Clavamox and Charlie

[sarandipity08]

A few months ago I took in my Charlie to the vet because my bully chickens had attacked her so bad that her backside was all ripped up. The doctor gave us clavamox and some creams and another by mouth medicine. She told us that once antibiotics were given to a chicken we could never ever eat her eggs again. I just feel like this couldn’t be right and I know she didn’t see chickens that often. Help? Is she right?

 

[Little Chicken Girl]

That is weird.
Usually, antibiotics have an 'withdrawl period' which is a period of time (usually 2-4 weeks) where it is advised that you don't eat the chickens' eggs. Antibiotics have withdrawl periods to prevent humans with certain antibiotic allergies from having allergic reactions to antibiotic residues in the eggs. However, many of the same antibiotics prescribed to animals are prescribed to humans as well...

Upon encountering this thread, I researched Clavamox and found that it is a combo of amoxicillin + clavulanate (clavulanate is not an antibiotic but is often paired with antibiotics because it has a complimentary effect on many antibiotics, making it more effective). Neither of these things (amoxicillin or clavulanate) should render a chickens' eggs inedible for life... Most sites I looked up said there was a withdrawl period though.

However, this is my own research. I am not a veterinarian in any small degree...
My opinion would be to give a one month withdrawl period and then consume the eggs... However, like I said, that is what I would do and I am not a veterinarian.

 

[sarandipity08]

That is weird.
Usually, antibiotics have an 'withdrawl period' which is a period of time (usually 2-4 weeks) where it is advised that you don't eat the chickens' eggs. Antibiotics have withdrawl periods to prevent humans with certain antibiotic allergies from having allergic reactions to antibiotic residues in the eggs. However, many of the same antibiotics prescribed to animals are prescribed to humans as well...

Upon encountering this thread, I researched Clavamox and found that it is a combo of amoxicillin + clavulanate (clavulanate is not an antibiotic but is often paired with antibiotics because it has a complimentary effect on many antibiotics, making it more effective). Neither of these things (amoxicillin or clavulanate) should render a chickens' eggs inedible for life... Most sites I looked up said there was a withdrawl period though.

However, this is my own research. I am not a veterinarian in any small degree...
My opinion would be to give a one month withdrawl period and then consume the eggs... However, like I said, that is what I would do and I am not a veterinarian.

Thank you so much for your answer!! I have been trying to thoroughly research this as well and I really didn’t find anything that said we could never eat her eggs again! I’m so glad you agree as well!

 

[Folly's place]

There is now a very short list of approved medications for laying hens, and Clavimox isn't on it. You can look on the FARAD.org website for information. Your vet was trying to save her life, and gave you good advice about eating her eggs in the future.
It can be possible to get 'permission' to use a drug off-label; there's a form on FARAD for that, for your vet.
I wouldn't send her eggs out to anyone else! There can be drug residue in her egg yolks for a long time.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

The rules for drug use in pets are NOT the same as what can be used in food animals, which includes chickens, and especially laying hens.
Mary

 

[h2oratt]

I think that’s ridiculous. The Vet probably had to say that by law but clavamox is the same as augmentin in human medicine and it is given quite often to humans. That said I would give them or sell the eggs but I you could feed them to your dogs or feed them back to her to help her regain her strength.i would certainly eat her eggs after she had been off the antibiotic for a couple of weeks.