Gape worm?

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LRH97

LRH97

Crowing
11 Years
Jul 29, 2013
1,203
656
311
Southern Illinois
I just noticed one of our Silkies gasping for breath, I guess "gaping." I suspect gape worm, but have heard it is kind of rare. We've never dealt with it before. We tried the Q-tip test, but didn't see any worms. Then again, she wasn't cooperating very well. Opinions? What treatment should we use? Any input would greatly be appreciated! Here's the link in case it doesn't work right.
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She looks pretty sick. Is she making much noise? Gapeworm and some respiratory diseases such as ILT or infectious laryngotracheitis look a lot a like. Aspergillosis a fungal disease from mold can cause silent gasping. There is no treatment for the virus ILT or fungus aspergillosis, but gapeworm can be treated with SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer 1/2 ml for a bantam by mouth for 5 days in a row. If she makes it through the night, I would get her to a vet, but I would treat her for gapeworm just in case.
 
I think I would start her on antibiotics in the morning as well. Tylan 50 injection 1/4 ml injected into the breast muscle 1/4 inch with a 22 gauge needle (or given orally if you can't do the shots) for 3-5 days. The antibiotic would be to help prevent a secondary infection if it is not gapeworm. Oral antibiotics given in the water right now would probably not work since she looks like she can't eat or drink. I sure hope she makes it. Here are links to read on ILT and other respiratory diseases:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/83/infectious-laryngotracheitis-ilt
http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou..._infectious_laryngotracheitis_in_poultry.html
 
Eggcessive said:
She looks pretty sick. Is she making much noise? Gapeworm and some respiratory diseases such as ILT or infectious laryngotracheitis look a lot a like. Aspergillosis a fungal disease from mold can cause silent gasping. There is no treatment for the virus ILT or fungus aspergillosis, but gapeworm can be treated with SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer 1/2 ml for a bantam by mouth for 5 days in a row. If she makes it through the night, I would get her to a vet, but I would treat her for gapeworm just in case.
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Thanks for your reply. I just noticed her this evening so hopefully she's not too far along. She's not making much noise at all though, which worries me. Will be off to the feed store for the wormer and the vet will be getting a phone call in the morning. I also have some Tylan so I will inject it orally tomorrow too. Thank you again for your help!
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I was wondering how long it takes the safeguard to kill the gapeworms. I am on the 3rd day of tx an there is much improvement but stil has cough and slight wheeze. No more gaping. Still shakes/scratches head alot.
 
bass01 said:
I was wondering how long it takes the safeguard to kill the gapeworms. I am on the 3rd day of tx an there is much improvement but stil has cough and slight wheeze. No more gaping. Still shakes/scratches head alot.
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Welcome to BYC. You could be dealing with a respiratory disease instead of gapeworm. Diseases such as IB (infectious bronchitis,) MG (mycoplasma,) ILT, and coryza can look the same. Continue your treatment, but think about starting an antibiotic such as Tylan 50 injections, or oxytetracycline or Gallimycin in the water. Are you using SafeGuard to treat? You may want to read this: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044
 
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She has been on that for 7 days and actually improved for a few days then overnight went down hill. But has improved again on the safeguard. Just not 100% yet
 
bass01 said:
Is there a better antibiotic then Duramycin that can be put in the water?
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I think oxytetracycline might be better than Duramycin, but don't quote me on that. You might want to try Tylan like @Eggcessive suggested, and if that doesn't work maybe Baytril or Cipro. Tylan powder can be used in water, but you would have to order it online. Baytril and Cipro should be given orally, but both are banned for use in poultry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxytetracycline

-Kathy
 
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I haven't used antibiotics much in my birds, but as Kathy said, most people seem to prefer drugs other than Duramycin. Apparently it works better if citric acid (available in canning supplies) is given with it, but many birds won't drink the medicated water. Whichever you use, they have to drink it. The Tylan 50 is inexpensive, and many people will give it orally for 5 days, if they don't give the shots for 3 days. If she is worse after 7 days, you might wan to switch. Also how much safeguard are you using?
 
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