SueChick Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 I wonder if people could give me some advice here please. I have been keeping chooks for 7 years now and have and still am loving it. Unfortunately I have got my very first case of peritonitis in my 3 year old Omlet hybrid (Miss Pepperpot). She was standing in the poorly stance - head in/tail down and when I checked her over she had a dirty bum and fluid filled abdomen. Took her to the vets who drained away most of the fluid (brownish fluid) and gave her anti inflammatory and antibiotics. However, she said it would keep coming back and advised implanting her to stop her ovulating and therefore swelling up again. Big draw back was when she said it was £148 to do this on top if the £45 paid for her first visit. Now I am at a dilemma - I have never put an animal down due to cost before and I hate the thought of doing it! Question is - would it be worth it? Has anyone else has their chook implanted? Did it work? I would let her wander around with a swollen belly if she looked ok but she looks poorly and I can't see any creature suffer. So I am down to the horrible decision - pay up (if it works even) or put her to sleep What to do..... Would really appreciate some advice/opinions please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 I'll be honest, she will never get back to full health and as she is 3 years old and a hybrid, she is at the OP end of her life expectancy anyway. At times like this I ask if I am prolonging a life or prolonging a death when seeking treatment. If she were mine, I'd have her PTS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 Hi I have only ever hung onto one of my girls who had peritonitis for 15 months and I don't do it anymore they get culled as I just dont think its worth all the draining etc when you can see they are very uncomfortable my old hybrid was culled a couple of weeks ago as she was having good days but on the bad days her bum was filthy she was just shuffling along and I thought nope im calling it as its gonna get warmer weather then you risk them getting flystrike I know some people have had the implant but its just prolonging the problem as it sometimes works but not always you know your bird better than anyone and if shes not well then I think you should let her go sorry Leanne, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 Hello! I'm sorry to hear about your poorly chuck. I've just been through something similar myself and was HUGELY grateful for the help and advice of fellow Omleteers. My chook was four years old and had been well right up until the peritonitis struck (or at least she appeared to be well, I know they are masters at hiding ill health). She was clearly feeling awful and I too was wondering whether the ABs/implant route was an option - I think all the Omleteers who responded said that peritonitis rarely has a happy ending and that their advice would be to PTS. So, I went along to the vet who I have to say was amazing. She agreed straight away that chuck was clearly very poorly (she was noticeably hot to the touch - the chuck, I mean, not the vet!) and the vet thought this was most likely septic rather than sterile peritonitis. I think the implant CAN work for sterile peritonitis, but not septic. Vet said she would be happy to try draining and ABs but she said in all honesty she felt the kindest thing to do was PTS in all the circumstances, and I went along with that advice, having already consulted the Omleteers before my vet visit! It wasn't a question of cost - but an implant isn't a cure (even if it had been an option in this case) I don't think it's a treatment that lasts very long and chuck has to be re-implanted from time to time, every few months, I think. Vet visits and feeling unwell is stressful for the chuck and I'm not sure, had it been an option, it's something I would have put her through. It is a tough decision and everyone has different views on when "enough is enough" - only you can make the decision, but you need to know it's a decision you will feel "comfortable" with long term (not easy). I don't think anyone would criticize you for having her PTS - maybe see how she goes over the next few days? Good luck, I will be thinking of you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueChick Posted May 1, 2014 Author Share Posted May 1, 2014 Thanks for your replies. It's certainly a tough decision. She doesn't look well and I have no idea if it's sterile or septic - the vet didn't say. I have just checked her rough date of birth and she is about 3 1/2 years old so I think it would be a lot of money and stress for her and me to prolong the misery for what might be only a few more months life (hard to say of course because I have only just lost my original omlet hybrid at 7 years old!). It was interesting what people have said though about the disease being so hard to overcome - I am seriously thinking that I should let her go but what a horrible decision. Sometimes she looks so ill and then she rushes up to me for treats with all the others. What a dilemma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 Although you've had a hybrid live to the grand old age of seven - as have I - it's rare as you know, and three and a half is a pretty good innings. I would agree with other advice above - an implant may sort things out but it won't cure the problem, and in some instances they only seem to work for weeks rather than months. On the broader question of cost versus treatment, we all have to draw a line somewhere. I have some farming friends (as in they grew up in farming/rural communities) and they laugh outright at the idea of even taking a chicken to a vet. To most people on here however their hens are more pets than livestock, and they are willing to go to expense and trouble to try and treat a sick hen. Personally I make a distinction between the cats, which are pets, and my hens which are 'garden pets'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunaKiw1 Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 Absolutely agree with Bramble's post. You can only do so much and sounds like your chooks have had a lovely life and longer than most hybrids too. That won't make it easier if you do have her PTS but you'll know you've done the right thing for her..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 When I started to keep chucks a few years ago, I tried to set myself some ground rules about what I'd do if they were ill. With the help of the fabulous Omlet Forum there's a huge amount you can treat yourself without needing the vet. If they have an infection or something that needs ABs and the ABs WILL SORT it, that's fine and I'm happy to go to the vet for that, but I decided that the stress for them of operations/repeated vet visits etc etc was more than it's fair to put a little chuck through. It's not a question of cost - it's trying to do what's best for your chucks (you need the wisdom of Solomon sometimes to know!!) I'm not up to dispatching myself (pathetic, I know, but whilst I know in theory how to do it, I couldn't bear to botch it) so if the time comes then I ask the vet to PTS (I do stay with them whilst it's done). Good luck with whatever you decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueChick Posted May 2, 2014 Author Share Posted May 2, 2014 Many thanks for all of your kind answers - they helped me to make this terrible decision easier. Rosemary was looking so poorly this morning that she kind of made the decision for me I took her to the vet had her PTS. Poor old lady. First time for peritonitis and sincerely hope it's the last! Thanks again for all the lovely support from the omleters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 So sorry it wasn't a good outcome, but you did the right thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 Sorry to hear it, but you've done the best thing for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted May 3, 2014 Share Posted May 3, 2014 Sorry it wasn't a happy ending but as others have said I think you made the right decision too. Egluntyne I think you made an excellent point At times like this I ask if I am prolonging a life or prolonging a death when seeking treatment. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie-Annie Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 A very good point. I think you did the right thing, she was an old lady at the end of her, very happy, life and you prevented her suffering, which is what we animal lovers do. I had my first ex-batt treated for peritonitis, and she struggled on for a week and died anyway. I would never do it again. My neighbour despatches them for me. Except Marigold, she went to the vets and was put to sleep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 I also tried with an ex batt with peritonitis, when it started affecting her breathing the decision to have her PTS was made. Always a challenging decision on knowing when is best to put them out of their suffering. For what it's worth, I believe you made the right decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
