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

[azygous]

I was distributing the morning feeding in the main run this morning when I saw one of the Australorps crouched right in the middle of the area. It was May. She had gotten herself out of her box this morning after I removed the high walls from it yesterday. She then made it back to her run in the rear all on her own. Getting stronger every day!

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Wow, what an amazing journey this has been. Thank you for pointing me to this thread, I've learned a ton from all of you. I'm so glad May is recovering.

Ultimately, what do you think turned her around? The combination of vitamin B and E? I suppose a better question would be: What would/will you do if another pullet presents as May did?

 

[azygous]

If another chicken comes down with these symptoms, I will treat with an antibiotic asap and aggressively. At the same time, I will give E 400iu and B6 and B1. I may toss in acyclovir in case it's a herpes virus. I did that also with May and the pullet that recovered quickly.

 

[azygous]

Did you know that some herpes viruses can be transmitted from humans to chickens? I don't know what they are, but there are many types of herpes viruses. Some of these cause paralysis in chickens. Marek's is also a herpes virus, but it doesn't transfer to humans, nor does it originate in humans, to clarify.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Do antibiotics have any effect on herpes virus? I did not know that any were zoonotic. That's interesting and good to know.

Do you plan on doing the Mareks test or will you bag it?

ETA: I suppose that's a dumb question, antibiotics and virus

 

[aart]

I was distributing the morning feeding in the main run this morning when I saw one of the Australorps crouched right in the middle of the area. It was May. She had gotten herself out of her box this morning after I removed the high walls from it yesterday. She then made it back to her run in the rear all on her own. Getting stronger every day!

Good to hear!
Is she still being 'medicated'?

 

[LaFleche]

I suppose that's a dumb question, antibiotics and virus

No dumb question, as an immune system weakened by a nasty virus can lead to opportunistic bacteria overcome the normal defense.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

No dumb question, as an immune system weakened by a nasty virus can lead to opportunistic bacteria overcome the normal defense.

Ah, yes, that makes sense. Thanks, LaFleche.

 

[azygous]

May is still getting E and B1 and B6.

 

[azygous]

Antibiotics have no effect on viruses. You need an anti-viral med that is developed to target specific viruses. Acyclovir targets herpes viruses, and Marek's is one of these. There are many kinds of viruses that acyclovir will not affect, though. One problem with trying to develop a med to treat viruses is that these questionable "life-forms" are constantly changing and morphing. We're seeing that right now with Covid 19.

Many viruses weaken the system and that opens the gate for bacteria. That's when an antibiotic is helpful. Also, once a virus gets into the cells of a living host, it stays. All an antiviral does is to get rid of the symptoms and stop the virus from replicating. It will still remain to flare up later when the host organism is under stress. I carry the herpes virus since I had chicken pox as a child. The virus hid in my cells until I was fifty and now erupts as shingles and lip sores. Acyclovir stops the virus from replicating, thus it cuts short the length of time I have to suffer.

When I first treated May and June, I wasn't sure if I was seeing a virus or a bacterial infection, so I decided to treat for both with acyclovir and amoxicilin.

Does that clear up the confusion?