Jennifer Jane Posted September 14, 2011 Share Posted September 14, 2011 (edited) I've been away for a few days leaving the pets in my DH's capable hands. Apparently our top hen, Matilda, was fine on Saturday, running around and keeping the others in their place as usual. By Sunday she had adopted sick hen pose, hunched up and off her food. By Monday she couldn't manage the ramp to the coop. While her face and comb look healthy and red, and her eyes are alert, she has runny pale yellow poo, a doughy abdomen and is pretty much off her legs. We took her to the vet last night, who gave her Baytril and some high nutrient food but she said if she was no better today, then take her back. DH checked on her at lunchtime and unfortunately she is no better. So I've made an appointment for tonight... My head tells me that it is time to say goodbye to Matilda - she has been out of the cage for 2 years and had a very happy, spoilt life. Also, we are off on holiday tomorrow (our pets always get sick just before we go away, they must know something is up). While our pet sitters are perfectly capable of administering Baytril and I'm sure they'd be happy to feed her and lift her in and out of the coop if I asked, would I just be prolonging her suffering? My heart is being very selfish. I've never taken one of my own pets to be pts before, but took my mother's cat, when he became very ill, and I cried my eyes out. I know I'll be guided by the vet. But what would you do? Edited September 26, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alet_chicken Posted September 14, 2011 Share Posted September 14, 2011 So sorry to hear about Matilda. I recently had an ex-batt girl PTS too, at around the same age, and found it truly upsetting. If she was mine, elderly, off her legs, not eating, not responding to antibiotics and in a situation where she may not be supervised as closely as when I'm at home, then I would be seriously considering having her PTS to prevent her from suffering any further. But of course the final decision would depend on what the vet says, and your pet sitting arrangement. For example, will you be able to isolate her? (hens can be totally vicious to poorly mates who cannot defend themselves) How frequently will the pet sitter see her, and will they be happy to take her back to the vets if needed? It is a very very difficult decision, and only you will know what's best. Good luck with her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Jane Posted September 26, 2011 Author Share Posted September 26, 2011 Unfortunately I took Matilda to be pts this morning. At our last visit to the vet before we went on holiday, the vet (who had kept hens himself) gave her an anti-inflammatory injection, and she did perk up for a day or two. Our wonderful pet sitters took great care of her while we were away, but warned us to expect the worst. Well, she was still with us when we got home,still alert and bright eyed, but had to be helped in and out of the coop, and while she was drinking a little, was not eating, and I felt that her quality of life was nil. I will miss her tremendously. She has been top hen for nearly 18 months and had just over two years out of the cage being spoilt silly. RIP my beautiful Tilly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathybc Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 very sorry to see the update x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alet_chicken Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 So sorry for your loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
