Finally Joined Backyard Chickens!

cadecres

Hatching
5 Years
May 24, 2014
2
0
7
Connecticut
So I have been actively using this site as a starting point for my chicken research, but currently found myself a little dismayed at some of the things that people were posting because the information on the internet provided to them wasn't so great. So here I am, mainly to resolve a big issue on enrofloxacin withdrawal periods in egg laying hens. I am not sure where to post this information, so I will do it here and I will probably start a thread some where else.

So it started with my sick hen George, through trauma ended up cracking an egg with in and started an infection. I started her on enrfloxacin because I was very concerned about egg peritonitis. I am a vet tech and consulted with my boss concerning her sickness. At the time I was too concerned with her well being that I had forgot to ask about egg withdrawal periods. So, I conducted my own research and started here, which led me on a wild goose chase! Much of the preliminary information said I could never eat her eggs again to a 14day-30day withdrawal period, legal issues, antibiotic resistance to campylobacter, and the list went on. I even checked european and australian sites, the manufacturer's website, and the FDA. I came across some sites saying that a study was not done for the withdrawal periods of enrofloxacin (baytril) in egg and was very agitated by this since the drug was used in the commercial arena since 1980. In order for FDA approval for this type of usage, a withdrawal study must have been done. I found the report of the FDA withdrawal conclusion, in which the actual withdrawal study was poorly done and it did not included eggs. Really people?? DID NOT INCLUDED EGGS?!!!??? Why because eggs aren't sold commercially? or because they were lazy? Ignorant? Hiding something? My sarcastic nature can sometimes get the better of me :)

I continued further in my research and found that an allowable limit for enrofloxacin was not set for eggs( MRL: minimum residual level/limit) by the FDA for enrofloxacin. That said, this is why the labeling of "never eat the eggs after administering enrofloxacin in chickens" is present. Which by the way, goes for a majority of european countries as well. But before I run out of room, I found a study published in the Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics with the exact information we all need. I included the link and it should be read. I am not going to give you the short answer because its more that just a withdrawal period, eggs take time to develop and this process needs to be understood because it will help you to understand how the drug is processed with in the body. It is also important to note that the egg white and the egg yolk have different withdrawal periods because of how they are formed with in the chicken. This article is all inclusive for the answer. I know it is a scientific article but please just plow through it. Any problems with the link let me know!

http://www.captura.uchile.cl/bitstream/handle/2250/16530/Cornejo_J.pdf?sequence=1

You may have to past the link into your browser. I hope this helps!!
 
After giving my post some thought, I think it is important to note that if anyone has a fluoroquinolone allergy they should consult their physician prior to eating eggs post an enrofloxacin treatment. Further, if anyone feels guarded about the information should consult their veterinarian with the article in hand ( although they should be aware of the study if they are treating chickens). Furthermore, this does not trump any FDA or state(in which you reside) regulations regarding the sale of eggs in any manner to the public. I posted this information to help people make an educated decision in how they want to proceed forward post treatment of enrofloxacin in their egg laying hens. I feel information from legitimate sources helps in making educated decisions.
 
I have used Baytril (Enrofloxacin) on my birds in the past. One of them I was treating her for 3 months on it for MS. My poultry vet said the egg and meat withdrawal was 30 days. I trust that he was right and have been eating and selling my eggs for several years now from these birds. Eventually every medicine breaks down in the body and is no longer present, or present enough to cause issues. If a person does have an allergy to this medication and is worried, then go 6 or 8 weeks on withdrawal. I would imagine after 2 months, there will be none of this drug anywhere in the eggs or meat.

Oh, and welcome to BYC!
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