to another vet.

Right now she’s inside, isolated in a spacious kennel and towels are her bedding.

 

[Debbie292d]

View attachment 3849753

All right. I have a very beloved chicken who I just brought back from the vet. The regular one wasn’t in today and they were kind of bumbling around, didn’t know what to do, didn’t know what the xray meant and so then referred to another vet that didn’t have any experience in chickens. They told me she was egg bound but I had just had one who had liver failure so I was nervous it was that and that there’s something toxic around my house.

Anyway the second vet injected oxytocin, calcium and other vitamins.

Just now we palpated her and were able to feel around the egg. It doesn’t feel that big but we’re having trouble with it.

Please take a look at the xray and tell me what you think or any tips.

I don't know what egg bound looks like in an x-ray, but since I see what the vet gave, they must've thought that's what it was as extra calcium causes contractions for them to expel the egg or partial egg if it had broken as does the oxytocin.

It should work within a few minutes. I'd wait though before giving her anything else until 24 hours after what the vet gave her has passed.

Another dose of calcium you can give her yourself, which is one of your own calcium pills. You'd just open her beak and set it in her mouth and hold her head still so she can't shake it out. If you don't have any, you can crush up a couple of Tums in a small amount of mash, scrambled eggs, yogurt, or small amt of something she'll eat all of so she gets it all.

A warm bath in Epsom salts would also relax her and might help.

 

[Debbie292d]

I replied on your other post https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/x-ray-of-eggbound-hen-vet-was-confusing.1626634/

Maybe someone with more experience with x-rays or tumors can take a look as I went off the other post that she was egg-bound.

Not sure if any of these folks are but they're some of our experts. @azygous @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

 

[Sweettimesonthefarm]

I replied on your other post https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/x-ray-of-eggbound-hen-vet-was-confusing.1626634/

Maybe someone with more experience with x-rays or tumors can take a look as I went off the other post that she was egg-bound.

Not sure if any of these folks are but they're some of our experts. @azygous @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

Thank you so much yes I had that post up for a while and as the evening went on I realized I wanted to better pose what was happening. I read on the main thing not to delete posts but I feel like the other one isn’t as helpful.

 

[azygous]

The vet treated for egg binding in a thorough manner. The calcium combined with oxytocin is practically guaranteed to stimulate strong contractions. If that didn't produce an egg, then it's likely something else going on. And given how long this has been going on, it's probably not an egg.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a 2 year old ameruacana/olive egger, whos slightly underweight. She is lethargic, hardly eating, having diarrhea. Took her to the vet and they believe she is egg bound but brought her home and palpated and now we’re concerned it’s a growth instead.

To me she started getting more and more lethargic a few weeks ago, just hanging back when other birds would leave the coop but it wasn’t until 3 days ago I felt her crop and noticed it was empty. Otherwise she has been normal.

No sign of trauma, no other birds with the same symptoms.

The bird has been eating a tiny bit of nutrena pellets, oatmeal, not really interested in fruits and stuff like she normally is. Seems to be drinking fine.

The vet treated her as though she was egg bound, and gave calcium, oxytocin, vitamin b. After they gave her this dosage she declined, her face, waddle and comb became gray and I was scared they had almost killed her. The vet basically told me they don’t know how to treat chickens, I don’t know why they took my appt the regular chicken vet wasn’t in.

I have been giving epsom salt baths the last two nights. Other than palpating we haven’t done any other intervention. Both me and my husband have palpated and he believes it is attached and I am unsure. It does seem small if it is an egg it doesn’t make sense why she couldn’t pass it but maybe it is just oddly shaped.

I know it’s a lot to ask but if any of you have opinions about X-rays it is below. See if any of you agree it is a growth instead of an egg. Most of our chickens are not very close to us but this one is and we want to decide if we should drive an hour away to another vet.

Right now she’s inside, isolated in a spacious kennel and towels are her bedding.



