FINCHforum

I have a sick female zebra. She is pretty old thinking about 7 years. She seems to be having a lot of trouble breathing and mostly sleeps except to get up to eat. She has been slowing down for quite a while but seems to be worse almost never getting up except to eat. Also I can tell on her back neck I can see through her. I don't know if this is normal. It looks like an air sac back there. I feel like maybe I should put her down but am not sure how much pain she is in. She seems to be fine eating and sleeping. Any advice would be appreciated.

I just read the air sac mic description. It sounds like she might have that. She does have a clicking sound when she breaths.

A clicking sound could be many different things having to do with her respiratory system and nothing to do with ASM. I don't think it's common for zebra to suffer from ASM especially if you haven't brought other birds in. Does she have any other symptoms? What are her droppings like? Is she eating but still losing weight?
Could you post a picture of the "air sac" your talking about that you see?

She is eating. Losing some weight. She seems to have trouble with the poop sticking to her. Droppings are thick and sometimes yellow. I'm not sure if I can get a photo of the sac. Its hard to see. You can basically see through her feathers in the sun and see a membrane. I don't know if might just be a normal thing we don't see if the feathers aren't thin. But she is having trouble breathing and makes a clicking sound. No new birds have been introduced.

That sounds unusual....a sack on the back of her neck? Are you talking about her crop?
She is also 7 yrs old...Im not sure if its old age...could be air sac. How long have you had her? Maybe she has some respiratory infection? cocci?
Hard to say...can you give a little more info?
Hopefully some others will see this post and try and help you further

Managed to get a out of focus picture but you can still see through her. I've attached a photo.

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Try to attach again.

Its that clear space right below her neck on the left hand side.

She also gets up and around if she is in the direct sun.

There is a condition where the air sac ruptures and air bubbles appear under the skin, do you think that is what's happening? I can't see the picture well enough to see what I'm looking at. You might want to look up a vet in your area.

Made an appointment with the vet but cant get her in till monday. Im not sure what a air sac rupture looks like trying to find a photo. If anyone knows of one maybe i can compare.

Air sacs are located inside the neck, chest and belly. When ruptured, air will leak from the sac and accumulate under the bird's skin in those areas.

It's very easy to see where the air is "ballooning" in a very young bird .. more difficult in one with one that is fully feathered but found a couple pictures here that may help:
http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/f14/pics- ... 36012.html
they are way down at the bottom of the page.

I do believe she had an air sac rupture. I knew she wouldn't last till Monday for the vet so I tried to puncture it. But she was just too weak and didn't survive me catching her. Thanks for all your help. I need to find a vet around her that can respond more timely. I got a new mate for the male and they are getting along beautifully.

Oh, so sorry to hear she didn't make it. It's unfortunate, but sounds like you did what you could for her.

Oh, I am so sorry for the loss of your little hen!