Blackhead or Histomoniasis case in Chicken

[casportpony]

Had another thought, lol... Many people give the whole 250 mg of metronidazole to their chickens, as do pigeon people when treating for canker, so I wouldn't worry too much about the dosing. I have it in many forms, so it's easy for me to dose at 30mg/kg.

-Kathy

 

[TwoCrows]

Quote: Kathy...You know, I can't remember exactly which antibacterial drugs I originally used...I think I first tried the drugs in the "cycline" group. But it wasn't until I turned to sulfa drugs, Sulfadimethoxine to be exact, that I was able to cure her. It is recommended that sulfa drugs only be run for short periods of time, 5 days I think, but I had her on it for 10 or 11 days I think. She was in bad shape at the time. It settled in her liver. (she has MS) She had completely stopped drinking and eating and I was shoving water down her throat, AND the meds for the first 3 days or treatment. She began eating and drinking on her own on the 4th day, although very slow to get the appetite back. She made a complete recovery from this particular ailment and is in peak health today. Built like a tank now. LOL (still carries MS, but seems healthy as an ox)

-Leyla

 

[casportpony]

Glad she's better... was just curious because I had cultures and sensitivities done on a few and the list of drugs that wouldn't work was quite long. Also, I guess it also depends on the strain of e. Coli, 'cause on one bird, it was sensitive to sulfa, but not on the other, go figure!

-Kathy

 

[TwoCrows]

Just as in humans, not all drugs work equally in all bodies. What works on one, may not work on another. And as you mentioned here, different strains of bacterias, whether or not the bacteria have mutated and the health of the bird plays a huge factor as to how antibacterial drugs work on bacteria. The make up of the dna, the cell structure, the immune system, etc...all respond differently to different drugs and scenerio's. But we all learn new things along the way about our individual birds and what helps or does not help.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Thank you Kathy and Leyla for all your information on this. And your expertise with previous experience as well. I'm going to treat her. I think too although outward symptoms are good...there is this potential for latency and another overload of protozoan and illness will finally do her liver in. She's a pet for my kids as well as a layer of beautiful eggs for our family and friends. Any ideas on how long I should toss out eggs after her treatments. I'm sure I could google or search BYC for this too. I know duramycin is in the 21 days range...is it the same for flagyl and wormers?...Is that just a general recommended time for throwing out and half life on any of these drugs? I also see from the FDA standards now see that flagyl treated birds are not recommended to use the food products at all...does that mean ever or are they just referring to not using it every day in a factory setting? I mean eventually that stuff has to leave her system right? I'll google. I was so glad to see you both on my thread. Dang worms though anyways. I need this kind tinkering around with my chickens like a hole in the head. LOL. Meds will be her tomorrow or Wednesday. I saw that 250 mg/day dosing also...sounded like the birds usually just grab it and swallow. I'll do a weight on her and see how close it is to the 30mg/kg...I think it probably works out pretty close anyways. IDK...I might have an EE with this. Her stool looked slimey this AM...and I thought she looked a bit drowsy albeit she was hanging with her flock...

Well you ladies are the best. Thanks Kathy and Leyla.
Amy

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I did also pick up some Sulmet on Saturday...in case I get a side line of cocci with all this wormy business going on...Just in case. All of this from my reading seems to go hand in hand.

 

[TwoCrows]

Amy, as far as I know, Flagyl is not to be used on birds intended for meat or eggs, but many of these products like antibiotics and wormers that we use on our birds is not cleared by the FDA for use. And from what I understand the ingredient in Flagyl is used to treat humans as well.

So all this being said, since the manufactures don't really give a withdrawal time, assume there is a withdrawal and pitch the eggs for at least 2 weeks. 3 or 4 if you are really paranoid. LOL

And you know, birds are pretty resilient and can take an awful lot. Even when old and sick, they can bounce back. I always think the worst when a bird gets sick, but somehow they usually come back full strength.

I wish you all the best with this bird and your flock. They sure are lucky to have someone like you that cares so much.

-Leyla

 

[casportpony]

From post #28:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/788976/turkeys-with-chickens/20

ivan3

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Quote: Metronidazole (Flagyl) earned its `tumorigenic chops' back in 1971. How was that testing accomplished?
Quote: http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/48/3/721.abstract

If one is going to feed Metronidazole to one's turks at the same levels (from hatch to sacrifice) as were the mice then, yes, there might be a problem... (but, please, publish!).

Pregnant women are still receiving this drug as the damage done by the diseases treated represent threats that are greater by orders of magnitude than is the cure.
Quote: http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/twelfth/profiles/Metronidazole.pdf

One time treatment for Histomoniasis? empty shells/bones would be the only `residue' here.

 

[casportpony]

I did also pick up some Sulmet on Saturday...in case I get a side line of cocci with all this wormy business going on...Just in case. All of this from my reading seems to go hand in hand.

Did you know that Sulmet only treats two of the nine chicken coccidia?

-Kathy

 

[Bogtown Chick]

No I didn't. Hmmm....Should have known you get more bang for bigger bucks. Should have got the liquid gold Corid. Well it's not an issue...yet. Cocci. But I'll have that now in my little arsenal of knowledge I'm getting on this whole business.

Thanks Ladies.

Amy