The vent is also called the cloaca. Keep them in the bath for 30-60 minutes. Even though it can be hard to pinpoint one single cause of gastroschisis, there appears to be a strong correlation between the condition and improper incubation conditions. Be gentle; it is very easy to pull off feathers and skin if you are not patient and gentle. I would be inclined to keep her vent moistened with Vaseline. Chicken keeping forums and threads are rife with hobbyists swapping their amateur veterinary techniques to treat this issue. That is the orifice from which waste is expelled, and eggs are passed in adult hens. Because the muscles in the chickens reproductive tract need something to grip onto in order to push it out. And gross. Cutting the feathers at your birds vent is also recommended. The rooster balances on the hens back and presses his cloaca into hers. I know there are times when that is the only compassionate thing to do. I don't know if it will live or not. Is there anything I can do? A prolapsed oviduct is noticeable as it looks like their insides are falling out of their vent and you may also find blood and feces on their feathers around the vent. I have a four day old chick that is having problems with it's vent. I had 2 chicksboth rumpless Araucanas. The vent can be pushed out of the body and become a prolapse. If youve recently been through the gamut of diagnosing, treating, and possibly culling a young chick with its intestines out, youre likely asking yourself how you can avoid this in your future broods. Sounds to me like it is an abdominal hernia from where the chick is attached to the egg ( umbilical cord ? ) Prolapsed vent won't stay in, & she's struggling to poop. While mother nature has fine-tuned the process of rotating and incubating eggs, there are a number of reputable incubators on the market that can perform this function almost as successfully as a hen. Giving the bird an apple cider vinegar drink until it recovers, is also recommended. I'm so glad you were able to help your chicken to get better and that she has lived to lay another day!! Hens are attracted to red colour, and this can leave them in a dreadful state. The vent is located underneath the chicks tail feathers, and the navel is above it (depending on which angle youre viewing) on the belly. Nigerian Dwarf Goats 201: Getting Started, Nigerian Dwarf Goats 101: Background & Basics. Anyway vet said don't feed them anything that is . Keep in mind a young chicken is likely to exacerbate any of these problems. We lost a guinea to this. Isolating the bird will also keep other birds from pecking at the birds vent. When I felt it, it was hard. Down to earth and full of humor! Your birds vent may look swollen but what you may be looking at may actually be a prolapsed vent. What is a prolapsed vent? A buildup of fat around the chicken's abdominal region can narrow the egg passage, potentially resulting in the chicken straining to push the egg out, causing prolapse. Copyright 2023 Thank Chickens |As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Because the conditions in this list often occur simultaneously, proper identification can be confusing. Time to throw the big girl panties on and get to work. Well, today it seems to be getting kind of hard the Prep H isn't keeping it softened, although it may have shrunken a bit more. When the protruding organ is pecked by other hens, the complete oviduct and parts of the adjacent intestinal tract may be pulled from the abdominal cavity ("peckout"). I can't say that always happens. What colors do Barnevelder chickens come in? Now if you google the internet about prolapsed vents in chickens, the first thing you will notice, or at least I did, is that a lot of the articles out there seem to be regurgitating the same information, sometimes word for word. What is the Vent? It's vent was hard as a rock and something hard and white was sticking out a little. The vent area is also known as the cloaca. UPDATE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/AOeduK8ghNc- - - - -When I checked on my backyard laying hens this morning, I noticed one of them had a very bloody rear end with odd shapes protruding from it. Adding ACV is an easy addition to a flocks diet for good health and boosted immune systems. Most hens are able to lay eggs with no problem. She had a lot of frozen poop around her bum that needed to be thawed and loosened up. *deep breath* So I scrubbed up, gathered my courage, used my fingers, and stuffed her butt gently back inside her. Often characterized by a collection of red tissue hanging out of the hens posterior, prolapse vent is easily treatable. Ideally, if you have invested in a high-quality incubator and carefully monitored temperature and humidity levels, you and your chicks will have a pleasant hatching experience. Although it can be quite alarming to see intestines protruding from your newly hatched chick, its important to stay calm and first assess the situation. She was on the small side, and the vet recommended culling her as he said she would never