Sick hybrid and what to do?

[RedHillChicken]

So, a quick update. After the vet visit, we've been giving Missy meloxocam. For two days she seemed to be getting better. For the past 2-3 days she's not eaten anything, nor drank anything. After calling the vet, she said to restart the antibiotic, but giving her .4mL twice a day. Her X-rays showed swelling/inflamation around her reproductive tract. We're also tube feeding her some high protein cat food, mixed with water and pedialite. We're just trying anything we can to save her. She's so weak, that when she's outside she'll eat small amounts of grass, scratch on the ground, but ends up just standing still. Not sure we can save her.

 

[coach723]

I wish you well. No matter what happens, you can be certain that you've tried everything and made every effort. Sadly, the day comes, for all of them eventually. She is obviously much loved, and I'm sure she knows that.

 

[RedHillChicken]

I wish you well. No matter what happens, you can be certain that you've tried everything and made every effort. Sadly, the day comes, for all of them eventually. She is obviously much loved, and I'm sure she knows that.

Thanks coach723. We've raised these babies from day one, and just feel so helpless when they're sick. If she has to be euthanized, we would have to take her to the vet.

 

[coach723]

I've cried over a fair number of them myself. Some of them can become very special. I lost an old roo this year, he was pushing 13 years old and was hatched here. He rests safely under a corner of the run where he will forever be near his ladies, in the place he lived his whole life. He was one of the special ones too. I would guess we all have/have had some very special ones.

 

[RedHillChicken]

I've cried over a fair number of them myself. Some of them can become very special. I lost an old roo this year, he was pushing 13 years old and was hatched here. He rests safely under a corner of the run where he will forever be near his ladies, in the place he lived his whole life. He was one of the special ones too. I would guess we all have/have had some very special ones.

Thirteen years? He must have been a very loved and special guy. The picture in my profile is our first rooster Bok Bok. He's the greatest, sweetest, and smartest animal we've had, plus he cares so much for the girls and is so attentive when they are free ranging. He even puts them up at night before going to his coop.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So, a quick update. After the vet visit, we've been giving Missy meloxocam. For two days she seemed to be getting better. For the past 2-3 days she's not eaten anything, nor drank anything. After calling the vet, she said to restart the antibiotic, but giving her .4mL twice a day. Her X-rays showed swelling/inflamation around her reproductive tract. We're also tube feeding her some high protein cat food, mixed with water and pedialite. We're just trying anything we can to save her. She's so weak, that when she's outside she'll eat small amounts of grass, scratch on the ground, but ends up just standing still. Not sure we can save her.

I'm sorry to hear that missy is not improving. It can be heartbreaking when you try everything and they still aren't getting much better.

 

[RedHillChicken]

I'm sorry to hear that missy is not improving. It can be heartbreaking when you try everything and they still aren't getting much better.

Thanks WyorpRock for yours and all of you who have helped us with this strange ailment. And thanks to BYC for giving us this forum to share information about our special flocks and friends.

 

[RedHillChicken]

Hello friends, I wanted to say thanks again for all of your knowledge and experience and helpful suggestions for Missy. We decided that, after all of the treatments we've given her over the past month, and the medicine from the vet which yielded no significant improvements, we had her euthanized yesterday. It was hard for me and the vet, but it was the humane thing to do. I took Missy straight to Auburn University and the Sugg Lab for Animal Health Research, where they performed a necropsy to determine what caused her death. I'm waiting for the results, which I will post here for informational purposes. Not being a vet, or chicken expert, I can only guess as to what caused her death. It's my uneducated conclusion she had contracted viral salpingitis. Viral is different than bacterial salpingitis in that there is no cure for it. I'm going to compose a timeline of symptoms and tried cures next week when we get the lab results. Again, thanks to:
@Wyorp Rock
@coach723
@Eggcessive
@Bawkbok

 

[Bawkbok]

@RedHillChicken - I'm sorry you were faced with that decision and lost your beloved chicken. It's always difficult. You did the right thing after a valiant effort to help her. She feels much better now.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us. Necropsy results are appreciated as it helps all of us to learn.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for you loss.