HELP! Gasping for air/Swollen eyes?

rick said:
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Hi Motherhen. I'm sorry Lillybug isn't improving.
I've attached pictures of 'poultry spice' that I have a packet of. Not sure what general pick ups or tonics are available for chickens near you. Turmeric is one of the ingredients. I think turmeric is good stuff but it wont be the answer in itself.
Marigold is absolutely right - Chickens have an incredible physiology and capacity for healing. If you've dealt with infection and parasites (which may or may not have been the original problem) then good food and maybe a general tonic is all she will need to repair the damage if she can.
But if her physiology has gone wrong (I.e. tumors, chronic heart condition) then there is not going to be anything you can do. Birds are both incredibly tough and incredibly delicate - some things are untreatable or rather it would be very unfair to try. One thing not in the medicine cabinet for birds is pain relief and they have no way of expressing pain.
You may need to take a decision in Lillybug's best interest that she cannot take herself. I really hope it doesn't come to that but it is your responsibility and only you can decide if and when it's time to put to sleep.
Good, varied food! Good luck Lillybug!
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Thank you for the pictures and info. I have some very hard decisions ahead of me.I will keep you and everyone else updated. Thank you!
 
rick said:
View attachment 1
Hi Motherhen. I'm sorry Lillybug isn't improving.
I've attached pictures of 'poultry spice' that I have a packet of. Not sure what general pick ups or tonics are available for chickens near you. Turmeric is one of the ingredients. I think turmeric is good stuff but it wont be the answer in itself.
Marigold is absolutely right - Chickens have an incredible physiology and capacity for healing. If you've dealt with infection and parasites (which may or may not have been the original problem) then good food and maybe a general tonic is all she will need to repair the damage if she can.
But if her physiology has gone wrong (I.e. tumors, chronic heart condition) then there is not going to be anything you can do. Birds are both incredibly tough and incredibly delicate - some things are untreatable or rather it would be very unfair to try. One thing not in the medicine cabinet for birds is pain relief and they have no way of expressing pain.
You may need to take a decision in Lillybug's best interest that she cannot take herself. I really hope it doesn't come to that but it is your responsibility and only you can decide if and when it's time to put to sleep.
Good, varied food! Good luck Lillybug!
Click to expand...
Other then turmeric that dinosaw posted,I can't find poultry spice or tonic in the US. Some UK sites will ship to the US but it takes a long time and shipping fees are crazy! Is this product similiar? http://www.provitalhealth.com/poultry-econo-vital-maintenance/
 
Yes, that looks like a general multivitamin and minerals. Couldn't find an ingredients list or composition but it will have an analysis on the packet. I doubt turmeric is in there but it will make sure that Lillybug isn't missing any essential micro nutrients if her diet is not strictly formulated pellets (as you are needing to do to get her to eat)
We are spoilt round here with Indian corner shops containing mountains of basic ingredients for a curry :)
 
rick said:
Yes, that looks like a general multivitamin and minerals. Couldn't find an ingredients list or composition but it will have an analysis on the packet. I doubt turmeric is in there but it will make sure that Lillybug isn't missing any essential micro nutrients if her diet is not strictly formulated pellets (as you are needing to do to get her to eat)
We are spoilt round here with Indian corner shops containing mountains of basic ingredients for a curry :)
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Maybe I'll order both..Provital health and the Turmeric and mix it together. Thank you for all your help and support! :-)17
 
Hi Motherhen,
Countryguy has just posted what sounds like a similar problem in the General Chickens section 'Abnormal breathing in chickens.' Also in the US.
 
After reading a post yesterday by another north american member with a similar problem to yours Motherhen I have done a bit of digging in the online veterinary manuals and found a couple of interesting things. It would appear that the problem with antibiotics when treating respiratory problems is that they often fail to penetrate deep enough to treat the air sacs which remain inflamed, it was suggested in a couple of them that antibiotics are administered by nebuliser with a droplet size small enough to penetrate into the air sacs. Even after successful treatment the air sacs can remain inflamed with mucous and lesions which can't be expelled and in these cases they need to be removed by way of endoscopy which I presume needs a vet who is an avian specialist.
 
It's interesting that the vet commented on air sacs not showing on the x-ray, presumably because they are congested.
 
That is interesting information.Do you have the article so I can read it?A vet had told me to steam up my bathroom and put her in there,but I haven't done it because I don't understand why it is only at roosting time.Wednesday and Wednesday night went wonderful for her(no gasping at all) but then yesterday evening(Thursday) she seemed a little down and that night(Thursday) ended up being one of her worse nights yet. When she got up this morning(Friday) she scratched at her food,then scratched in her woodchips like everything was fine.I just don't understand. I found a vet that actually treats chickens but now I am broke. I feel she needs another visit with more xrays,and I believe blood work wouldn't hurt.Like dinosaw said about the air sacs in the xray not being clear....that has to mean something,but what?I'm trying to find a way to come up with some money so I can take her and when I do I'll keep you all posted to what the vet said and how Lilybug is doing. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for taking time helping me try to figure out this mystery!
 
There were quite a few different articles I read so I won't post them all, but for a flavour here are a couple of links.
https://www.wellvet.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=ART_BIRDAIRSAC

https://en.wikivet.net/Air_Sacculitis

This one is about Parrots and the like but still has a good overview of respiratory problems

http://avianmedicine.net/content/uploads/2013/03/22.pdf

There is also the Merck veterinary manual online if you are brave enough to have a wade through that.
 
dinosaw said:
There were quite a few different articles I read so I won't post them all, but for a flavour here are a couple of links.
https://www.wellvet.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=ART_BIRDAIRSAC

https://en.wikivet.net/Air_Sacculitis

This one is about Parrots and the like but still has a good overview of respiratory problems

http://avianmedicine.net/content/uploads/2013/03/22.pdf

There is also the Merck veterinary manual online if you are brave enough to have a wade through that.
Click to expand...
Thank you kindly,Dinosaw! :-)11
 
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