have a normal calving again. Can You Have Food Poisoning Without Vomiting? Umbilical hernias can arise spontaneously or due to an assisted hatch resulting in trauma to the umbilical cord. Me (in my stubbornness) did not listen and she got bred again with a perfectly normal delivery and healthy calf! The best way to ensure healthy chicks is to preempt hatching issues by ensuring optimal incubator conditions. Do Chickens Get Sad When You Take Their Eggs? Vent Prolapse: This develops when the bird's inner tissue protrudes out of the bird's vent and becomes exposed. Now I know, thank you! Congratulations, Doctor. "Prolapse is actually a natural process by which eggs are laid." explains poultry expert Gail Damerow. The condition of intestines presenting externally is referred to as gastroschisis, which, unfortunately, carries with it a poor prognosis. This end up with an egg that looks like this one below. If the bird has already been picked at by other birds, tissue may be missing, leaving a bloody gaping hole. PH imbalance. The chick normally absorbs the yolk sac in the last days before hatching, providing fluids and nutrients for the first days . Manually push the tissue back into place. Vent prolapse is.. there are just no words. ), You will need super glue, rubbing alcohol, Q-tip, and antibacterial soap, Begin by washing your hands with antibacterial soap and warm water for at least one minute, Using the rubbing alcohol, sterilize the surface you will be working on as well as possible, Carefully holding the chick in one hand, gently turn it over and swab around the navel with rubbing alcohol, Use the Q-tip to push intestines back inside the abdomen gently, Use a small drop of super glue to seal the cavity shut, Place chick in brooder separated from other chicks while healing. If you're new to homesteading, and you're buying baby chicks (usually under three days old), ensure you don't get those with poop sticking to their vents. It is caused by a chick using too much force to get out of the egg. If you dont have an extra $200+ to spend to possibly save a chick, youre not alone. You clean the dirty bottom chicken with some baby shampoo or dog shampoo and warm water at 40C (100F). The longer the tissue remains outside the hen's body, the higher the risk of secondary bacterial infection and damage to the tissues. Contacting a vet is recommended if the vent becomes infected. Vet rates vary by location, but a rough estimate of the necessary procedure ranges from $200-$400 per chick. But we have been getting a lot of rare things here lately. Stress, which can negatively affect the ph levels of your birds body, causing it to become too acidic, or alkaline, can also cause your bird to develop vent gleet. . However, some hens develop something called a prolapsed vent, which happens after an egg is laid. In rare cases, severe prolapse can cause obstruction of the kidneys or urinary retention (inability to pass urine). Cutting the feathers at your bird's vent is also recommended. Check out my website and join my mailing list! I watched them suffer to poop relentlessly for 2 daysI got some good advice to put them out of their misery as they would not get better just suffer a horrible death. Linda @Crafts a la mode. Now it was up to her body to put those inners back in the proper place and keep them there! Just make sure the other chick doesn't pick on sore area. I never have tried that. Is It Normal For Chickens To Crow All Day? Use an antifungal cream on the birds vent after soaking and cleaning the bird, Canesten cream is safe to use on chickens. Isbar chickens- everything you need to know, Plymouth Rock Chickens: The Perfect Addition to Your Flock, How to Stop Chickens from Jumping Over the Fence. I was a poultry leader in 4H many years ago, so I know the feeling. I knew it could happen but I never in a million years dreamed it would happen. The vent is the orifice from which chickens pass bodily waste and from which hens pass eggs. Your email address will not be published. It's best to have someone hold the hen for you while you do this so you can have better control and be as slow and gentle as needed. I have personal experience with this. Henlo! A pasty vent, or "pasting up," "pasty butt," or "vent gleet," is a stress-induced condition in which droppings dry and cake up around the vent of young baby chicks. Rooster Testicles Theyve got two bean-shaped testes located against their backbone in front of the kidneys. It can occur in any bird that strains frequently. Generally speaking, exposed intestines will be bluish-red in color. I'm really glad you shared this as it may help someone else to save their chickens too. When the birds become uncomfortably hot they can become extremely cannibalistic. PROLAPSE TREATMENT. The (mis)Adventures of a Homesteadin' Mama. The vent and area around it protrudes. It is most dangerous when it completely blocks their vent opening, because the chick will be unable pass any more droppings. It can be a disturbing process, but just remember you are putting an end to your chicks suffering. 