squiffs Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 (edited) I have posted this in Xena's own thread, but I thought I'd get some opinions on what the prognosis is for her, I have a few things I suspect it could be myself: Xena has become poorly this weekend. She has slowed down lately which I put down to her probable age. She still ate and drank but wouldn't race over to snaffle all the corn from the others like she normally does. Yesterday I went to feed them all in the morning and Xena wasn't out in the run with the rest of them. I opened the egg port door and she was sat inside the cube making high pitched squeaky noises (the same she makes when I throw corn for her and she gets excited). I stroked her, collected the eggs and then went back inside. I checked on her again and when she still hadn't moved from her spot I decided to bring her indoors because I didn't like the look of the situation. Upon picking her up and putting her in her favourite, the cat box, I noticed her toes curled under so her feet were in balls, I tried to uncurl them and she let me but soon curled them back up again. She is VERY weak on her legs, she can half stand and then slowly slumps back onto the floor. If she tries to stand she wobbles and falls face first on the floor. I've got water with B vitamins in it for her to drink (in case she's deficient, wishful thinking, I know), and she has a mix of pellets and grit which she has been periodically eating. She is still eating and drinking. She hasn't pooed much, but when she has it's been a mixture of normal (but small) poos and orangey brown liquidy poos. She is awake and alert, sometimes her tail is up, sometimes it is down. I'm keeping her in the catbox under observation until I can take her to the vet/she passes, whichever happens first. I'm going to post this in the chicken clinic too in case anyone else has any ideas as to whether this is old age or something more sinister. My first thought was peritonitis, if it is, then probably sterile, as she's still eating or drinking. Otherwise it could be old age, vitamin deficiency, being eggbound? I will also note that I have felt up her legs and she doesn't seem to react as if in pain to pressure on any part of them... so I ruled out a break or bumblefoot. Her wing is a little droopy on one side - could she have rebroken her wing (an old war wound from the battery farm) and this be affecting her balance?? What are everyone's thoughts, I can't get her to a vet until tomorrow, and as far as I can tell she's comfortable, eating and drinking at regular intervals, which she couldn't do whilst in the cube as she'd have had to negotiate the ladder to get to the run - and obviously the non-working legs are an issue. Edited April 30, 2012 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 I'm not sure, but it doesn't really look like anything obvious that can be home-remedied. I think for now you are doing everything right - dry and comfy, feed and drink on tap. She doesn't look good does she, tucking her head away, I'd monitor the situation and take her to the vet tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 Sounds to me like it could be neurological with the curled toes and droopy wing, maybe Mareks. Hope I'm wrong and she picks up. Come on Xena. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted April 29, 2012 Author Share Posted April 29, 2012 I thought mareks to start with and have been trying to talk myself into that being a paranoid reaction but I'm worried that you're right too plum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 I don't know much about other signs. Have you got any tonic with vit E in, deficiency causes muscle weakness but it's usually the neck that's affected and they hold head funny. Just clutching at straws to help you. The curled toes and wings could be general weakness, I really don't know. Bless her she's been a new girl since you adopted her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted April 29, 2012 Author Share Posted April 29, 2012 No tonic left, used the last of the bottle a while ago when the girls were in moult and I won't be able to get another bottle until tomorrow which is why I crushed the B-complex vits into a big jug of water and have been giving her small amounts to try and get her strength up. She's eating with vigour at the moment which is making me feel positive as if she's not off her food that's good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 It must be good that she's eating. Fingers crossed that she's ok *hug* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted April 29, 2012 Author Share Posted April 29, 2012 It's just so odd, she's acting completely normal apart from being unable to stand/walk. She'll go to stand and adjust herself and just flop... she seems chirpy and inquisitive as normal. I'm really confused and worried Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 I thought mareks to start with and have been trying to talk myself into that being a paranoid reaction but I'm worried that you're right too plum I'm not an expert but Xena's condition sounds very similar to my old girl Ginger. My vet said she thought it was Mareks and put Ginger to sleep. I really hope its not the case for Xena. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 It could be pressure on nerves causing the balling of the feet. It could be a large egg, or something more sinister. I'd have her to the vet tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted April 29, 2012 Author Share Posted April 29, 2012 Say it is mareks - I know it is unlikely what with her being an ex-batt and the vaccine being standard but if it is - what will I need to do to make sure the others don't get it. When she stands up to adjust herself she also sounds as though she's breathing through a blocked nose. But only when she goes to stand up, not when she's just sitting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted April 30, 2012 Author Share Posted April 30, 2012 I have an appointment with the vet for 11:50am, Xena is still awake and alert, eating, drinking, normal but small poos still, she will stand very very still on her own steam, but if you lift her to check her or move her if she's falling in her water bowl she becomes very off balance still. This IS an improvement on when I found her though, her feet are no longer curled and she wasn't able to stand at all. She is also preening herself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Please say how Xena is. I really have my fingers crossed as she must be at the vets right now I did wonder if the curling of the toes was a sign of pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted April 30, 2012 Author Share Posted April 30, 2012 Xena is at the vets, I had to leave her to be seen by the exotic specialist after 3pm. I have had a phone call and they have confirmed infectious peritonitis. I called my OH who was adamant he didn't want to have her PTS, I think the best thing for her would be not to prolong her being in this pain in a couple of months' time. I've given him the vet's number and he's going to speak to them. Hopefully she'll explain to him in a way he understands that not having her PTS is not the kind thing to do... I'll update once I've spoken to him again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I'm really sorry about Xena. I hope your vet manages to tell your hubby that it really is the kindest thing for Xena. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Oh dear it is past 3.00 now. How is she? Would some antibiotics not work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted April 30, 2012 Author Share Posted April 30, 2012 Antibiotics would only get rid of it temporarily. The vet was pretty certain this would just recur again in a short period of time and that's no life I would want for her... she should have her last days happy and healthy, not in and out of the vet's office. The vet managed to get through to him in the end. RIP Warrior Princess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 You've done the kindest thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I'm very sorry to hear about Xena but, as Egluntyne says, it was the right thing to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I'd have done the same. So sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Good on you, squiffs. You are so sensible and grounded and you were very kind in the first place in taking Xena in and giving her a lovely home. Hugs to you (wish there was a little symbol for a very big hug) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I feared she didn't look good You have definitely done the right thing. RIP Xena. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfer_chicken Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 RIP Xena. She was such a character and I loved following her story, you could easily write a children's book about it! It's easy to see how you and your OH got so attached, especially as she was almost a house pet for a while. Sometimes it's hard to make the right decision. Sleep well Xena, a semi-famous chicken who got a second chance in life Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 It is always hard to say goodbye but is the most selfless act of kindness and love we can make for our pets RIP Xena XxxHugsxxX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavysqueak Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I'm sorry for your loss. I have tears in my eyes just thinking about how much you (& us Omleteers) will miss her. Well done for giving her a lovely home for the last part of her life. *hugs* XxX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
