.

[henshomestead]

.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My hen is showing signs of mareks and we want to try to give her a general antibiotic just in case it's actually one of the many lookalike diseases that could actually be helped.

Does anyone know ANYTHING that works as an antibiotic for a potential ear infection/viral infection/etc. that you don't need a prescription for?

I'm sorry your pullet is not doing well.
Marek's may be the cause of her decline.

That's quite a list of medications to have on hand, if you have those, then you should know what they are used for along with doses.

Ear infection?? - you should be able to see pus in the ears - are the ears clean of pus and debris?
For ear infection, often an antibiotic is not necessary, cleaning the ear of pus daily and applying an antibiotic ointment into the ear can be quite effective.

Marek's is a virus - antibiotics are not effective in treating viruses.

You mention treating "lookalike" diseases - which are what?

A few common lookalikes for Marek's disease are:

Vitamin B deficiency (needs vitamin therapy give B-Complex daily).

Avian Lymphpoid Leucosis (Virus/antibiotics will not treat a virus).

Heavy Metal Toxicity (antibiotics will not help).
Botulism (rare, but possible, vet care is needed).

Egg Binding (is she old enough to lay eggs, if so, then give calcium, not antibiotics).

Parasites (get a fecal float or deworm with an anthelmintic, antibiotics are of no use).

Moldy Feed, poor diet...ensure feed is fresh and birds are being fed a nutritionally balanced feed.


More possible lookalikes in the link below.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

 

[henshomestead]

I'm sorry your pullet is not doing well.
Marek's may be the cause of her decline.

That's quite a list of medications to have on hand, if you have those, then you should know what they are used for along with doses.

Ear infection?? - you should be able to see pus in the ears - are the ears clean of pus and debris?
For ear infection, often an antibiotic is not necessary, cleaning the ear of pus daily and applying an antibiotic ointment into the ear can be quite effective.

Marek's is a virus - antibiotics are not effective in treating viruses.

You mention treating "lookalike" diseases - which are what?

A few common lookalikes for Marek's disease are:

Vitamin B deficiency (needs vitamin therapy give B-Complex daily).

Avian Lymphpoid Leucosis (Virus/antibiotics will not treat a virus).

Heavy Metal Toxicity (antibiotics will not help).
Botulism (rare, but possible, vet care is needed).

Egg Binding (is she old enough to lay eggs, if so, then give calcium, not antibiotics).

Parasites (get a fecal float or deworm with an anthelmintic, antibiotics are of no use).

Moldy Feed, poor diet...ensure feed is fresh and birds are being fed a nutritionally balanced feed.


More possible lookalikes in the link below.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

Like I said, my family's medications, not mine, and like I said, last ditch effort. It was my uncle's advice and he has raised healthy chickens for probably 50+ years. We're going to do vitamins and check her ears too. She's probably going to die and it breaks my heart so why not try anything we possibly can? It's not going to hurt. Going to get rid of this post now.