80-90* is darn near incubation temps. Ester was none too pleased with the lack of food or light in her pen, but we managed to get through the day with no movements or egg laying. Baby chicks are under a lot of stress during the first weeks of life. Applying a lubricant to your chickens prolapse can aid in both helping the prolapse stay moist and not dry out. After waiting patiently and carefully tending your eggs for 21 days, they finally begin to hatchbut somethings not right. Prolapsed vent recovery, something weird protruding. The first thing that youd need to do is isolate the bird to keep other birds from getting sick. Also, feces get stuck to the vent due to a dietary issue caused by too much fruit or seed. As its name implies, an umbilical hernia is a fleshy protrusion alongside the chicks umbilical cord. The vent is an important chicken organ, this body part plays a role in reproduction and also plays a role in the removal of waste. May it bring you hours of relaxation and entertainment. The production of this discharge is another major sign of vent gleet. I oiled the inside of the vent with mineral oil and the next time she bore down I pulled on the item. I hate when I am right about something bad, and sure as shit, there was Ester with her butt hanging out. You dont want to add the stress of being cold to an already-stressed bird! A dirty bottom or discharge from the vent means that you chicken is unwell and the problems that manifest around the vent and in the feathers on the bottom normally start a little higher up the digestive system. Also known as the Cloaca. Dont use harsh (like Dawn) or vinegar, which can strip the oil from feathers, dry the skin and make feathers brittle. If you can get the prolapse to stay in even partially it still may take two or three weeks for the tissues to recede and heal. Now it was just time to wait to see if her body could fix itself, and when she did finally use her vent, would it all stay inside or would she prolapse again. Just keep us posted, it sounds like you may have helped the poor peep pass some poo. Keep the hen isolated for several days until she seems perkier and the vent area looks normal. The Mating Process If the hen likes the rooster and wants to mate, she bends for the rooster to mount her. What Causes a Chick to Hatch With Its Intestines Out? The knowledge, skills, and encouragement to homestead where you live. Once the poop has softened, you just use a cotton swab to help remove it. If the chick is listless, not eating/drinking, or appears to have labored breathing, the best option is to put it out of its misery. The (mis)Adventures of a Homesteadin Mama. Wet a paper towel in the bowl of warm water and apply to chick's rear to soften the dried droppings. Be sure to adjust the brooding temperature as the young fowl get older. When did you first notice the pus? pasted vent) occurs when poo dries in the chick's vent (her pooper) and the blockage prevents her from defecating.This is a critical situation for a baby chick and should be addressed immediately because it can be fatal. As I sat there in the bathroom, with Ester upside down, wishing like heck that gravity would help her suck it all back in, I knew in my heart, this wasnt going to happens. How Often Should You Take Your Bearded Dragon Out Of Its Cage? Additionally, the intestinal loops are a telltale sign that can distinguish them from other organs. Vent gleet is not fatal if identified and treated quickly. apply an anti-inflammatory cream such as hydrocortisone (hemorrhoid ointment was once the treatment of choice, but is no longer considered appropriate) or continue spraying with Vetericyn 2-3 times per day until healed. This may lead to kidney damage or infection. A bird that isnt getting enough water may develop vent gleet. I haven't had this happen yet but it is bound to happen since I have had chickens for many years now. . Mostly really, really gross. CHICK ANATOMY All baby chicks have both vents and navels/belly buttons which should not be confused with one another. A change in your bird is a sign that there is something going on with your bird. Once the mass is softened, use warm water to gently work the mass from the chick. Brilliant about the Preparation H. Have a great weekend. Informing the oldest country kid that we would have to put his bird down, if she had prolapsed again, made me sick to my stomach. A forum community dedicated to chicken owners and enthusiasts. Naturally, an ordinary chicken will lay an egg every day and a half. You can even run its bottom under warm water. Birds with prolapsed cloacas require emergency care. Cover your birds head and upper body with a towel to keep it calm before pushing the prolapsed vent back in. What time of year do chickens lay the most eggs? Each day I put Preparation H on her bum in the morning and at night. There are circumstances where complications can arise, and the . Also reduce light intensity (maximum 40 lux in open house, 20-30 lux in environment control house). Its the moment every chick parent dreads. Keep cleaning the vent for as many days as it takes for the vent gleet to subside. 