Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[vickichicky]

My last Ex-Batt Benni is quiet. Last night I noticed she was tired looking & dozing off standing up in the run - normally she'd be in the middle of all the fun. She'd perk up as soon as she heard my voice but then would nod off again. The last few days she's been going to bed about an hour before the others too. She's not pluffed up, her droppings are normal, she's not wheezing or anything. Her comb is going a bit dark on the edges - and when this happend to Custard my other Ex-Batt at the beginning of April it was about a week before I had to have her pts at the vets as fluid was on her lungs from heart failure. I think this is what's happening to my poor Benni I've had her 2 1/2 years now so she must be about 4 which is a good age for an ExBatt I think.

I brought her out for a quick cuddle & check over this morning and gave her a few sneaky mealworms in the shed where the other couldn't see! She was happy enough but when I put her back in the run she lost her balance and staggered sideways for a bit before righting herself - like she's wobbly on her pins.

Is there anyone else that has had these symptoms - with the loss of balance? I'll take her to the vet as soon as I think she's suffering, but other than the above she is still happy in herself.

Vicki x

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Is she waddling at all? Have you checked her abdomen? If it feels like a water filled balloon it could be peritonitis .

[vickichicky]

No, that was the first thing I checked for having lost 2 girls to that in the past (one of them an Ex-Batt). No firm and normal down below Absolutely nothing obvious apart from 'tiredness' and darker comb & this lack of balance when I put her down. She ate some breakfast this morning & I put some probiotic mineral/seaweed powder in it this morning to try & boost her a bit. really hope she picks up but my gut feeling is that her time is nearly up

xx

[Ain't Nobody Here]

What a shame . She's done well for an ex-batt though .

[vickichicky]

thanks. Yes she has done well bless her. Love your walk in run Just saw the flicker pix. Had a WIR built last weekend around 2 internal runs (1 cube & run for current mob + 1 wooden house & run for the chicks when old enough). Really pleased with it. Hope Benni picks up & lasts long enough to enjoy it for a while.

Vicki x

[gongladosh]

yep, hope she improves too - let us know how she gets on

[vickichicky]

Well she looked a lot brighter yesterday evening! Not quite her normal nutty self but definately 'with it'. Gave them more probiotic this morning in their breakfast porridge and a small amount of grated cheese as a treat last night. She was right in the scrum for the cheese . Still keeping a close watch as still suspect heart is getting tired but Benni is still a happy chook. x

[majuka]

What is her weight doing? One of my ex batts was resting a lot more, floppy purple-tinged comb, more lethargic. The vet diagnosed a heart murmur and prescribed meds for it. She did really well but, despite eating normally, her weight kept going down and down. The vet advised it was part and parcel of her body shutting down. She had an extra 3 months on the meds, happy months as well. She went to bed a little earlier than the other girls and was slower but had a good quality of life. We took her back to be pts as she started to fade. It was so sad, her little body ran out a long time before her mind would have done.

[vickichicky]

What is her weight doing?

It was so sad, her little body ran out a long time before her mind would have done.

 

Her weight is ok - same solid little body as normal (never been much fat on her) but that is very interesting. I may take her to see what the vet thinks - thanks.

Totally agree with your end comment - my Benni is like that She's got a lot more to give. Bless them they've had a hard start in life xx

[majuka]

Hope that your vet can give you some answers, we get so attached to our girls don't we? Fingers crossed there is something that can be done to help Benni, she's a great age for an ex batt so she's obviously a tough cookie!

[vickichicky]

Hello again

Vet said no heart murmer but yes the early signs of Heart failure. No fluid on her lungs yet though - so that's good.

Advised keeing up with the pro-biotic powder as that really does seem to have helped. She's really been quite bright the last couple of days and is LOVING the WIR. She's still keeping the others in check too especially at treat time

I'll have to take some photo's of her and try to figure out how to upload them

Vicki x

[majuka]

I hope that Benni carries on for a good while yet - she sounds like a real fighter! We had one of our girls pts yesterday, she's been on and off for a while, back and forth at the vets, not entirely unexpected but very sad

 

Good luck with Benni

[vickichicky]

oh what a shame It never gets any easier does it.

Well best wishes to you and your other girls xx

[sandyhas3chucks]

Well done ...

I too have 3 oldies...

One has been release 2 years 5 months the other 2/6 the 2/5 has other problems too, airsac damage has asthma type attacks.

She has been on steroids for the breathing for some considerable time now, I also notice the older girls seem to pretend to eat... and from time to time she really does not eat enough.

I supplement what she is eating with CC formula, mixing it or sprinkling, and often have seen an overnight difference in her..

I also make sure she has lots of(special) good stuff each day ....

Works for us..

Good luck..

Oh and have had several that have had blue tinges straight from rescue right to the end, they have had happy healthy retirement.

However a friend of mine had one 6 years.... yep 6 years released...

good luck to you all xxx

[vickichicky]

How brilliant! 6 years - WOW!! I am really hopefull that it was just a blip with Benni as she is looking so bright these last few days. what is cc formula sandyhas3chucks?

Had my Benni (and the other 2 who I have lost) since January 2009, they have provided endless entertainment!

Vicki xx

[sandyhas3chucks]

Sorry it is called Critical Care Formula it is like a complete food drink, used for poorlies. another similar is \kaytee formular (think) that some others use.

I "think" Jane BHWT has a 12 year old...

I am grateful every morning...