Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Suzy]

I took Lottie to the vets today as she's been very subdued the last couple of days, has had a mucky behind, tail down and has been walking like John Wayne.

 

Spoke to the BHWT careline yesterday as I knew it weas unlikely to be an egg as she hasn't laid for the last 6/7 months. They said it sounded like fluid retention as the swelling in her undercarriage was soft and not hard and they suggested an injection (name of which escapes me)

 

I took her in and the vet had a good look and feel. She suggested trying to draw out some of the fluid instead of the injectiona s she didn't want to dehydrate her anymore than she possibly was. Next thing I know, Lottie has had 7 syringe fulls of clear yellow tinged fluid drawn out of her behind - about a pint apparently!

 

She's back home and has had something to eat and although she is still subdued, is definitely more comfortable than she was (not surprisingly!) and is not walking like she wants a part in a cowboy film. She even had a peck at the now integrated new girls - typical Lottie!

 

Has anyone else seen or expereinced this? The vet said the prognosis longterm was not great as it looked like it was a cyst, but I thought I would ask you all as maybe someone might have been through something similar.

[Chucky Mama]

It sounds like peritonitis and unfortunately the prognosis is not usually very good

[Suzy]

Thanks Chuckymama... I think I was secretly hoping she'd be able to go on forever...

 

She's gone to bed now and hopefully she can have a nice day in the sun tomorrow. She did have a little lie in the sun this afternoon.

 

I guess I will have to do the right thing for her at some point...

 

Suzy

[Chucky Mama]

She may well rally for a while as having the fluid drained will make her feel better. Will give you a chance to spoil her

[Egluntyne]

Yep, sounds like peritonitis.

 

I'm afraid it will return. I have had several ( all ginger hybrids) go like this.

 

I give them one chance at the vet's now, and then I cull them.

[The Dogmother]

I've had a couple of my pure breeds with it - as the others say; it's not a good outlook. I give them once chance with treatment, then despatch them as Egluntyne mentions.

[Suzy]

Thanks all. She's wolfed down some mealworms today so she certainly seems more comfortable and is eating and drinking although she is spending more and more time sat with her eyes closed. I don't think she's in pain as such as she is walking around and pecking the others too though!

 

As long as she's eating and drinking and there's some quality of life I'll keep her going but will take her to the vets to be PTS if she deteriorates.

 

If she makes it to Saturday she'll have had 18 months of living a happy life with us as an ex-batt....

 

Suzy

[The Dogmother]

They are rarely in pain, but get some discomfort when they sit/lie down as the build up of fluid presses on their internal organs and they find it hard to breathe.

[brambles]

sorry to hear this, I hope she's comfortable.

 

I'd just like to take the opportunity to thank the contributors for their knowledge and information. I'm learning things that I hope I may never need to use, but probably will. I'll be better prepared for it, thank you.

[Suzy]

Just to let you know Lottie was put to sleep this afternoon. She went very peacefully. Thanks for the advice recently.

[Tutti Frutti]

Oh no, I'm so sorry

[Chucky Mama]

Oh I am sorry, what a shame. At least you had chance to spoil her and she went peacefully.

[brambles]

I'm sorry. She'd had a good life with you and didn't suffer at the end.