24. Prolapse can also occur if the hen is too young and underdeveloped to be laying eggs. *smacks forehead* I hope no one ever needs this info but if they do, then I did my part to help inform others. Whats a chicken vent & how to identify poultry mites. We did that twice before it finally came out. Vent Prolapse (What to do when your chickens butt falls out), A Week of Homestead Photos April 17th 23rd, A Week of Homestead Photos April 24th 30th, Meet Ester!! It is still too dry. I am happy to report, she was welcomed back with open wings by her sisters of the yard. A pasty vent isn't a stand-alone disease; it's a sign, telling you something is wrong in the brooder where you keep your baby chicks. I began to breathe a little better. I checked a link with a picture of another chick with the same problem. it's nearly the same, but my chick's is not nearly as big. Well because if it can shrink swollen hemorrhoid tissue, I figured it could tighten her vent area up allowing her body time to put everything back where it belonged. Chickens cant talk and tell us when something is wrong, but we humans can tell when something is wrong with our birds by looking at their behavior and appearance. My vet said don't feed my baby chickens well they are 2 years old now and I still refer to them as baby chickens. These include unabsorbed yolk, navel infections, gastroschisis, and overall failure of the chick to thrive. I was able to loosen and remove the bound egg, and gently wash her prolapse vent.It was 10 degrees outside in Anchorage, Alaska, today, so before starting anything, I soaked her in the kitchen sink with warm water. I don't know what kind of chicken she is. Recently, I watched. apply an anti-inflammatory cream such as hydrocortisone (hemorrhoid ointment was once the treatment of choice, but is no longer considered appropriate) or continue spraying with Vetericyn 2-3 times per day until healed.. Can a chicken live with a prolapsed vent? I am so sorry for your loss. Unfortunately, the laws of nature have a mind of their own, and many times you may still find a chick struggling to hatch. Rooster testicles vary in size based on their age and time of year. I then called a blogging buddy who has a bunch of chickens and she had never had this happens. With some TLC from you, most chicks with pasty vent can survive. Alternatively, the vagina swells, cannot retract, and remains prolapsed ("blowout"). Lubricate the vent. Minimally invasive (laparoscopic) or vaginal surgery might be an option. ! prolapsed. Shrinkage of a prolapse or passage of a stuck egg within 24 hours is a good sign. The chick normally absorbs the yolk sac in the last days before hatching, providing fluids and nutrients for the first days of life. Adding a probiotic, like yogurt, to your birds diet, is also recommended. Apple cider vinegar is safe for chickens as long as its used in moderation. Lubricate it with medicated Vaseline or mastitis ointment. She was a "free exotic rare breed" that came with my peep order. Hard white crusting on dirty tail feathers. What causes vent gleet? She will need attention right away. Common causes of the prolapse: Calcium deficiency can cause eggs to break or have rough shells. Adjust ME in feed to lower limit of recommendations. Dont pull dried poop off feathers- the skin can tear in the process. It did not solve the problem! Use an antifungal cream on the bird's vent after soaking and cleaning the bird, Canesten cream is safe to use on chickens. After hatching, these loops are relatively obvious and may even be wrapped around your chicks leg. Upon closer inspection, the hen had a prolapse vent with an egg stuck, or bound. If the chicken has been cannibalised by flock mates, the vent may also be bloody or torn. Do this with the help of a water-based lubricant and make sure you wear latex gloves when doing this. 1 day old baby chick with what appear to vent a prolapsed vent. A prolapsed vent develops when the birds cloaca becomes inverted, pushes outside of the birds body, and can be seen from outside. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Antibiotics are usually administered to prevent infection in the affected organs. A prolapse of the cloaca occurs when the inner tissue protrudes through the vent opening, resulting in exposed intestines, cloaca, or uterus. They both came back in to report that Ester has a tomato stuck to her butt. 3. Once the egg is hatched, a chicken typically takes less than 30 minutes to push it out and resume its natural reproductive cycle. Even 50 or 70 so long as the temp is consistent and not warm nor cold - eggs should be cool. UPDATE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/AOeduK8ghNc- - - - -When I checked on my backyard laying hens this morning, I noticed one of them had a very bloody rear end w. Well crap, it looked like I was on my own. Cloacal prolapse or vent prolapse is a condition where the inner tissues of the cloaca protrude (hang out) from the vent, exposing