Anyone have experience dealing with Marek's?

[shannon84]

 

[shannon84]

I found this on a poultry website! I may try this! Thought you all might find this interesting as well!

 

[Eggcessive]

I think the paralysis is caused by tumors on the sciatic nerves, but as I said, I am not an expert on Mareks. It doesn’t hurt to try anti-inflammatory medicines like metacam (meloxicam) a prescription drug from a vet, or just baby aspirin twice a day or in the water.

 

[shannon84]

I think the paralysis is caused by tumors on the sciatic nerves, but as I said, I am not an expert on Mareks. It doesn’t hurt to try anti-inflammatory medicines like metacam (meloxicam) a prescription drug from a vet, or just baby aspirin twice a day or in the water.

Oh I stopped the aspirin but I'll start it back up again, I didn't know if he was numb from paralysis or he might be experiencing pain with it. Im still green when it comes to chickens, so being hit with this possible Marek's is overwhelming. I believe I've been on the internet non stop the past two days now researching ugh sucks . Thanks @Eggcessive

 

[rebrascora]

Hi. Apologies for taking so long to respond. My keyboard died and whilst I was able to read threads I have been unable to reply for a few days and now I have umpteen pages of catching up to do....

I think the paralysis is caused by tumors on the sciatic nerves, but as I said, I am not an expert on Mareks.

I believe this is incorrect. Neurological Marek's causes inflammation of the nerves, usually the sciatic nerves affecting the legs but can be other places in the body too. Tumours may develop throughout the body at the same time or later but the paralysis associated with Marek's is caused by inflammation and not tumours. This is why birds can recover from an attack of neurological Marek's either fully or partially, but will be vulnerable to further outbreaks in the future, usually at times of stress or lowered immune response. It sounds like this guy has probably had the disease for some time if he has suffered lameness issues in the past. Unfortunately, subsequent outbreaks are often more debilitating and prolonged but as long as he continues to have an interest in food, he has a chance of recovery but you might want to revamp your set up because he will need support and lying in the mud reaching into a coop on a daily basis to tend to him is really not a practical situation.
You can feed the liver raw or cooked. I cut it into small bite sized slivers if fed raw and just a very small amount not more than an ounce a day and not every day. He may not like it, try both raw and cooked and remember that he needs access to grit if you are feeding anything that needs grinding up. If you only feed him wet mash feeds then he will need very little extra water to drink, so if you are concerned about him being able to access water then make his feed sloppier. I would feed him mostly unmedicated chick crumbs soaked in warm water for 10 mins and perhaps some raw beaten egg mixed into it if he prefers egg raw, but just mix small amounts at a time. Small chunks of bread soaked in a weak gravy (too much salt is not good for them) is also enticing. Bread is not the most nutritious food but sometimes it will encourage them to eat and anything is better than nothing with Marek's.
Once they stop eating it is usually a downhill roll towards death (I'm starting to believe that it indicates tumours are taking them down) and I euthanize at that point, but I have had at least one bird that was on her second attack of Marek's and was nest bound and unable to walk for weeks, recover enough to return to free ranging with the flock, so I believe there is hope as long as they will eat. I have not resorted to tube feeding a Marek's bird because it stresses them and that almost always makes their condition worse and as stated above I believe that they stop eating because the disease is in the final tumour stage.
I wish you luck with your old guy. I cannot of course say for sure that this is Marek's that he is suffering from but it certainly seems probably from what you have described. I hope he manages to beat the odds and make a miraculous recovery as some of mine have.
Hope you have a Happy Christmas and he gets the gift of life.

 

[shannon84]

Hi. Apologies for taking so long to respond. My keyboard died and whilst I was able to read threads I have been unable to reply for a few days and now I have umpteen pages of catching up to do....

