I’m hoping for some discussion on an acute paralysis case. I’m leaning toward viral cause but no other birds are affected.
Here’s the story-I have 4 week old cornish cross put to pasture last week in tractor, moved daily. Fed fresh milled feed from a local granary. Two days ago a single bird was found sitting on hocks, leaning to its side and not getting up with prompting. It wouldn’t bear any weight and legs seemed flaccid; wings lifted at shoulder level and some flapping with prompting, head tucked in but could support head, eyes open. It had fine tremors-like it was cold and vibrating intermittently. All birds were walking, eating and fine the night before when I moved the tractor and there were no signs of injury whatsoever. We did have t-storms but that seems irrelevant in retrospect.
I isolated, warmed and gave nutridrench, glucose, & electrolytes. It required prompting to drink but would drink on his own when held up to do so. He had no desire to eat at all. The next morning when held by drinker he simply dropped his head as if to drink (purposely-not a slow sinking of the head) and put his beak tip into the water but seemed to not know how to drink or open his beak to draw water. (The crop was emptied by AM after the previous nights hydration, but no stools) He seemed weaker than the night before, eyes closing more but would open when I touched him and would purposefully put beak into water when held up to drink. I began syringing fluids and electrolytes directly into beak 1/2 mL at a time and he swallowed. He resisted opening at first and as time went by he seemed to no longer resist opening and lose swallow reflex. He never had respiratory distress, signs of resp illness or cyanosis throughout all of this illness. I then syringed directly into the crop (insulin syringe). He was still intermittently vibrating but definitely not cold, and he became more listless despite the supplements. It was as if he had progressive ascending paralysis—His pupils were normal size but very slow to react, and he gave effort to blink when confronted but did not turn his head- remained in a neutral position (without twisting). Breathing was not forced or labored but did seem shallower as time went on.
I decided he was not going survive, so I culled him by broomstick method. Broomstick for CC is not my preferred method because of risk of decapitation but I did it less forcefully 1. it’s instant and 2. I wanted to observe the dissociated neurological response, which was unexpected. Instead of instant strong flapping and jerking of all limbs there was only a slow motion flap two- three of the wings and rhythmic jerk at the neck/shoulders. No leg or hip motion whatsoever— very different from any other response I’ve seen in my limited experience. I am keeping very close watch for any other affected birds. This flock of CC is completely away from my egg layers and pet flocks, and I do practice good biosecurity when tending the two flocks.
My thoughts obviously go to viral encephalopathy, epidemic tremor being high on the list (per Merck vet manual) or botulism. Mareks is unlikely at this age and with sudden onset.
No others are remotely ill and feed is freshly milled, smells great and is fed dry in throughs and hanging metal feeders.
I’d love to hear from anyone who may have experience or thoughts on this.
State lab testing is a great idea but not a viable option in my area for several reasons.
TIA.
Here’s the story-I have 4 week old cornish cross put to pasture last week in tractor, moved daily. Fed fresh milled feed from a local granary. Two days ago a single bird was found sitting on hocks, leaning to its side and not getting up with prompting. It wouldn’t bear any weight and legs seemed flaccid; wings lifted at shoulder level and some flapping with prompting, head tucked in but could support head, eyes open. It had fine tremors-like it was cold and vibrating intermittently. All birds were walking, eating and fine the night before when I moved the tractor and there were no signs of injury whatsoever. We did have t-storms but that seems irrelevant in retrospect.
I isolated, warmed and gave nutridrench, glucose, & electrolytes. It required prompting to drink but would drink on his own when held up to do so. He had no desire to eat at all. The next morning when held by drinker he simply dropped his head as if to drink (purposely-not a slow sinking of the head) and put his beak tip into the water but seemed to not know how to drink or open his beak to draw water. (The crop was emptied by AM after the previous nights hydration, but no stools) He seemed weaker than the night before, eyes closing more but would open when I touched him and would purposefully put beak into water when held up to drink. I began syringing fluids and electrolytes directly into beak 1/2 mL at a time and he swallowed. He resisted opening at first and as time went by he seemed to no longer resist opening and lose swallow reflex. He never had respiratory distress, signs of resp illness or cyanosis throughout all of this illness. I then syringed directly into the crop (insulin syringe). He was still intermittently vibrating but definitely not cold, and he became more listless despite the supplements. It was as if he had progressive ascending paralysis—His pupils were normal size but very slow to react, and he gave effort to blink when confronted but did not turn his head- remained in a neutral position (without twisting). Breathing was not forced or labored but did seem shallower as time went on.
I decided he was not going survive, so I culled him by broomstick method. Broomstick for CC is not my preferred method because of risk of decapitation but I did it less forcefully 1. it’s instant and 2. I wanted to observe the dissociated neurological response, which was unexpected. Instead of instant strong flapping and jerking of all limbs there was only a slow motion flap two- three of the wings and rhythmic jerk at the neck/shoulders. No leg or hip motion whatsoever— very different from any other response I’ve seen in my limited experience. I am keeping very close watch for any other affected birds. This flock of CC is completely away from my egg layers and pet flocks, and I do practice good biosecurity when tending the two flocks.
My thoughts obviously go to viral encephalopathy, epidemic tremor being high on the list (per Merck vet manual) or botulism. Mareks is unlikely at this age and with sudden onset.
No others are remotely ill and feed is freshly milled, smells great and is fed dry in throughs and hanging metal feeders.
I’d love to hear from anyone who may have experience or thoughts on this.
State lab testing is a great idea but not a viable option in my area for several reasons.
TIA.