the intestines, cloaca or uterus. This can be done using a very sharp pair of scissors and snipping off the chicks head. We werent talking a little prolapsed, we were talking, dear god!!! The short answer to this question is: Yes! It slept for two hours without eating or drinking but seemed perkier. Vent Gleet is often related to a combination of stress and a latent bowel infection when several birds of either sex are affected. I hope her cries do not mean there is more of that hard matter coming through. I have raised chickens off and on for almost two decades now and have NEVER had a prolapsed vent. I had my hubby pick up some Preparation H cream on the way home, which he was none too pleased about. A broken egg can become infected and lead to peritonitis, which is caused by egg material stuck inside the hen and must be treated immediately with an antibiotic and probiotic powder to build up her good bacteria. If you see poop stuck to your chick's behind, simply get a warm, wet cloth and apply gentle pressure to loosen the stool. Putting them in the fridge would successfully kill the blastoderm in a few hours. But if the infection goes untreated in your birds for too long, it could get serious and become more dangerous to them. Please do your own research and make your own informed decisions regarding the health of your chickens. Train wreaks are hard to look away from! Of course I didnt know what he meant, so I sent the oldest country kid out to investigate. Thank yo. Well since we dont light our coop and she is four years old, I am assuming it was either due to an egg misfire (soft shelled egg) that I have been unable to locate, or she is just aging and had a difficult time pushing one out. OH dear I don't know what to say !?!?!? If your chickens body is too acidic or alkaline, it can make them more susceptible to vent gleet. Spray any prolapsed vents with a suitable medicated spray such as Oxytetravet (if possible) to aid recovery. There is nothing wrong with the contents of the egg and it rarely persists beyond an egg or two. Wearing gloves, lubricate your fingers with a water based lubricant and gently push the protruding tissue back into the vent. You are using an out of date browser. May 1, 2012. Well basically it happens when a chicken pushes too hard, for whatever reason. In all birds, the vent is the common external opening of the urinary tract, reproductive tract and digestive tract. I just knew see had prolapsed, because if anything can go wrong, it will go wrong, and the weirdest stuff always happens to us. Start off by isolating the bird, this will keep other birds from pecking at the sick birds vent and will calm the bird. It is one of those rare things. Not only is the Cloaca the end of the digestive tract, but it also shifts and folds back to release eggs without allowing the eggs to become contaminated by faecal matter. And while she may be a naughty bird for messing with my plants, I am so glad to see her back in the yard where she belongs! It took me a few minutes to get all of her inners back inside, and while you could still see them when the vent pulsated, I was delighted with the results. Although an overwhelming presence of bacteria can result from poor sanitation, it is also a common subset of improper temperature and humidity. We got her out, and as I dug through her yucky feathers, I prayed that all was right.. And it was a success!!!! Youd then need to push the prolapsed vent back into the bird. Feeding dog kibble to supplement protein intake? While in the hospital pen, I limited Esters food intake. I think she was still a little mad at me for the indignity I put her through, the lack of food and light and the Preparation H because the first thing she did was go scratch in my new Hosta bed. Pasty vent is rare in chicks raised by momma hen, but it's a common condition in artificially incubated and brooded chicks. As mentioned previously, gastroschisis is the condition in which your chicks intestines are truly spilling out. I am The President of Chickenlandia and I want to welcome you to Chickenlandia, a magical place where my pet chickens (and a few ducks) live an awesome life. Often characterized by a collection of red tissue hanging out of the hen's posterior, prolapse vent is easily treatable. Clean Her Up. However, a vet may not be in the best interest of your bank account, especially if several chicks from your hatch require care. JavaScript is disabled. Her inners had stayed in!!! UPDATE on baby chickafter 2 hours or so of chick laboring to poop, I checked it again. we are also trying to live on a disability income and I know money for a vet is not in the picture. Baby chick bottoms are supposed to be pink, moist, have no inflammation, discoloration, or dirt on them. A constipated chick will no. Help, my hen has a swollen, prolapsed vent! It squats to poop and cries. this post deserved to be sharedlots of gems! Well, sending eggs to someone else to hatch is a good idea. you want some eggs? Vent gleet can also develop after a round of antibiotics if probiotics are