I believe this is incorrect. Neurological Marek's causes inflammation of the nerves, usually the sciatic nerves affecting the legs but can be other places in the body too. Tumours may develop throughout the body at the same time or later but the paralysis associated with Marek's is caused by inflammation and not tumours. This is why birds can recover from an attack of neurological Marek's either fully or partially, but will be vulnerable to further outbreaks in the future, usually at times of stress or lowered immune response. It sounds like this guy has probably had the disease for some time if he has suffered lameness issues in the past. Unfortunately, subsequent outbreaks are often more debilitating and prolonged but as long as he continues to have an interest in food, he has a chance of recovery but you might want to revamp your set up because he will need support and lying in the mud reaching into a coop on a daily basis to tend to him is really not a practical situation.
You can feed the liver raw or cooked. I cut it into small bite sized slivers if fed raw and just a very small amount not more than an ounce a day and not every day. He may not like it, try both raw and cooked and remember that he needs access to grit if you are feeding anything that needs grinding up. If you only feed him wet mash feeds then he will need very little extra water to drink, so if you are concerned about him being able to access water then make his feed sloppier. I would feed him mostly unmedicated chick crumbs soaked in warm water for 10 mins and perhaps some raw beaten egg mixed into it if he prefers egg raw, but just mix small amounts at a time. Small chunks of bread soaked in a weak gravy (too much salt is not good for them) is also enticing. Bread is not the most nutritious food but sometimes it will encourage them to eat and anything is better than nothing with Marek's.
Once they stop eating it is usually a downhill roll towards death (I'm starting to believe that it indicates tumours are taking them down) and I euthanize at that point, but I have had at least one bird that was on her second attack of Marek's and was nest bound and unable to walk for weeks, recover enough to return to free ranging with the flock, so I believe there is hope as long as they will eat. I have not resorted to tube feeding a Marek's bird because it stresses them and that almost always makes their condition worse and as stated above I believe that they stop eating because the disease is in the final tumour stage.
I wish you luck with your old guy. I cannot of course say for sure that this is Marek's that he is suffering from but it certainly seems probably from what you have described. I hope he manages to beat the odds and make a miraculous recovery as some of mine have.
Hope you have a Happy Christmas and he gets the gift of life.

Oh my God, thank you sooooo much for all that information! I'm convinced it's Marek's now, everything you said is true with his case, he has experienced lameness in the past, and I noticed it would happen in times of stress the episodes! He became all the way lame when my husband caught him the other night, and he HATES my husband and is very fearful of him. each time he has these spells an injury or stress makes it much more worse! that was my plans when he stops eating that's when I'll have him put down. In my experience with dogs once they stopped eating for me they went downhill fast and that's when I know it's time. I'm going to make his beef liver now, im going to cook it since it's chilly outside, (if I can do this without gagging first ) yeah I need to figure out a way that it's easy for him to get in the coop, it stresses him out just me touching him. Thank you so very much for the detailed post. You eased my anxiety and nerves this morning . Merry Christmas to you too!!!

 

[rebrascora]

So pleased I was able to offer you a little comfort and support in what I know is a very distressing situation.

 

[shannon84]

So pleased I was able to offer you a little comfort and support in what I know is a very distressing situation.

I gave him an asprin this a.m. none of them cared for the beef liver unfortunately or spinach, he just ate his regular mash and raisins plus blueberries.

 

[shannon84]

I think the paralysis is caused by tumors on the sciatic nerves, but as I said, I am not an expert on Mareks. It doesn’t hurt to try anti-inflammatory medicines like metacam (meloxicam) a prescription drug from a vet, or just baby aspirin twice a day or in the water.

@Eggcessive what's your thoughts on a heat lamp in the run during the day? I would be home keeping an eye on it, I wouldn't leave the house with it on. I'm concerned that he is getting chilly during the day. Thanks!

 

[Eggcessive]

Glad to se rebrascora chiming in. I really am nervous using heat lamps because of so many coop fires in winter, and only do it when it gets around zero in my coop in January. Many use a heat pad on low, or make a tent with a heating pad on top. If I used a heat lamp, I would use a 60 to 100 watt incandescent bulb if you have any of those left from when they stopped making them. There are newer heat sources available nowadays, such as heat plates and infrared lamps.