Half an Asprin -miracle cure?

[chrismahon]

Went to the vets today with Charity, an 18 month old Buff Orpington hen. She has a badly swollen eye and a runny nose. I couldn't keep her still to look in there closely although her eye was OK as was her inner eyelid so put her on Synulox to see how she went. One day and no noticable improvement and a small bruise developing. Vet had to give her anesthetic to be able to check her eye for debris -none. Conclusion she has either been pecked or has run into a twig and the swelling has blocked her tear exit so its building up and running out of her nose. Keep on the Synulox and give her HALF AN ASPRIN crushed, once only.

Sounded a bit daft, but we bought Asprin (300mg), cut one in half, crushed it, hid it in half a grape and she ate it. Three hours later and the swelling has gone down and her eye was open -amazing!

Daffodil (RIR hybrid) has swollen feet -gout I thought from eating fallen fruit. Vet agrees is possible and tried her on anti-inflammatory Metacam. The swelling went down but came back a few days after the course was completed. She is struggling to walk and sleeps on the floor of the coop in a covered box we have given her because the hens on the perch -well, just poo on her. She can't jump up to the perch. "We'll give her the other half asprin and see what happens". Well 4 hours later and she is sleeping on the perch -even more amazing!!

Anyone else used half an Asprin with similar results?

 

[Marigold]

Well it is an anti-inflammitory drug, isn't it, and is used for a very wide range of human complaints, including thinning the blood to help prevent heart disease. Very interesting - nice to know of something to try that doesn't cost the earth.
So glad Charity and Daffodil are better - your run must be like a doctor's surgery at the moment Chris. What does Bottom think of it all?

 

[chrismahon]

He gets very excited when a sick hen comes into the kitchen. But soon looses interest when they aren't interested in him. But he does encourage them to eat and drink when they are off their food.

 

[foxy]

I am not sure that aspirin would be a cure, certainly though where inflammation causes pain and swelling aspirin would theoretically with symptoms. I have seen aspirin used to good effect in egg-bound hens where irritation has caused swelling aound the cloaca.

The problem would occur with "hit and miss" dosing, and the side effects of the anti-coagulant effect, so a big concern would be using it in an "ad hoc" way, particulary when injury has been caused by trauma and there is potentially internal damage and risk of heamorrhage.

 

[Chuck]

Agree with Foxy, the analgesic effect of Aspirin can be very useful but the side effects such as stomach irritation and it's anticoagulant properties mean it needs to be used with care.

 

[chrismahon]

Update. Both hens have returned to their previous conditions. Charity still has a slightly swollen eye she can't open and Daffodil's feet are swollen and hurting her again. She did try for the perch though, but too dark so I put her in her box.

 

[Sue]

How are these hens getting on now Chris?

 

[chrismahon]

As above Sue. Back to square one really. Don't think Daffodil will improve until she stops eating fallen fruit. Several hens are light in weight so 3 coops of hens in for 7 days for Flubenvet. This will stop Daffodil eating the fallers anyway.
Charity's swollen eye is getting better. Perhaps tomorrow after bathing it she will be able to see again.

 

[kristie]

Hi folks got to let you know about asprin I have had a bad heart for 7 years now and two asprin a day was priscribed with all the other tablets was worried about it being an anticoagulant so asked a blood specialist at my heart rehab. aparently asprin is not blood thinner though care should be taken when taking as stomach ulcers and bleeding can occur,asprin actualy non stick coats the red blood cells coating therefore helps to prevent internal blood clots, if I cut myself I bleed as a normal person does then clots,Warfarin on the otherhand changes the blood structure hence the non stop bleeding if cut.Used for rat and mouse killer it causes internal bleeding that doesn`t stop when they squeeze through a small hole.