mollyripkim Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Well, have been backwards and forwards to vets nearly three weeks now with two chickens, very wheezy and mouth breathing and three lots of antibiotics. Finally referred me to specialist who immediately realised that the sultan had an abdomen full of fluid and a heart problem, he drained it immediately and within hours she was back to normal. So cross I didn't notice it myself (or my vet) but I was so focussed on her breathing. I know she won't live forever and it will come back eventually but for now she is fine. Went to specialist vet today with the orpington, she had a lung biopsy and camera down her throat. Embarrassingly the diagnosis is that she is extremely overweight to the point that they had a job to get the scope down and her lungs are being compressed by her weight. Said she may have had a virus at some point but there is no evidence of fungi, bacteria etc in her lungs. This explains why she is well in herself but she is a really greedy bird, had problems a couple of years ago with a crop impaction, they have Fancy Feeds pellets and some corn at night to get them back in the run. They also get veg/apples etc but no food s"Ooops, word censored!"s. She is still separate but won't get any exercise in the cage in the garage but will eat too much if I put her back. Any suggestions would be most welcome, this has been a very expensive couple of weeks but at least I now know that the rest are safe as my own vet thought it was contagious and they would all get ill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 If your hens are gorging, then feed them just pellets with a few greens in the late afternoon. Instead of corn, give them mealworms, and take up their feed after 4pm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted August 10, 2015 Author Share Posted August 10, 2015 Thanks Dogmother, unfortunately its just her who is gorging, would it hurt the others if I took the food away after 4 pm, I have 17 other bantams. Just chopped up some cabbage into small pieces to see if that will work the same as corn to get them back in from FRing. Luckily its raining so they might be in anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 No, they will all be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted August 10, 2015 Author Share Posted August 10, 2015 Ok thankyou, I will try that then. Am going to weigh her tonight so I can gauge improvement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 It's hard to tell without seeing her, but if the vet isn't an avian vet, they could have made a mis-diagnosis, and she might have peritonitis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted August 10, 2015 Author Share Posted August 10, 2015 My own vet is lovely with the dogs but treated with antibiotics for the wheezing for over 2 weeks, am cross as much with myself for not spotting the swollen abdomen. Was referred to avian vet in Andover who spotted it and diagnosed a heart problem, I could hear it myself once he pointed it out. The wheezing stopped within a couple of hours of draining, not sure if that is the same as peritonitis? Interestingly she hatched last year and has never got the reddened face or laid. Whilst she is happy and doing chickeny things I will leave her be until the draining doesn't work. In the meantime I have to put Elsie on chicken weight watchers or maybe the green plan on slimming world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 DM was right when my hen was wheezing and mouth breathing and she said peritonitis, her abdomen was drained and she was ok for a few weeks then it returned so we had an implant fitted. This worked for a few weeks but she declined very quickly one day and died the following morning(I was going to have her PTS) I do hope your vet is right and you have no further problems. Fingers crossed for you and your girl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Sounds like it might be peritonitis Hope you get her sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted August 10, 2015 Author Share Posted August 10, 2015 I think you are both right and its peritonitis and he did say it's not a cure and it will come back, maybe the heart issue is a separate thing, I won't let her suffer though and will put to sleep when needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Peritonitis will put a strain on the heart due to the build up of fluid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 didnt he give her noroclav for peritonitis. If urs the avian specialist vet in Andover, hs pretth hot on all things chickeny although he and another emiment (sp) avian vet totaly disagree on another treatment option.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted August 20, 2015 Author Share Posted August 20, 2015 I think his name was John Chitty, avian specialist, no didn't give her anything, just advised to see my normal vet for drainage if it reoccurs, at the moment she is fine. On a sadder note I am going to say goodbye to the orp, unfortunately despite a laparoscopy and endoscopy he cannot find a cause for her sneezing and wheezing other than weight, it's gotten worse again and a life isolated in a cage in a garage is not right despite the fact that she is bright in herself but I know they hide illness. Despite no definite diagnosis he recommended not putting her in with the others as it probably started with with a micro plasma type illness and he can't guarantee its not infectious. Feeling quite sad about it all as she is a lovely girl, I feel like I am sacrificing her for the sake of the others but know I can't keep her as she is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 Yes that's who I thought it would be . Neil Forres i think is next nearest. Amoxycillin helps keep infection of peritonitis away for a while. That s what he gave mine. .if your vet doesn't like draining as mine won't. There is good vets in alton that are very knowledgeable and competent. If your not too far sorry to hear about the other girl .. very sad xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted August 20, 2015 Author Share Posted August 20, 2015 Thankyou, I'll bear the amoxicillin in mind if it reoccurs. I'm in Totton, near Southampton so Alton not too far either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
