Fenbendazole dosing for gape worm - how long before improvement?

[quiltnchik]

Edit: got her dosed with the fenbendazole, but am wondering how long it will be before I see improvement in her symptoms. She's still gasping, though I did get her to eat some oatmeal with a bit of scratch feed in it earlier. She's also been drinking a LOT since she was medicated!
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I have a RIR hen that I just brought home from a friend's farm to treat. He was clueless and asked me if I could take her and "doctor her up." She's showing all the classic signs of gape worm (gasping, outstretched neck, making pitiful, hoarse sounds, etc.) I cannot afford Ivomec right now, but have read that fenbendazole (Safe-Guard) will work. Does anyone know the correct dosage? I need to get it started ASAP!

Thanks!

 

[speckledhen]

Is it liquid or the paste? The way I dose them is to put a BB size dollop of the paste into each of their beaks, since the entire tube is for a 1200 lb horse. Yes, it should kill gapeworm, if that's the problem.

 

[quiltnchik]

Quote:
Thanks so much! She was very listless last night when we were at the farm, and one of the farmhands said she was laying around in the barn all day today. She stretches out her neck and opens her beak when trying to breathe. She's eating and her comb/wattles are nice and red. I have her crated in my garage and will be dosing her shortly. Thanks again for the info!

 

[quiltnchik]

Will Ivermectin paste (horse wormer) work? If so, do I just use the same amount - a BB-sized dollop?

Thanks!

 

[speckledhen]

I do the same thing with Invermectin paste.

 

[quiltnchik]

Next question: how long does it take before you start seeing results? I just feel so sorry for this poor hen. She's gasping for air and stretching her neck way out trying to breathe.

Her poo is normal and there's no nasal or other discharge, etc. I've also seen her drinking quite a bit since dosing her with the fenbendazole...

 

[quiltnchik]

Anyone know when I might start seeing some results from the fenbendazole? Thanks!

 

[Mrs_Tommie]

Can anyone who's used fenbendazole paste tell me if this is a one time application or does it need to be repeated.

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
Sorry no one replied to your message; I hadn't seen it initially so I wasn't subscribed to it.

Use that at least twice annually. You can repeat it again after a month if you feel you need to. It wouldn't hurt, can help.