Foamy Eye Issue

[tcfoster]

Hi everyone! Hoping I can get some advice. My Amerecauna/EE Houdini has come down with very foamy eyes (picture attached). I've had her almost a year and she's always been sneezy but this is the first time she's ever had foamy/bubbly eyes. She isn't acting sick at all. I have isolated her from the rest of the flock. I'm assuming it's probably Mycoplasma Gallisepticum however we are in California and can't buy Tylan. We ordered some from out of state but it won't get here for at least a week. Is there a different antibiotic that we could use?

An important factor to consider:
-Last week we rescued 12 pullets that were mite and lice infested. A few of them also had bubbles in their noses. Now they are separated from my other flocks but still all in the same (fairly small) backyard. For the first time we bought DE and put it in everyone's coop. Could it be that she has always had it (hence the sneeziness) and the DE just irritated it?

 

[Eggcessive]

It could be that the new rescues were positive for MG (mycoplasma gallisepticum.) It can cause an outbreak within days of exposure to a carrier. If you have a vet who could help you, they could prescribe another antibiotic to give her. Besides tylosin (tylan,) oxytetracycline, doxycycline, and Baytril, can treat MG symptoms. Baytril is banned for poultry due to emerging antibiotic resistant bacteria, but many vets will prescribe it for certain infections if you wait a long period to use the eggs. Some feed stores have injectable oxytetracycline in refrigerated medicines. In the meantime, keep her nostrils cleaned with water, and wash her eyes with saline eye wash, and apply a dab of either Terramycin eye ointment from a feed store (may not be available in CA,) or use a dab of plain Neosporin ointment in the eye twice a day.

 

[tcfoster]

It could be that the new rescues were positive for MG (mycoplasma gallisepticum.) It can cause an outbreak within days of exposure to a carrier. If you have a vet who could help you, they could prescribe another antibiotic to give her. Besides tylosin (tylan,) oxytetracycline, doxycycline, and Baytril, can treat MG symptoms. Baytril is banned for poultry due to emerging antibiotic resistant bacteria, but many vets will prescribe it for certain infections if you wait a long period to use the eggs. Some feed stores have injectable oxytetracycline in refrigerated medicines. In the meantime, keep her nostrils cleaned with water, and wash her eyes with saline eye wash, and apply a dab of either Terramycin eye ointment from a feed store (may not be available in CA,) or use a dab of plain Neosporin ointment in the eye twice a day.

Thank you! My vet that I take my dogs and cat to doesn't treat poultry but I will call her tomorrow and maybe she would be willing to prescribe something. Is it worth it to treat all the rescues with an antibiotic? I don't want to medicate when it's not necessary but I don't want to risk the health of my current flock by having these new birds being possibly carriers.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My Amerecauna/EE Houdini has come down with very foamy eyes (picture attached). I've had her almost a year and she's always been sneezy but this is the first time she's ever had foamy/bubbly eyes.

Last week we rescued 12 pullets that were mite and lice infested. A few of them also had bubbles in their noses. Now they are separated from my other flocks but still all in the same (fairly small) backyard. For the first time we bought DE and put it in everyone's coop.

Is it worth it to treat all the rescues with an antibiotic? I don't want to medicate when it's not necessary but I don't want to risk the health of my current flock by having these new birds being possibly carriers.

Are the newbies symptomatic? An antibiotic can help relieve symptoms but it won't stop them from being carriers nor will treating them stop the spread of disease.

A rule of thumb would be to treat only birds that are currently ill/showing symptoms.

If it's MG you are dealing with (testing would tell what disease you have) then they are carriers for life and your current flock(s) would be considered carriers too regardless of who ever shows symptoms.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would not treat any bird unless they are sick with MG symptoms. Antibiotics do not prevent illness. Some birds may get MG symptoms, while others may fight it off, but still be carriers. MG is a chronic disease, and it can show symptoms whenever there is stress. That could be during a move, during a molt or during extreme weather.