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

[joydix]

They have tests for it now? That is pretty new! I’ve always been told u can’t know for sure til they die and do Necropsy...that is way better!

 

[texsuze]

Logging in again for an update on Fay (my last post #134):

According to state poultry lab results which came yesterday, Fay tested Positive "for both Mycoplasmas", which I presume means MG and MS. I'm not totally surprised, given my naivety about biosecurity during my entry into backyard chickens, years ago, and some 'mysterious' sudden deaths in the past. Just gut-wrenching, the feeling that I've done wrong by my girls, like I've forfeited my hen-keeping privileges. I feel like an executioner.

Fay still manages several steps before needing to squat down. Still eating, drinking, pooping, preening, talking. My girls have been in the barn (during the day) for a couple days now, what with our unusual winter storm to close out the year, so she gets the benefit of having the flock mostly resting or moving from hay pile, to hay pile, to their low roosts with shavings underneath--hopefully conducive to comfortable rest for her.

She has been on and continues to receive meloxicam b.i.d. My vet asked if that was helping. I told him it is not helping her walk.... but it might possibly be providing some type of pain relief. The fragile plan going forward is x-rays for Fay on Monday, I presume to assess for tumor or gross abnormalities. I also want to discuss some type of pharmaceutical therapy, if possible. My vet is a good guy, and has been very amenable to working outside the box, as it were.

Based some things my vet relayed to me regarding his conversation with the lab veterinarian, my personal interpretation is we (our state? veterinary medicine in general?) are behind on understanding and recognizing certain disease processes as they relate to and affect hobby and small flock chickens. 'nuff said. Sorry if I'm rambling.

 

[micstrachan]

She has such great spirit! I sure hope you find the magic cure for her.

Yes, this! Great spirit!

 

[micstrachan]

Just heard back from Zoological Labs. Test for Mycoplasma synoviae was negative.

Phew! Good news!

 

[micstrachan]

Logging in again for an update on Fay (my last post #134):

According to state poultry lab results which came yesterday, Fay tested Positive "for both Mycoplasmas", which I presume means MG and MS. I'm not totally surprised, given my naivety about biosecurity during my entry into backyard chickens, years ago, and some 'mysterious' sudden deaths in the past. Just gut-wrenching, the feeling that I've done wrong by my girls, like I've forfeited my hen-keeping privileges. I feel like an executioner.

Fay still manages several steps before needing to squat down. Still eating, drinking, pooping, preening, talking. My girls have been in the barn (during the day) for a couple days now, what with our unusual winter storm to close out the year, so she gets the benefit of having the flock mostly resting or moving from hay pile, to hay pile, to their low roosts with shavings underneath--hopefully conducive to comfortable rest for her.

She has been on and continues to receive meloxicam b.i.d. My vet asked if that was helping. I told him it is not helping her walk.... but it might possibly be providing some type of pain relief. The fragile plan going forward is x-rays for Fay on Monday, I presume to assess for tumor or gross abnormalities. I also want to discuss some type of pharmaceutical therapy, if possible. My vet is a good guy, and has been very amenable to working outside the box, as it were.

Based some things my vet relayed to me regarding his conversation with the lab veterinarian, my personal interpretation is we (our state? veterinary medicine in general?) are behind on understanding and recognizing certain disease processes as they relate to and affect hobby and small flock chickens. 'nuff said. Sorry if I'm rambling.

Thank you for the update on Fay.

 

[azygous]

@texsuze thanks for posting the test results. Try to look at this positively. You now know what diseases are present in your flock and you can manage for them going forward. Not knowing is worse.

And it's not because you let your flock down. These diseases can appear in flocks under the best biosecurity practices. Wild birds and air currents aren't under your control.

You will keep the meds on hand to treat any flareups immediately when they occur, and your flock has every reason to live healthy, normal lives with your good care.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

I think your mention of a trip to the bahamas for you & May is a great idea. I could foresee the following problem for you though. When u leave your other chickens behind, thinking you put out more than plenty enough feed for everyone while you were gone, you would return to find all your chickens had starved to death, except for one very fat & happy Pearl.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

I had really hoped the Denagard would relieve May's symptoms. When it didnt help her after a few days treatment, i felt sure her problem wasnt MS. @texsuze please do research denagard as treatment for MG & MS. The med is only approved for swine, not poultry, in the u.s. Mainly that means your vet likely cant recommend without possibly risking his license. On the other hand, Tiamulin (active ingredient in Denagard) Has been approved & used for poultry in europe for over 30 years now. Many studies have been done documenting its effectiveness in knocking out mycoplasma symptoms. I used it personally against MG and vouch for its 100& effectiveness. Before this thread moves on from the mycoplasma subject, I was going to repeat the following info on this thread, even if @texsuze hadnt mentioned the problem in their flock, for the benefit of any future readers that discover this thread. Here goes. TIMAMULIN CO-ADMINISTERED WITH SOME ANTI-COCCISTATS CAN CAUSE A LETHAL/FATAL REACTION. TIAMULIN IS SAFE TO GIVE ALONG WITH CORID (AMPROLIUM), BUT POTENTIALLY FATAL WHEN COMBINED WITH THE OTHER ANTI-COCCIDISTATS. If u are treating chicks on medicated starter/grower feed, make sure the medicated feed contains amprolium & not another anticoccidistat. Otherwise, denagard has been shown to be a miracle cure for the SYMPTOMS of the mycoplasmas. Chickens still remain carriers, but tiamulin treatment will allow them to live symptom free.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Have been meaning to ask, are June, April, & all the others still symptom free?

 

[azygous]

June had symptoms, was going lame in both legs, and she recovered on the Tylan 50. She continues to be symptom free. April never became symptomatic. The older EE pullets continue to be asymptomatic as well.