chicken collapsed after vet injection

[Anonymous]

I took my gorgeous copper black that was recovering from Mycoplasma, eating and drinking well, but not fully recovered, to my vet last night. He gave her an injection of Noroclav, which he said was Amoxycilline based, to clear up any secondary bacterial infection.

She collapsed with her head flat on the floor within an hour of the injection. This morning she is standing up, but cannot lift her head off the floor. What has happened to her? I have asked my vet, but he says it is 'shock' and not related to the injection. However, she is used to being handled and was not at all distressed by the vet visit.

I do hope you can come back to me soon.

Caroline

 

[chrismahon]

Well it won't be a blood clot (air in the syringe) as that would have happened immediately I think. Vet may right about shock. She may look OK and not struggle, but were her eyes wide open and pupils dilated? You need to make sure she is drinking, even if you have to trickle a little down her throat and hope she is recovered tomorrow. Keep her in tonight obviously. Sounds like her muscles have relaxed -bit like a human faint I suppose. But if no improvement got to be back to the vet. Hopefully some of the other forum members will reply tonight, but I expect many will be at the Stonleigh Show.

 

[foxy]

It is very difficult to understand what happened. If this is the first time the vet used this particular antibiotic then it could be a reaction to the drug itself.

 

[Chuck]

Yes, hard to understand what's happened. It could be an adverse reaction to the drug. I'd keep her as stress free as poss and see how she goes.
Sorry, can't be more help.

 

[Marigold]

How is she today, Caroline?
If she were mine, i would take her back to the vet in any case, so some more light can be shed on what might have happened. I don't believe the 'shock' theory, I'm afraid, but there might possibly have been an accidental overdose of the antibiotic, which would cause these symptoms, (judging by my experience when a dentist once prescribed me an overdose of antibiotic and I also really wanted to put my head on the floor and die, until it wore off.)

Is your vet experienced with poultry? If you can talk about it calmly and openly, without giving the impression that you might be going to sue for malpractice, you might be able to find out more, and the vet might learn something as well which would help other people's birds.
There's a list of poultry-friendly vets recommended by Forum members on here, at http://poultrykeeper.com/poultry-vets-uk/poultry-veterinary-practices-services-uk/ Don't know whereaabouts you live but thought you might be interested.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm so grateful to see everyone's response. My pullet remained in a completely collapsed state, twitching and unable to lift her head off the ground for 36 hours. She had bright green diarrhea (like bile) for a while, so I thought her liver might have packed up. I put drops of water with electrolytes into her mouth through the day, and put drops of vit B12 onto her skin for detoxification. Then her tongue reflex to swallow went, so I dropped water drops onto her neck. I really thought I shouldn't prolong her suffering, so prepared her for ringing her neck at 4am. Then I realised that she had a little strength in her as she cheeped, and that there were gurgling noises in her tummy. This was also when the vet said that the anti-biotic would be wearing off. By morning she could swallow again, and over the next 24 hours she was gradually able to lift her head and eat again. She is still quite weak, but is eating and drinking, and currently living in my kitchen until she gains strength. She gets very tired if I put her in the wind outside. She is my miracle pullet, now named Angel, and I really hope she will get better.

My vet said they weren't able to help when she initially collapsed, but were very kind next day and suggested giving her steroids. I didn't think it was an allergic reaction, and taking her anywhere would have finished her off, so I didn't opt for this.

Thank you again to everyone who contacted me.

Caroline