Can Iodine be used on Wet Pox mouth ulcers? *UPDATE*

[cyanne]

Several of my birds have started showing the tell-tale symptoms of fowl pox, and two have the 'wet' version with sores in their mouth, throat, and on their tongues.

I've been giving them, polyvisol, Exact hand feeding formula via a syringe for the weakest one, and giving water via syringe to the weaker one as well to keep her strength up, but I wanted to know if there was anything I can safely put on the ulcers in their mouths to help them heal faster. I did an extensive search on 'wet pox' but this question was not answered in any of the threads I found. I read one post that mentioned iodine mouth wipes, but I did not want to stick iodine in their mouth without making sure it was safe first.

I also read that oxine was good to help with this, but it is not available locally. I ordered some today from a pet supply place, but it won't be here until at least next Monday.

Any other tips to help my chickens get through this?

Oh, and I did already order the vaccine to give to the rest of the birds in my flock who are not sick yet.

Thankfully, most of my birds are staying with my parents' because we are in the process of moving...unluckily, all of the ones I kept at my place were my favorites. Darn it!

*Edited to add updated info*

 

[cyanne]

It's been several hours so I am going to risk a *bump*

Anybody out there dealt with this issue? My concern is that the mouth ulcers seem to make it uncomfortable for them to eat or drink and I don't want them getting too weak to fight this off.

So far, one is still eating on his own, though his mouth looks AWFUL, but my Dutch bantam, Booger, has not been eating much at all on her own. I have been feeding her baby bird feeding formula via a syringe twice a day. She has perked up considerably, but still looks terrible.

 

[Jenski]

** Please see subsequent comments recommending against this method. I am leaving it posted for historical/informational purposes. Thanks! - Jenski**


cyanne, my "medic" just suggested picking up some sterile saline from the drugstore ~ and a couple of syringes, too. Try flushing out their poor mouths to give them some relief, but flush with the syringe pointed outward to flush the "yuck" out of their mouths so they don't swallow it.

If you don't have access to saline and/or don't have time to boil your own, you could also try room-temp distilled water.

Hopefully that will help your poor girls until your Oxine arrives. When it does, the water dosage is 1/8 tsp. Oxine to 1 gallon water. If you have a fine mist spray bottle (or fogger) you could also spritz the coop at bedtime with 6.5 ounces Oxine to 1 gallon water (divide by 4 if using quart bottle).

You might also try putting their food in the blender with some distilled water to soften it up; just be sure to change it often.

Good luck ~ keep us posted.

 

[therealsilkiechick]

yes, non stinging clear iodine on a q-tip can be applied several times a day to help the ulcers in the mouth or a batadine wash as well.

i wouldn't flush it as it is to easy to choke or drown them with the windpipe and they already would have a swelled throat causeing breatheing problems to me that plus them fussing is to risky to risk flushing it. if they choked on it could cause nemonia if inhailed wrong.

 

[dlhunicorn]

I too find the "flushing" idea way too dangerous ...
You can swab the placques with iodine and the gentle rolling motion while swabbing may even remove any loose material which will be beneficial.

 

[Jenski]

Ah, so no one liked the medic's flushing idea! Oh well; I'll tell him he's fired and officially remove that suggestion from the floor.

I would worry about poking a Q-tip in an unhappy bird's mouth. ?

 

[cyanne]

Thanks for all of the suggestions, guys, I really appreciate your help!

Last night I used some que-tips to swab the ulcers in my rooster, Tyson's mouth. I was surprised that it didn't seem to bother him much. He actually seemed like he enjoyed it a little. I thought maybe those sores are itchy and it might have felt good to have the cotton swab rubbed on there.

I also used some tweezers (very carefully) to grab some of the loose-looking crud. One sore on the corner of his mouth extends into the inside and is so big it keeps him from closing his mouth all the way (poor guy). I grabbed the edge of that and a huge piece of junk came out that looked like cheese.

Anyway, the sores looked a little better this morning, so I guess the iodine helped. He is still eating and drinking on his own so he is in better shape than Booger. She is looking better every day so I am optimistic that they will both pull through.

Again, thanks so much for your help!

 

[cyanne]

Just wanted to give an update on my sick chickies.

A total of 6 came down with fowl pox. Of those, the 4 with the dry version had few problems and the iodine has been drying up the sores very well.

I vaccinated the rest of the flock this past weekend to try to prevent any further cases...HATED the vaccination process. I would not have minded using a syringe to give each one a shot, that I can handle, but sticking that awful vaccinating tool all the way through their wing web was terrible! It must have hurt like the dickens!

As for the two with wet pox, Booger the little Dutch hen is doing so much better. Her eye had been swollen most of the way shut and now looks almost back to normal. She is eating mostly on her own now, though I give her a little of the hand-feeding formula and some Poly visol every day to supplement that.

Tyson my OEGB roo still has the worst of it. His mouth and tongue are gross and it seems to cause him a lot of problems eating and drinking. So, twice a day I give him water and hand feeding formula via a needless syringe. Funny thing is that he seems to have figured out that I'm trying to help and he actually seems to look forward to his feedings and cooperates very well.

This evening I went in the guest bathroom and opened up the curtain to the bathtub where he is quarantined with Booger, and he flew from the tub to stand on the sink where I feed him. As soon as he saw the syringes for the food and water he sidled up close and tilts his head up. When I give water he goes after it and all I have to do is point the stream in his general direction while he sticks his beak out and sips away.

For the food I just tug on his wattle and he opens his mouth to I can give him a little at a time so he doesn't choke.

I'm just hoping the nutrition and water keep him going until his body can heal those sores so he can eat on his own again! I think he has a great chance because other than the sores interfering with the physical process of eating, he does not act sick at all.

 

[Jenski]

Thanks for the update, cyanne. Hope your chix are feeling better soon!

 

[Muhammad]

Mouth ulcers are not serious and can be treated with home remedies and herbs...like...

*A popular home remedy for mouth ulcers is to swish a mixture of 1 teaspoon of baking soda and one cup of water several times a day. This will help rid you mouth of bacteria and speed healing of the sore.
*Rinse the mouth with cultured buttermilk, holding it in your mouth for about three minutes. Repeat frequently until sore is gone. The acidity will be uncomfortable, but will speed healing of the sore.