Vent gleet & other medical issues--DVM prescribed antibiotics???

[CMcGrath71]

Hi Folks--after 2 months of trying to resolve my chicken Eva's vent gleet at home (Epson salt baths, ACV, antifungal creams), I took her to a local vet. On examination, the vet found a mass under her cloaca--not an egg, but likely a tumor, which she confirmed with an x-ray. During the x-ray, a metal bolt also showed up in Eva's stomach--who knows how long that's been there. Because I also suspected that my flock is dealing with parasites (one of my chickens is quite thin), I asked the vet to also do a fecal test. She asked for the poop from the thin bird, not Eva.

In conclusion, the vet said she suspects that the vent gleet is from the tumor (?) and prescribed antibiotics (??) and anti-inflammatories (???) as well as continuing to bathe Eva indefinitely (). I've had chickens for 5 years and I'm no expert, but this seems like 1. an odd conclusion and 2. an odd course of action. I would go see another vet for a 2nd opinion, but this one is the only one in my area--and I'm not crazy about the idea of throwing more money than I already have at this situation.

Any thoughts from others?

P.S. On an unrelated note: the vet was able to remove an extremely large egg from an egg-bound chicken that I had been unsuccessfully trying to remove with home treatment for 4 days--so that was a plus!

 

[CMcGrath71]

Correction--I've had chickens for 4 years! Still not an expert!