Animal Health 11/19/20 - Henrietta

Dr. Karen Emerson of the Emerson Animal Hospital in West Point tells us about a special chicken named Henrietta and her medical struggle.

Dr. karen emerson: good morning, sunrisers, i'm dr. karen emerson, and today i have with me my technician skyler, and this beautiful little bantam chicken.

This is henrietta.

Now, henrietta is a very special chicken.

Henrietta was actually born with liver disease and congestive heart failure, but henrietta is a very special chicken for a very special person.

She actually belongs to someone that basically served in the military, and she is actually an emotional support animal, so her and her owner have bonded tremendously.

Dr. karen emerson: dr. jansen, actually, my associate, has been seeing henrietta for the last few years.

They diagnosed her condition at mississippi state.

She is actually currently on enalapril, furosemide, denamarin for her liver, and she is prednisolone as needed, which is an antiinflammatory.

You think, gosh that's a lot of medicine to give her, but she takes it very well.

She is super friendly, she has a great quality of life.

Dr. karen emerson: one of the things that we do have to do with henrietta is once a week we actually drain fluid off her abdomen.

Because the congestive heart failure along with the liver issue does cause fluid to build up in her lower abdomen, which can cause her to have breathing issues.

She does very well.

During the earlier stages of the covid crisis, dr. jansen actually taught her family how to draw fluid off themselves at home.

It is not a painful procedure, it gives her immediate relief, and she takes her meds well.

Dr. karen emerson: a lot of people think, "why would you do all this with a chicken?

Do chickens bond?

Do chickens love?"

I've had a bird now for 33 years.

I've owned chickens my whole life.

Birds are some of the most loving, wonderful pets you will ever own.

They know their owners, they know their names, and they do know how to feel emotion.