Identifying illness help? Worms, vent gleet, something else?

[gracemortizzle]

Do check her crop to be sure it's emptying overnight. If it's full come morning, she has a crop issue. Follow the instructions here. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

That's one base covered. The next is possible egg binding. No need to know for sure. Pop one calcium citrate tablet into her beak to help stimulate contractions. Do this right away. Get at least 350 to 400 mg calcium into her immediately. The calcium usually works pretty quickly to get the egg moving if one is stuck.

Do get the fecal float as soon as you can to rule out worms and/or coccidiosis. Start lining up an oral antibiotic if you are able in case she has an infection. If all of the above are negative, then I would start the antibiotic.

I will crop check in the morning, thank you for the link!
She hasn't laid an egg in so long, I hadn't even considered this. She does have oyster shell with her, but I will give her some calcium here in a second. I'm wondering if I should give her an epsom salt soak as well?
Can't believe I forgot egg binding as a possibility.

 

[gracemortizzle]

Do check her crop to be sure it's emptying overnight. If it's full come morning, she has a crop issue. Follow the instructions here. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

That's one base covered. The next is possible egg binding. No need to know for sure. Pop one calcium citrate tablet into her beak to help stimulate contractions. Do this right away. Get at least 350 to 400 mg calcium into her immediately. The calcium usually works pretty quickly to get the egg moving if one is stuck.

Do get the fecal float as soon as you can to rule out worms and/or coccidiosis. Start lining up an oral antibiotic if you are able in case she has an infection. If all of the above are negative, then I would start the antibiotic.

Update- she just pooped whatever this is? And this is what she looks like right now. You all have given me fantastic advice, but I’m all over the place and don’t know what to do in this moment right now to save her.

 

[azygous]

That's lash material. It's chicken pus and it's from a reproductive infection. Do you have any antibiotics in the house? Once you see the pus, it's hard to treat, but it's always worth the try if you can find an antibiotic.

 

[gracemortizzle]

That's lash material. It's chicken pus and it's from a reproductive infection. Do you have any antibiotics in the house? Once you see the pus, it's hard to treat, but it's always worth the try if you can find an antibiotic.

I have doxycycline 100mg tablets

 

[azygous]

That's mostly for a respiratory infection. You could try it if that's all you have, but look in your human medicine supplies for any leftover broad spectrum antibiotic. You may need to ask your vet for something to treat a reproductive infection.

 

[gracemortizzle]

That's mostly for a respiratory infection. You could try it if that's all you have, but look in your human medicine supplies for any leftover broad spectrum antibiotic. You may need to ask your vet for something to treat a reproductive infection.

I have amoxicillin from when my fiancé had poison ivy. In total, I have 1 whole 875mg tablet, as well as half of an 875mg tablet in powder form. (I ground it up during a previous duck crisis)
Mix the powder with water & have her drink it? I have the dosage page bookmarked I think, but not sure the best way to administer it.

 

[Eggcessive]

Amoxicillin dosage is 250 mg twice a day for 7-14 days. Some older posts say 125 mg twice a day, so use your judgement. It is hard to get 100% amoxicillin online anymore. I think you can get a weak powder one for the water on pigeon sites, https://jedds.com/products/amoxicil...ebHKZwLUt7ae4t4xMjqQqqJUr9X_23Rfk7gqhl9RNmvTa ,
but it might be better to either get it from your vet or try to get enrofloxacin.

 

[gracemortizzle]

Amoxicillin dosage is 250 mg twice a day for 7-14 days. Some older posts say 125 mg twice a day, so use your judgement. It is hard to get 100% amoxicillin online anymore. I think you can get a weak powder one for the water on pigeon sites, https://jedds.com/products/amoxicil...ebHKZwLUt7ae4t4xMjqQqqJUr9X_23Rfk7gqhl9RNmvTa ,
but it might be better to either get it from your vet or try to get enrofloxacin.

I gave it to her like a pill mixed in some refrigerated coconut oil. My fingers & heartstrings are crossed she pulls through. She’s a tough cookie.

Thank you all for your input & especially for helping me so quickly once I fully dove into panic mode. I’m unexplainably grateful for this community.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Ah...I see more information and photos have come in, thank you for that, important pieces of the puzzle I'd say.

Great advice from both @azygous and @Eggcessive
I agree, I'd start her on an antibiotic.

I would also still give her Extra Calcium (Calcium Citrate+D3) once daily for at least 5 days. She's pushing and it looks like she's trying to expel lash material. The Calcium may help with contractions and push out more material, you never know.

Keep us posted on how she's getting along.

 

[gracemortizzle]

Update: She's hanging in there, but not improving.

I've been giving her amoxicillin 2x daily as well as calcium carbonate. Yesterday afternoon, I gave her an Epsom salt soak hoping that would help her push the lash egg out (?), but while drying her she seemed to be fading. I thought she was leaving me, so I sat down, put her on my lap & just held her. Told her it would be okay if she had to let go & that I love her. We sat there for about 2 hours.. she was pulling her head in, eyes closed, etc. She would perk back up though when my dog barked or at any noise really... I ended up putting her back in the tub to let her have some peace. She's made it through another night. Yesterday while sitting with her, I had my hand pretty much holding her belly (between the legs, vent basically on my wrist) & realized how big her belly has become. Her belly was a large handful, rock solid, with a little soft area on each side (where my thumb & pinky were). I could feel movement in the main rock hard part happening here & there... Not major movement, maybe just a little blip of water moving around the mass? I also noticed that her comb is becoming dull. It was a good red when I brought her in, but by now it's just starting to blue/purple ever so slightly. Not blue/purple yet, but probably heading that way. (heart?)

I'm worried the mass is too large for her to pass & has swollen to the point of squishing her heart (this worry is based off her change in comb color).

This morning was the last dose I had of amoxicillin, so I'm planning to switch to Doxycycline for tonight's antibiotic dose. I also have some Rimadyl I'm planning to give her this evening, if that's a good idea? I have a senior lab that I give CBD oil, so I might give her some of that as well... I figure it can't hurt.

I learned through all of this that she absolutely LOVES blueberries.

Let me know if y'all have any other suggestions on what I should do. I don't want to prolong her suffering, but I so desperately want to save her. Thanks a million.