Eye Problem Worsening, I'm Getting Panicky**Update**

[CheepSunglasses]

Tylan is the brand name for Tylosin. The reason it was a good bet for MG is that it is effective against mycoplasmas (a lot of the next stuff is borrowed from web site information:

Tylosin is a member of the macrolide group of antibiotics, which includes erythromycin and spiramycin. It is produced commercially from a strain of the actinomycete Streptomyces fradiae (a fungus).

The macrolide group is primarily active against gram positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species, including a number or organisms that are resistant to penicillins Tylosin is also active against some gram-negative bacteria (including Campylobacter and Pasteurella species) and has a useful activity against certain mycoplasmas (against which it is more effective than erythromycin, which in most other respects has a similar spectrum of activity).

For Sulmet (sulfamethazine): Antibiotic sulfa drugs work by inhibiting a metabolic pathway that is necessary for DNA synthesis in prokaryotes (type of primitive cell that can sometimes cause disease). In other words, they can't reproduce.

But that's why it's important to try to ID the critter you are trying to kill. Antibiotics won't all work if you have the wrong diagnosis, and will actually cause damage by making organisms resistant to them. In a perfect world, you'd culture them and make sure, or you'd send a sample to your local University. But I didn't think I had that kind of time.

I enjoy research, too! I have a PhD level microbial metabolism background, but it's really rusty. It's good exercise sometimes to just take it out and dust it off. That's more work than it used to be

.

Unthrifty chicken: We'll take our chances. He's doing great.

 

[Andora]

Laura, what state are you in? You might have a lab near you that would do the culture and sensitivity to tell you what is making them sick and which antibiotic will treat it. All you would have to do is swab the eye with a very clean q-tip and take it in inside a ziplock bag. At our university the test is only $10 and it takes them 48 hours to grow the culture.

 

[peepinglaura]

Thank you, Andora and Cheepsunglases. I love the idea of sending in a swab. I'm in NH- I'll check out the possibilities.

I'm quite allergic to sulfa and really hate medicating willy- nilly, so a swab would make me feel better. It's the weirdest thing- other than this bizarre eye issue, they seem fine. At this point they almost look like giant water cysts, as if there is a pea under one lower lid of each chick.

The puzzle continues,

Laura

 

[bargain]

Here's a thought. Take them to your State poultry lab on the day the vet is there and he/she can take a look for free (unless your state charges) and give you some advise.

You surely don't want MG coursing through your flock...This might help you decide whether or not to cull.

Good luck.

 

[peepinglaura]

I really don't see how it could be MG, since these are our own flock, eggs from a bird we had for 2 years.

Laura

 

[bargain]

I meant to say "something like MG" ...sorry it's been a really long day on the farm.

Take care and I hope you find some help and answers to this.

God bless you.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Wild birds can bring these diseases in. Read here for a good overview:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=9241

 

[peepinglaura]

Thanks for the link. I had no idea wild birds could bring in disease unless they mingled with our flock. I guess droppings would be the vector.

I called the state and I have decision to make:

1) Look at my 2 infected but otherwise adorable chicks and choose one to kill for a necroscopy

2) continue to treat the infected eyes (which I believe are improving) and keep them sequestered until I'm confident they're germ-free and hope I'm right

3) Take the to the vet, which will charge $150 and warned me they may not know the problem anyway, but will still charge.

sigh.

Laura

 

[Andora]

Did you ask the state vet about a culture test with a swab? They should be able to do that instead of a necropsy! I think they culture the mucus they find during the necropsy anyway, so it's not like they don't have the ability to do the tests, you know?

I hope you can get to the bottom of this soon!

 

[Andora]

By the way, if you decide to treat them and get them well (it's a hard choice, I know!) be sure to add a sacrificial bird in with them once they are healthy, and then wait a month or so to see if that bird gets ill just incase the chicks are shedding a virus!