Gaped mouth, noisy gasping for breath, diarrhea

[docteurshepherd]

didn't really want to come back to this site, but figured I'd see if anybody knew what this could be or what I should do. I had another chicken with a respiratory illness just like this but when they were chicks, treated her with Vetrx, and then she made a full recovery. I'm almost wondering if it's not like newcastle or avian influenza that just eventually got passed on. They're almost a year old now I think?

I separated her, gave her the same meds I gave that other chick, Vetrx, so hoping she makes it. anything else I should be doing?

 

[dandiducks]

Could be tapeworm or a respiratory infection. I was told denagard for respiratory in their water for 5 days.

 

[docteurshepherd]

Could be tapeworm or a respiratory infection. I was told denagard for respiratory in their water for 5 days.

tapeworm? do you mean gapeworm? I heard it's relatively rare. I'm sure Vetrx should be similar I'd think. I'll keep doing it for 5 days. thanks.

 

[dandiducks]

Yes dern spell check lol. Hope she gets better. Mine was going the same thing, she seems to be better though I hear a sneeze every once in awhile

 

[Myrshine]

It is most likely MG, which is a respiratory disease of poultry.


In my experience and research, this looks like classic Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD), or most commonly known as Mycoplasma Gallisepticum (MG). MG is a bacterial infection of poultry, affecting all different species of birds. This disease is most commonly given from infected parents to the offspring, as the MG bacteria can be transmitted vertically into the eggs of developing embryos, making any chicks that hatch, always infected and sick with the bacteria. So please don’t ever breed from your sickly infected flock to sell or giveaway chicks/hens/roosters to anyone. You can freely choose to hatch for yourself, but you should not ever sell and or giveaway any extra roosters as you’ll just be giving someone else your flock’s disease, causing them a devastation. MG is a permanent lifelong chronic disease- meaning, that you can treat or have the symptoms go away, but whenever the bird gets stressed again, the symptoms will keep coming back or get worse. All birds (even recovered birds) remain lifetime long carriers of the MG bacteria, spreading and shedding it through their feces, feathers, dander, respiratory secretions and other bodily fluids. This is a serious permanent lifetime disease of poultry and is incurable, but treatable with antibiotics. Since MG is caused by a bacteria, antibiotics can help keep symptoms at bay until the symptoms resurface whenever birds become stressed again. Keep in mind that over-use and/or misuse of antibiotics also creates antibiotic-resistant bacteria, making the disease harder to treat than before. It’s critical in any livestock animal, especially poultry, to get any sick or symptomatic birds tested to find out which specific disease they have as soon as possible. That being said, most choose to cull all birds, disinfect and start over fresh. If you’d rather not, then the other option is to keep a closed flock- no new birds into your flock and no birds leave your sick flock. If you choose to start over, always quarantine any new birds that you decide to bring into your flock, 30 day quarantine isn’t always enough, therefore, it’s best to do a 60 day quarantine AWAY from your healthy birds, in another area.





Here's more information about MG:

• https://extension.umd.edu/sites/ext... Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) Infecti....pdf

• https://www.freedomrangerhatchery.com/blog/protecting-your-flock-what-you-need-to-know-about-mg-ms/

• https://afarmgirlinthemaking.com/respiratory-conditions-poultry-mycoplasma-in-chickens/

• https://www.maine.gov/dacf/ahw/animal_health/documents/backyardpoultry/Mycoplasma Factsheet.pdf

• https://www.oie.int/doc/ged/D9107.PDF

List of testing and necropsy labs for poultry & other animals:

• List of US Poultry Labs - https://www.heritageacresmarket.com/poultry-necropsy-labs/

• List of Poultry Authorized Labs (NIPIP) - https://www.poultryimprovement.org/documents/AuthorizedLaboratories.pdf

• Zoologix PCR testing for livestock (poultry, equine, bovine, avian, etc) - http://www.zoologix.com/avian/index.htm

• USDA Diagnostic Tests - https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ou..._Lab_Information_Services/SA_Diagnostic_Tests

• Research Associates Lab (RAL) - http://www.vetdna.com/test-type/avian-bird

• Poultry Health Services Diagnostic Tests - https://www.poultryhealthservices.com/lab/tests/

Since I am NOT a veterinarian, I can NOT officially diagnose your birds- but I CAN give you this suggestion as this is what it COULD BE. I also can NOT offer antibiotics or medications until you get testing done to know what it is exactly your flock has. Do NOT go to ANY avian veterinarian as they know NOTHING about poultry diseases and health- it is also a waste of your money! Get testing done from one of the links above!





I wish you good luck and I hope your birds get well soon!

 

[docteurshepherd]

It is most likely MG, which is a respiratory disease of poultry.



I wish you good luck and I hope your birds get well soon!

Thank you. She actually ended up passing away during the night last night. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do at this point, but I've already buried her and I'm not digging her back up. I don't have an issue with keeping a closed flock, was planning to anyways. I guess at this point I'll just wait and see what happens. No others are sick right now so I guess just keep doing what I'm doing. If one comes down again, treat it, hope it doesn't die. I'll dose their water with some medicine.

I guess eventually maybe they'll all die off is what it's sounding like if it's as serious as you're describing. I don't really know what to say, there's nothing else I can do at this point. I do appreciate your information.

 

[Myrshine]

Well hopefully it wasn’t anything! I hope your flock stays well!

 

[Kiki]

tapeworm? do you mean gapeworm? I heard it's relatively rare. I'm sure Vetrx should be similar I'd think. I'll keep doing it for 5 days. thanks.

VetRx is very similar to Vicks vap-O-rub which is pretty useless and no where near similar to Denagard which is an antibiotic.