OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATIONS (OTC) IMPACTED BY NEW FDA PRESCRIPTION REQUIREMENTS INITIATIVE

[Folly's place]

There's no reason that fecals can't be run at almost any clinic; we send ours out to a laboratory, with species listed, and get results the next day. Talk to your local veterinarian about possible care for your birds, and find someone who will take an interest. Somebody with chickens would be great. Most of us are pretty busy, and trying to keep current for more than a couple of species is hard! Also, a client who wants free advise on the phone, and to buy meds for animals not brought in to the clinic, doesn't offer much incentive for the veterinarian to study up on that species. I'm in a busy small animal practice, and have seen THREE chickens in the last year, total. If it weren't for my interest in my own flock, I wouldn't have cared to see them either. Mary

 

[casportpony]

There's no reason that fecals can't be run at almost any clinic; we send ours out to a laboratory, with species listed, and get results the next day.  Talk to your local veterinarian about possible care for your birds, and find someone who will take an interest.  Somebody with chickens would be great.  Most of us are pretty busy, and trying to keep current for more than a couple of species is hard!  Also, a client who wants free advise on the phone, and to buy meds for animals not brought in to the clinic, doesn't offer much incentive for the veterinarian to study up on that species.  I'm in a busy small animal practice, and have seen THREE chickens in the last year, total.  If it weren't for my interest in my own flock, I wouldn't have cared to see them either.  Mary

Do you do gram stains in the clinic?

I would never call and ask or free advice or drugs for an animal not under their care, but I guess many people do.

-Kathy

 

[Blooie]

There's no reason that fecals can't be run at almost any clinic; we send ours out to a laboratory, with species listed, and get results the next day. Talk to your local veterinarian about possible care for your birds, and find someone who will take an interest. Somebody with chickens would be great. Most of us are pretty busy, and trying to keep current for more than a couple of species is hard! Also, a client who wants free advise on the phone, and to buy meds for animals not brought in to the clinic, doesn't offer much incentive for the veterinarian to study up on that species. I'm in a busy small animal practice, and have seen THREE chickens in the last year, total. If it weren't for my interest in my own flock, I wouldn't have cared to see them either. Mary

Will you move here? I can find you a nice place in the mountains and I promise I'd bring my chickens to you, pay for the office visit and whatever you think was necessary, and bring you some homemade peanut brittle every Christmas!!

 

[casportpony]

So I have a hypothetical question for all of you... Pretend you had a flock of about 200 birds with many of those worth $200 or more and none worth less than $25. One day you notice a bunch of the younger ones sneezing, gasping for air, gurgling, matted eyes, etc... what would you do?

Disclaimer: This is not going on in my flock, so it's not me asking for advice for me or anyone else. This is what a friend went thru and I will share more on that after a few of you post what you would do.

-Kathy

 

[JanetMarie]

I would step up my search for a veterinarian, and would drive up to 1 hour away. If no vet available, convince a local vet to do a gram stain. I would not guess which antibiotic to use, as I am doing now, and do not like it. I am currently searching for vet.

 

[JanetMarie]

Another consideration before investing in birds worth that much is to already have a good avian veterinarian available.

 

[Folly's place]

Find your state's veterinary school, or the nearest, that will have a path. lab, and talk to their poultry expert, or get a recommendation for someone at that level. In Michigan, we have such a place and Dr. Fulton there, who's wonderful. When in doubt, find the best! Birds and samples can be shipped, if the drive is far. Mary

 

[Sonya9]

I would step up my search for a veterinarian, and would drive up to 1 hour away. If no vet available, convince a local vet to do a gram stain. I would not guess which antibiotic to use, as I am doing now, and do not like it. I am currently searching for vet.

My small town has two vet offices, one is actually an Avian/Exotics vet BUT the one time I visited her for a second opinion (dog suffering from a tick borne disease) I quickly decided she was incompetent. She apparently knew very little about tick born illnesses and told me that my dog would die therefore there was no point in treating the tick born disease, she said that would be a waste of money but I should pay for fecal and heart worm tests while I was there (??!!!). Needless to say I knew she was clueless and didn't let her lay a finger on my dog (who is now fine 4 years later after proper diagnosis and treatment).

I will be talking my non-avian vet into helping me. He may not see birds but at least I know he won't lie when he isn't sure about a diagnosis.

 

[EdenCamp]

Glad we have a vet on board! Welcome!

Chicken people have not used vets much for a couple of reasons.

A.) Vets don't see the investment in boning up on poultry paying off (unless as stated they have personal interest) so most don't see poultry and/or really know how to treat them.
B.) It's been hard for common back yard flocks to justify the expense of a vet bill - unless a treasured pet or rare exoctic
C.) It's a little different dragging a flock to a vet to be seen and only large animal vets tend to make "house" calls.
D.) Most vet meds were available OTC so people just pretty much winged it themselves.
E.) Many became "self" taught and have more expertise than most vets - but usually not access to equipment and labs.

Game changed.

Vets will have more incentive as more poultry people will be seeking professional services.
Unless willing and able to take on the expense of a hi$ avian specialists who you can expect to have all the answers,
going to need to expect a learning curve and best to educate your self for a collaborative effort.
The need to establish a good working relationship with a vet, after you find one willing to do so, is critical.
Need to start doing the leg work for that now and not wait for a half dead chicken emergency to scramble.

So, we need to start networking to get vets in our areas identified that will work with poultry people. Start making phone calls to vet offices in your area and ask to speak with the vet about it. Maybe best to start with large animal vets/farm vets if there are any in the area. Next best would be if the vet has poultry themselves. Be prepared to explain the situation and the need in your area. If you have a number of people identified that would use them IF they would work with poultry its going to provide more incentive than a solo request. Even better if your transfer your "regular" pet care to them too. Remember, they have a living to make, office overhead and only so much time in a day.

 

[enola]

Vets in my area are very negative about chickens. Not only do they think "It is only a chicken" - they don't even want to do a fecal sample since they don't know what to suggest if they found a parasite, fungus or bacteria.

So, I guess I would have to come to this site for advice. . . .