Sydney Acres
Songster
How high of a "megadose" of metronidazole are you using? High doses of metronidazole can have side effects. (How much does your turkey weigh, what dose of metronidazole are you using, and how often are you giving that dose?)
Is this veterinarian an avian specialist? If not, is there one available close by, or is there a university vet school within driving distance?
Has your turkey been definitively diagnosed with Blackhead, or is that just the most likely problem? Other than a physical exam, what tests have been run, and what were the results?
Is there anything else that is being done for him, such as concurrent treatment with baytril or zeniquin, probiotics, tube feeding, monitoring for concurrent yeast infections and treating that, something soothing to the intestines such as sucralfate suspension or therapeutic barium, etc.? Has he been given anything to decrease inflammation, such as meloxicam? Has he been dewormed with a broad spectrum dewormer to eliminate that concurrent stress? What about some of the more natural products, such as oregano oil added to his food or water? Is he staying hydrated?
Blackhead is a horrible disease, and some turkeys will die from it no matter what you do. But sometimes the thing that makes all the difference isn't the ONE best drug, it's the total picture, everything together that supports the body until the immune system can take control and fight this off. There are many studies done on debilitated calves in dairy situations, all being given the right drug for the infection that they have. Every time these drugs are compared, the one thing that makes the difference in every study where it's looked at is who is taking care of the calves when they're sick. Consistently, the best prognosis comes when the teenage daughter in the family takes care of the calves. She doesn't just give them their medicine and hope for the best. She looks after their total needs. She sees all the little details and responds to them. It's not just about finding the right medication, although that's important. It's about supporting the whole animal through the illness. If your vet can't help you with that, maybe a different vet can.
Is this veterinarian an avian specialist? If not, is there one available close by, or is there a university vet school within driving distance?
Has your turkey been definitively diagnosed with Blackhead, or is that just the most likely problem? Other than a physical exam, what tests have been run, and what were the results?
Is there anything else that is being done for him, such as concurrent treatment with baytril or zeniquin, probiotics, tube feeding, monitoring for concurrent yeast infections and treating that, something soothing to the intestines such as sucralfate suspension or therapeutic barium, etc.? Has he been given anything to decrease inflammation, such as meloxicam? Has he been dewormed with a broad spectrum dewormer to eliminate that concurrent stress? What about some of the more natural products, such as oregano oil added to his food or water? Is he staying hydrated?
Blackhead is a horrible disease, and some turkeys will die from it no matter what you do. But sometimes the thing that makes all the difference isn't the ONE best drug, it's the total picture, everything together that supports the body until the immune system can take control and fight this off. There are many studies done on debilitated calves in dairy situations, all being given the right drug for the infection that they have. Every time these drugs are compared, the one thing that makes the difference in every study where it's looked at is who is taking care of the calves when they're sick. Consistently, the best prognosis comes when the teenage daughter in the family takes care of the calves. She doesn't just give them their medicine and hope for the best. She looks after their total needs. She sees all the little details and responds to them. It's not just about finding the right medication, although that's important. It's about supporting the whole animal through the illness. If your vet can't help you with that, maybe a different vet can.