Coccidiosis medication in Canada

[catchthewind]

I posted last night about finding bloody poo in the brooder, and someone advised me to treat for Coccidiosis. I went to a feed store and they didn't even know what that was and had no idea how to treat it and tried to sell me an antibiotic, which I'm pretty sure I've read here won't work. The other feed store was closed and I wasn't sure what to do, but they were all acting happy and I hadn't found any more bloody poop, so we decided to keep an eye on them.

Well one of the chicks is very listless this morning, and not the one who had bloody poop. I'm not sure she'll make it. Obviously it is Coccidiosis. But I've called every feed store within reasonable driving distance (reasonable being an hour or even more in one case) and none of them carry medication for Coccidiosis. I have a call into a local vet, but haven't heard back, and neither of the breeders I know have got back to me. So, what else can I do while I wait? Does anyone know where the medication would be available in Canada? I feel like I should have done more last night, but really there's not a whole lot I could have done anyway, since no one seems to have the medication. I may try the milk flush I've read about, though I don't have milk powder, just raw milk. Is there anything I can do in the meantime for the really listless chick? I took her out and put her in a little box with another heat lamp. She's pretty far gone though. Everyone else, including the Silkie I know for sure pooped some blood, is fine, and I don't see any more bloody poops in the brooder still, though I had both my daughters with me when I checked on them so I wasn't able to have a really good look.

Also, my slightly older chicks have been on the same ground, around the same age, eating the same food, etc, and they're fine. They're all being brooded in the same room. If I do find medication and I treat the younger ones should I also treat the older ones?

 

[catchthewind]

As an update, the one little chick died and the vet called back and can't dispense medication without seeing them. She told me if I'd called last night with two bloody poops and no chicks acting listless at all she likely would have told me to wait over night and see what happens in the morning anyway. I'm hoping one of the two breeders gets back to me and can tell me where I can find medication without bringing a chick into the vets.

 

[dawg53]

Baycox can be used to treat cocci. I think yall have that in Canada, not sure. I dont know the dosage, sorry.

 

[pips&peeps]

According to a Google search, amprolium is available in Canada.

http://www.drugs.com/vet/amprol-9-6-solution-can.html

 

[dawg53]

Catchthewind...keep in mind that amprolium would be located in the cattle section of a feed store, not the poultry section.

 

[catchthewind]

Thank you both, there is one more feed store that opens in 10 minutes that I am going to try. At least now I have the name for some medications to ask for! I did end up giving the chicks a mash with oatmeal, raw yogurt, and raw milk. They actually had yogurt for the first time the day before I saw the bloody poop so I suspected the yogurt maybe had caused some digestive upset, but I think with the chick dying it's more likely to be Coccidiosis for sure now. Still no other bloody poops and everyone else is acting fine, but obviously it kills quickly so I'm going to keep trying to find some medicine. I should have had it on hand. Few of the breeders around here seem to feed medicated chick feed as most of them said it didn't seem to prevent anything, but I am kicking myself for not providing a bit of dirt in the brooder for them from early on like I kept reading about. Since my older chicks did just fine being introduced outside gradually, I assumed these guys would too.

 

[catchthewind]

Quote:
Oh that is good to know. When I call the next feed store I'll mention that. It's funny that most of the places I've called don't even know what Coccidiosis is. Makes me wonder if they do in fact have it and I've been asking about the wrong thing. It's still early here (8:30) so some of the places I've just been talking to the warehouse guys or stockers. If the next feed store doesn't have it maybe I'll call the other ones back again.

 

[catchthewind]

Ugh, just called the feed store and he knew exactly what I was talking about but said he's pretty sure that legally it has to be dispensed by a vet in Canada. Not sure what to do now. The vet said a visit would be $50 and if the rest of the chicks are acting fine and no more bloody poops she's not convinced it's Coccidiosis anyway (which makes me wonder if she would even give me some if I did bring one in).

 

[dawg53]

I'm sorry to hear this...bloody poop in chicks is a sure sign of cocci. You can sprinkle powdered milk in their feed, it will help delay the inevitable, but not cure it. Good luck.

 

[pips&peeps]

Why don't you call the vet back and see if you can take in a fecal sample for them to look for cocci instead of a full visit. My vet does it in their office.