Canker and serious bleeding any advice

[Boergoatlover]

Hi all

My lovely silkie has canker, she’s been on Metronidazole for two weeks and although it’s improved it’s still there , she’s also developed a respiratory infection.

We were back at my vets today and my vet suggested we use iodine on the stubborn canker, unfortunately as soon as the vet put on the iodine my hens mouth started to pour with blood , I’ve never seen so much blood to the point the vet was worried about her choking. Thank goodness for my amazing vet who gave her some gas and stopped the bleeding. They had a look and the canner had ulcerated and eaten through a blood vessel so the cotton bud to put on the iodine touched the ulcer and caused the bleeding.

She spent a while in an oxygen tent and came home but she’s not doing well at all. I’ve got another ten days of Metronidazole and some Tylan but is there anything else I can do to help her are there any herbs I can try ? Is it common for Metronidazole not to work and eradicate the canker.

I rescued some chicks who have turned out to be cockerels so I’m worried the stress of them could be a cause ? I’m moving the boys this week to their own coop away from my girls but would be grateful for any advice

 

[Eggcessive]

Canker is one of the diseases that I would cull for, and separate from all other chickens at the first sign. It will affect the others in your flock, since it is spread by waterers and feeders that have been used by pigeons and wild birds. That said, I realize this is a favorite chicken, and you want to try and help her. It is not curable, but it may be treated. Metronidazole is not approved for poultry, but it is one of several drugs used to treat the disease. Some experienced people here have used acidified copper sulfate in the water for 3 days a month to prevent canker in the rest of the flock, and for 5-7 days to treat the sick bird. Dosage is 1/4 tsp per gallon of water. This is a good price for it:
https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/acidified_copper_sulfate.html