View attachment 3849988



View attachment 3850005

View attachment 3849753

All right. I have a very beloved chicken who I just brought back from the vet. The regular one wasn’t in today and they were kind of bumbling around, didn’t know what to do, didn’t know what the xray meant and so then referred to another vet that didn’t have any experience in chickens. They told me she was egg bound but I had just had one who had liver failure so I was nervous it was that and that there’s something toxic around my house.

Anyway the second vet injected oxytocin, calcium and other vitamins.

Just now we palpated her and were able to feel around the egg. It doesn’t feel that big but we’re having trouble with it.

Please take a look at the xray and tell me what you think or any tips.

We are not vets here and don't really read XRays. That said, I don't see an egg at all.

Perhaps she has Salpingitis and what you feel is lash material.
You keep mentioning you are palpating...are you also feeling inside of the vent?

If she were mine, I'd give her extra Calcium for a week. You can find Calcium Citrate with D3 at stores like Walmart, CVS, etc. Give 1 tablet daily, just pull down on the wattles, pop the pill in and let her swallow.

See if that helps her expel any material.

If she's able to get up, is somewhat mobile, can get to food/water and is not getting picked on, I would put her back with her flock and treat her from there.

Cut out oatmeal and see that she's eating her normal feed. Bits of egg, fish or meat can boost protein. Bits of favorite fruits/veggies in moderation.

Sadly, reproductive problems are all too common in laying hen, it really stinks to see them decline. Sometimes supportive care medications can be given to help extend life and provide a better quality of life for a short period of time. Often, the happiest place for a hen is with her flock even if she's not feeling the best, they can find a spot to sit quietly and just be...as long as she's not getting picked at or bullied...I'd let her chicken until she can't chicken anymore, then end the suffering.





Info about Oxytocin:
https://poultrydvm.com/drugs/oxytoc...,therefore, must be administered parenterally.

 

[Debbie292d]

Thank you so much yes I had that post up for a while and as the evening went on I realized I wanted to better pose what was happening. I read on the main thing not to delete posts but I feel like the other one isn’t as helpful.

You can delete a post like in this circumstance when it's almost the same thing. How you do it is hit the "Report" button and a box comes up asking you why. Just say "duplicate post." It's not a bad thing at all.

 

[Sweettimesonthefarm]

We are not vets here and don't really read XRays. That said, I don't see an egg at all.

Perhaps she has Salpingitis and what you feel is lash material.
You keep mentioning you are palpating...are you also feeling inside of the vent?

If she were mine, I'd give her extra Calcium for a week. You can find Calcium Citrate with D3 at stores like Walmart, CVS, etc. Give 1 tablet daily, just pull down on the wattles, pop the pill in and let her swallow.

See if that helps her expel any material.

If she's able to get up, is somewhat mobile, can get to food/water and is not getting picked on, I would put her back with her flock and treat her from there.

Cut out oatmeal and see that she's eating her normal feed. Bits of egg, fish or meat can boost protein. Bits of favorite fruits/veggies in moderation.

Sadly, reproductive problems are all too common in laying hen, it really stinks to see them decline. Sometimes supportive care medications can be given to help extend life and provide a better quality of life for a short period of time. Often, the happiest place for a hen is with her flock even if she's not feeling the best, they can find a spot to sit quietly and just be...as long as she's not getting picked at or bullied...I'd let her chicken until she can't chicken anymore, then end the suffering.





Info about Oxytocin:
https://poultrydvm.com/drugs/oxytocin#:~:text=Oxytocin is a nonapeptide hypothalamic,therefore, must be administered parenterally.

Thank you so much that was very helpful and thorough. I looked just briefly now into salpingitis and I appreciate you bringing it up. It’s another possible lead if anything!

Palpating is the word we use with cows not sure what it is for chickens but yes we explored the vent with gloves and coconut oil using a finger gently, another user posted video on how to get out an egg that’s egg bound and we followed instruction there.

We will definitely get calcium and looking into salpingitis- I do agree with your ultimate recommendation, as hard as it is. Thank you.