Erythromycin

[unbaked pegga]

i have 3 chickens that in the last couple of years have had what I thought was mycoplasma. I had them to a vet and he just said “respiratory infection”. I have treated them with Tylan, Baytril Tetracycline per vet but they didn’t seem to improve to where they didn’t have symptoms. One of them has been cruddy for several weeks, slinging her head, bubbles in one eye, nasal discharge but no coughing or sneezing. This evening I noticed she had swelling under her eye. I decided to put VetRx in each nostril and rub it on her comb until I could get on BYC. It was so hard to restrain her she is as wild as a crane, but as I leaned over her she opened her beak and there was the nastiest smell, the smell of infection. When I came in I got online and googled her symptoms and infectious coryza was the first diagnosis. To me that makes more sense since she doesn’t have any lower respiratory symptoms. Under treatments the only one I haven’t used is erythromycin and I have some some 100 mg power that I bought a few months ago but never gave. I want to give her this and see if she can get some relief. I don’t want to medicate the other 3 so I wanted to ask if I could put it in a treat and give it to her that way instead of putting it in the water for all. I have no way to separate her from the others. I don’t know what the dosage would be she is only 3 or 4 pounds. If somebody could just give me their opinion (as long as isn’t to cull her) and the dosage I truly would appreciate it. I would like to start treatment tomorrow whether it would be to put medicated water out for all of them, 2 of them are symptomatic but their symptoms are not as pronounced as hers. I also have a 7 month old australorp that somehow has not gotten anything.....yet

 

[dawg53]

The nasty smell is a sure indication of Coryza. Coryza does not respond to all the antibiotics you have given your sick birds. They will treat mycoplasma diseases as well as other types of diseases, but not coryza.
You'll need a sulfa drug to treat coryza, such as sulfadimethoxine which requires a script from a vet. Then in conjunction with the erythromycin, it might clear up. Coryza is very contagious.
You can mix the erythromycin in water and use a syringe without a needle to administer it orally several times a day for about one week. That way you know she is getting properly dosed. BUT, you will need a sulfa drug also.

 

[unbaked pegga]

I have some sulfa I got from the vet just now. I dont know if I can restrain her by myself to get meds down her. She is as wild as a crane and gives it 100% when I try to hold her. I could put it in a treat and give it to her that way. The other 2 could benefit from the med because of the mycoplasma. The only one that hasn't shown any signs of being sick is the 7 month old hen I got a few months ago. Is it dangerous to give her medicine as well and if I cant be sure if they are getting the correct dose, then I dont know what to do. Both the erythromycin and the sulfa have directions for the amount to be given in water. The erythromycin is 100 gm to be mixed one tsp in a gallon of water. It doesnt specify it is for chickens or not. The Sulf-Di-Methox 12.5 % one ounce to 2 gallons of water. If you know the way I should give it I would sure appreciate your input. She looks so miserable and the other 2 are beginning to bully her.

The nasty smell is a sure indication of Coryza. Coryza does not respond to all the antibiotics you have given your sick birds. They will treat mycoplasma diseases as well as other types of diseases, but not coryza.
You'll need a sulfa drug to treat coryza, such as sulfadimethoxine which requires a script from a vet. Then in conjunction with the erythromycin, it might clear up. Coryza is very contagious.
You can mix the erythromycin in water and use a syringe without a needle to administer it orally several times a day for about one week. That way you know she is getting properly dosed. BUT, you will need a sulfa drug also.

 

[dawg53]

Perhaps you can put half (or less) the sulfa dimethox proportionate to water and mix it in feed or scratch for her to eat. Same with the erythromycin.
I wouldnt mix it together nor give it at the same time. Perhaps the sulfa dimethox in the morning and the erythromycin in the afternoon.
Just do as best as you can.

 

[unbaked pegga]

I wish, I just wish I knew what I am doing wrong. I dont seemed to have learned yet though. I posted about coryza. Have been giving all four of them sulfa and erythromycin since the 14th. Even the australorp who was asymptomatic because I have no way to separate them. The one that had a bubbly eye and bad smell seems so much better
My 7 month old Australorp has been going strong since day one and is so adorable. My very favorite. So I breathed a hesitant sigh of relief
I may have been premature. Aussie was full of herself yesterday. Energetic and busy. I had to go to the doctor very early so I only let them out. When I got home I went around back and she was standing by the house with her eyes closed. Probably sleeping I thought. So I called to her and she opened her eyes briefly then closed them. I offered her treats, some oyster shell (wondering if she could be egg bound) and so she has been like this all day, standing still all of the time. Eyes shut tight (do they have a 2nd eyelid?) She verbalizes softly and infrequently. She has had diarrhea but it has been frying pan hot here for the last 5 days (but cooler today). I know chickens can get diarrhea in hot weather to cool off but it was green this morning. Even though she was vaccinated against coccidia. I got some corrid ready. But as I read about sulfa and erythromycin, sulfa is used to treat coccidia. Well what then? The other 3 seem pretty much ok, one of them seems to be laying down some but is vocal. I believe everyone is eating ok except maybe her. I called the vet and was going to take her in. She fought me unbelievably hard. I couldnt keep her in the box. She would not have it. I knew I was being too vigorous trying to contain her and I didnt want to kill her trying to save her. So I let it be for a few minutes. And I thought back to the more than $1K I have spent at this vet only to have every one of the chickens I have taken to him succumb. He treats farm animals and I think he quit learning before he got to chickens. There are 2 avian vets in this area but neither one of them sees chickens!! Nor does any of the other "regular" vets. So I am between a rock and a hard place. More discouraged than I have been in a very long while. My chickens and my cats are all I have. They are my surrogate family. So little Aussie didnt go to the vet. I cant imagine what could be wrong with her. I may as well take the corrid up I think the sulfa would have killed coccidia. I am so bewildered.....and sad

 

[casportpony]

Question... When you gave the Baytril, did you give it orally twice a day?

sulfa

Sulfa's are used to treat some protozoa (giardia and coccidia it think) and some bacteria.

 

[Kiki]

I am sorry she isn't feeling well.
You have confirmed Marek's correct?

 

[unbaked pegga]

Oh that was a good while back. What I have been putting in their water since the 14th was erythromycin and sulfa. I stopped that and started the corrid today. I don’t know which end is up