Five-month old Australorp suddenly lame. Update: Now another pullet going lame!

[TwoCrows]

@TwoCrows is more an expert on MS than I, but I doubt if you could tell if there was MS in those birds without a PCR blood test or a necropsy with testing. Zoologix will send swabs to self test for MS and MG, but the price may not be worth it to many. State vets may be less.
http://www.zoologix.com/avian/Datasheets/Mycoplasma.htm

X2 Definitely get a blood test before you start treating her, you don't want to run powerful drugs through her until you know for sure. A Vet can test for MS even some states County Extension will come out and test.

 

[azygous]

I understood Denagard was relatively easy on the system and well tolerated.

I'm still unsure of how long to treat with it. It would be nice to have a diagnostic test to know for sure, but I figured if the pullets recover the use of their legs, then that is as good as a diagnosis. I especially want to see if Su-su gets any relief. She's earned it.

I e-mailed Zoologix to get more info. Their web site isn't easy for me to navigate. My state lab in Colorado is very expensive. There's just the one in this part of the state. There are lots of labs up north that cater to the rich folk. Down here in coal and farm country, we get just the one lab.

My vet is useless, pretty much dealing with just cows and horses.

 

[TwoCrows]

I understood Denagard was relatively easy on the system and well tolerated.

I'm still unsure of how long to treat with it. It would be nice to have a diagnostic test to know for sure, but I figured if the pullets recover the use of their legs, then that is as good as a diagnosis. I especially want to see if Su-su gets any relief. She's earned it.

I e-mailed Zoologix to get more info. Their web site isn't easy for me to navigate. My state lab in Colorado is very expensive. There's just the one in this part of the state. There are lots of labs up north that cater to the rich folk. Down here in coal and farm country, we get just the one lab.

My vet is useless, pretty much dealing with just cows and horses.

I tried Denagard and it tamed the bacteria down but it never killed it off, only for it to return with vengeance once the meds were stopped, even tolerance to the drug. Call your local County Extension, if they can't test, they may know a Vet that can.

 

[azygous]

This morning, the pullets, the two currently having leg issues, are alert, active, good appetites, and interested in moving around quite a bit. June even seems less lame and steadier on her feet. May is still dragging her right foot when she sets off on a trip across the run, but she moves at a remarkably swift pace.

I am encouraged they are behaving so positively. They appear not to be in any danger of dying on me. Which is definitely a plus sign.

So far, April shows no symptoms. Which is also good, and one less to medicate each day. The other two continue to get an aspirin and a half a B-complex tablet each day to improve leg function. It may be working since these two are no worse and may even show a bit of improvement.

They are on day four of Tylan 50, .05ml orally twice a day. Tomorrow will be the last day of this med. The Denagard has been shipped and could arrive Monday and get left at my neighbors' because no UPS driver in his right mind would try to come down my steep snow riddled driveway and expect to get back out before the spring melt. It will be a bracing foot trip up the hill plowing my way through the snow to the neighbors house to retrieve the package. Life isn't boring.

 

[ValerieJ]

That's really great news! I hope they continue to improve. You are giving them the best care possible!!!

 

[azygous]

Evening update. I've been noticing that June, who went lame just four days ago, is walking nearly normally. This is very encouraging.

The implication of this is that this noticeable improvement bolsters the diagnosis of bacterial infection, whether it's Mycoplasma or not. It implies that the Tylan 50 has knocked down the infection in June's body to the extent that her lameness has almost disappeared.

 

[texsuze]

Hello again, Azy (my first post here was #84),
Wondering if you still plan to start denagard treatment when that rx gets delivered, in light of the improvement you've seen in your hens.
Re: my hen Fay: I did not treat her with my expired denagard, but decided to use my expired tylosin injectable (oral dose) instead. Not always able to get her to take a therapeutic dose of anything, but able to get some down. Also giving daily aspirin.
Fay has ok days and not-so-ok days. Weather has cooperated, being dry (drought!), cool, but sunny, so I'm letting her be with the flock. She'll stress too much if placed in the chicken hospital at this point. This a.m. she was very motivated to move around, although she cannot go more than a few steps without squatting to rest. Still eating/drinking, good poops, preening lightly, some dust bathing with difficulty, lots of talking. No swelling that I can determine on footpads, so far.
Fay has an appt tomorrow morning with my veterinarian (first available I could get) so we'll see what happens. Not sure if I'll send a bio sample to a lab to be tested, since my attempted drug therapy might skew the results; I'll see what vet recommends. I'd give anything to help her turn the corner on this malady, if at all possible.

 

[azygous]

The Denagard order will be delivered Wed. night according to tracking.

My two patients finished their five day round of Tylan 50 yesterday. And I plan on treating all three pullets as well as Su-su starting Thursday. I've never used this med before. Do you have any tips on how to administer it?

I'll be interested in what your vet has to say.

 

[aart]

I've never used this med before. Do you have any tips on how to administer it?

Didn't @dawg53 share a link for that...maybe on the other thread?

 

[azygous]

@aart yes, but my senior brain is still confused. It's getting dangerously close to 80, and math confuses it. It's a wonder I can still find my shoes and remember I have chickens.