Cachexia, chicken

Cachexia, chicken

Chicken with poor body condition (cachexia). Note the atrophy of the pectoral muscles on both sides of the prominent keel bones (palpable on physical examination). This bird is also anorectic and dehydrated, as indicated by the dark color of the muscles and lack of feed in the crop (the collapsed, empty pouch [arrow] sunken in between the clavicles).

Courtesy of Dr. Yuko Sato.