Fowl Pox? Coryza? Photo included

[Georgia460]

6 month old Welsummer flock started doing the eye thing - closing, little crusty. I thought it was from irritant so put Neosporin on. Then every day or later same day 1 after another would have same problem. Many are starting to gurgle and sneeze. Photo below is of worst one - none of the others have shown this severe symptoms yet.
Have appointment with vet this afternoon but she normally doesn't deal with poultry (small animal only) so I'm not real confident with her. Closest place I could go is Athens but it's 2 hours away and going to be difficult making that drive.
Anyone out there have any idea what this is and is it treatable? Thanks for your help.

 

[Eggcessive]

It looks like fowl pox. The nostrils appear crusty, and I would try to make sure they are open. Otherwise do not disturb scabs since they are contagious. Plain Neosporin ointment or Terramycin eye ointment can be applied into eyes where there are scabs nearby. Pox lasts about 3 weeks. Secondary infections can be common, especially MG, a respiratory disease. The wet version of pox can affect the inside of the beak and throat, and it would look like yellow gunk. It is not as common, but could be a problem. Here is some reading about fowl pox:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/fowl-pox-prevention-treatmen/

http://extension.msstate.edu/publications/fowl-pox-backyard-flocks

 

[Georgia460]

Thank you for your help. So I'm thinking they probably have MG also with the sneezing and gurgling???
My vet appt. is at 2:30 today - is it worth going to?

 

[Eggcessive]

It would be to ask about getting nasal swabs or testing for MG or coryza, and also would be a good way to get some antibiotics for treatment. Very few ever seek testing, and there are more than 5 common respiratory diseases. Some antibiotics (which only treat bacterial diseases, not viruses,) are available online, but the vet hopefully would be a good source of getting the right antibiotic. Vets can be very expensive though, but could be worth it to know what you are treating. Be sure to ask about getting testing.

Can you look into the beaks with a flashlight to see if there is any yellow gunk?

 

[Georgia460]

Have to leave for vet in about 30 minutes but wanted to send photos. Eye is now foamy, inside of mouth looks clear. (I disinfected my hands after handling just in case you saw I had no gloves on.) Sorry for the blurry pic but she was mad!
I'll ask about testing. Unfortunately, even vet appt. is curbside where they get animal and bring it in. I can't go in due to the covid situation. Am about sick of this covid thing (but that's another story - ha ha!).
Thanks again for your help.

 

[Eggcessive]

Plain Neosporin or Terramycin eye ointment twice a day into both eyes can help treat the bubbles in the eye (a sign of MG.)

 

[dawg53]

@Georgia460 Please let us know what the vet had to say. Thanks!

 

[Georgia460]

Here's what my vet said: Definitely fowl pox (dry). For the respiratory I was given antibiotic SMZ-TMP 240mg Suspension to be given orally every 12 hours.
For testing she was hesitant to do because cost is high and there is an option. If one of the chickens dies (probably from the respiratory, not the fowl pox) or if I wanted to sacrifice one to find out what is going on and/or save the rest if it gets that bad there is a lab in Georgia that will do a necropsy with all the tests done for free.
Sacrificing one is a hard call and she did not say that part flippantly.
She also said that it requires 4 ml of serum for the testing - kind of like getting 4 ml of blood from the bird which would be pretty rough on the bird I'm assuming.
Have a flock of 9 - not looking forward to playing nurse but....
EGGCESSIVE thank you for all your help. I went to links you provided and will get some Oxine as The Chicken Chick recommended along with following her other recommendations.
DAWG53 hope this info. helps you.
To anyone reading this post presently or future please get your chicks/chickens vaccinated for fowl pox. It is so worth it. This is some nasty stuff.

 

[Eggcessive]

Glad that you got some info and medication at the vets. The SMZ-TMP treats coryza well. Let us know how they get along, and I hope they all survive. It is good that you can get testing and a necropsy free in your state. Someday if you lose one to any cause, you could keep the body cold, and still get testing for MG or whatever.

 

[dawg53]

I was interested in what disease your vet said that it might be. Like Eggcessive mentioned, SMZ-TMP normally treats Coryza, but can treat certain types of respiratory infections and certain types of pneumonia in humans. I'm wondering if that was the premise she was working on. Just for your info, the telltale symptom of coryza is a foul odor around the head area. I agree with Eggcessive that it's probably MG. Baytril wouldve been a better choice than SMZ-TMP.