not given to the bird. Avoid adding light to the coop at all, but at least until young birds have been laying for a month or two. ..or whatever it is. it's part of the bird that's hanging out it's butt. I will try that. She is black with a yellow spot on her head and shorter in length than my other peeps (Austrolorps, Orpingtons, RI reds) She is pretty much the same size everywhere else. As a chick continues to try to pass its excrement, it continues to build up and harden; thus the little chick becomes blocked and unable to pass stool. I am afraid to do too much because I don't know what I am doing and don't want to hurt it. Give her Calcium. Fortunately, true gastroschisis is rare and frequently confused with other potentially more treatable issues. Even if the egg is not broken, the condition must be treated quickly. Then push the prolapsed mass very gently back into the vent. Cloacal prolapse occurs when the inner tissues of the hen's body protrude outside through the vent. Instead of the healthy fuzz balls you anticipated, one (or more) of the chicks have what appears to be their intestines outside of their body. That was a conversation I did NOT want to have. For Ester, her girly parts are getting old and worn out, and she strained too hard laying and POP, out came her inners.Now if you google the internet about prolapsed vents in chickens, the first thing you will notice, or at least I did, is that a lot of the articles out there seem to be regurgitating the same information, sometimes word for word. 3. Clean the vent area daily with warm water and a mild detergent like Dawn dish soap. One had a large hard lump just inside the anus. If it doesn't, keep wetting the rear end, using either Q-tips or paper towels to dislodge the poo. Take my course Chicken Keeping 101 - A Chicken Course for EVERYONE: https://course.welcometochickenlandia.com/Check out my TEDX Talk \"I Dream of Chickens\": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xkNl_WpOxQ\u0026t=320sVideos Mentioned:Sick Chicken Action Plan (REST Method): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z110OFNF6zY\u0026t=30sChicken First Aid Kit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHvNrCnCS_c\u0026t=8sHeavy Duty Aviary Netting: https://amzn.to/3Fzqa68As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases through the link above. It is not bleeding and other chicks are fine and not picking at the chick. Interesting yes, scary to life through, double yes. Treatment of vent prolapse should also include: withholding feed for at least 24 hours but providing lots of fresh water, followed by several days of light rations of mainly greens will help prevent another egg being laid in order to give the vent time to heal. Log in, Fall Decorations Are Natural Chicken Dewormers. This is a condition where droppings stick to a chick's vent area, preventing excretion of waste. As such, they should be kept cool, but not cold. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Bleeding from the vent is observed as a result of pecking. It is possible that under the right conditions the prolapse can retract and heal on its own but for this to work your hen will need to be isolated, kept inactive and need regular attention. This bulge will appear alongside the chicks navel. Now she's a completely different chicken w/ a new name. It can lead to feather loss around the vent and the entire backside of your chickens. I called our vet, who said there was little they could do beyond attempting to push it back in and giving her a stitch to keep it in. What you will learn from all these articles are two things (and this is in my own words).. First, a soft shelled eggs is harder to pass than a properly formed one. I treat chickens and have a large flock of my own as well. At her age, she's definitely not a spring chicken anymore! Almost all deformities and mortalities that occur during hatching can be attributed to temperature and humidity problems. It doesn't happen often. Organ prolapse from the vent is frequently associated with bacterial infections. She has been passing small amounts of "almost" normal poo. Although it should be reiterated that a chicks prognosis is poor even with professional help, it can be worth it to try and save your chick at home. Another cause of chicken diarrhea is vent prolapse, which can occur because of a calcium deficiency or because the bird is over- or underweight. https://welcometochickenlandia.com/shop/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/WelcomeToChickenlandia/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/welcometochickenlandia/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Chickenlandia1Check out our new Chickenlandia Family Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTjBqNH6lDBcz2uAgvl2K9QWrite to us!Welcome to Chickenlandia2950 Newmarket Street, Ste 101, PBM 125Bellingham, WA 98226Disclaimer Notice: The content of the Welcome to Chickenlandia YouTube Channel, website, blog, vlog, and all social media is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment.