Gapeworm canada

[Magnolia Ducks]

I think she had gapes as she had all the symptoms and the safeguard fixed her. Could be I am wrong about the cause but she was the only duck in my flock with symptoms. Could have been longer than 5 days. She was sick a couple of days before I noticed. Still feel bad about that.

 

[casportpony]

Five days of Safeguard will treat gapes, so if she got better then I think there's a good chance that she did have them.

 

[dawg53]

With gapeworms, symptoms can be seen 1-2 weeks after infection.
I was thinking maybe capillary contorta which occurs in the crop, esophagus or mouth. Capillary worms are much more common in birds than gapeworms, not to mention that gapeworms are difficult to get rid of. They usually require ongoing treatment for several weeks to fully eliminate them.
Only a fecal test can determine what type of worms could be present.
Also respiratory diseases mimic symptoms like gapeworm infection, it can be confusing. Another reason for fecal testing.

 

[casportpony]

I've only treated two for gapes and both got better after three days of treatment. No follow up treatments were needed. Of course I have no way of knowing that they had gapes, but they went from looking like they were going to die to breathing fine in three days and the only drug given was Safeguard. . @Ravynscroft had similar results with hers.

 

[dawg53]

Right, without fecal testing we'll never know. Remember that gapeworm eggs will be in the soil, so reinfection is definitely possible unless you worm monthly like I do.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Right, without fecal testing we'll never know. Remember that gapeworm eggs will be in the soil, so reinfection is definitely possible unless you worm monthly like I do.

How long do gapeworm eggs stay viable to reinfect in your climate?

 

[dawg53]

How long do gapeworm eggs stay viable to reinfect in your climate?

The prepatent period is 12-14 days, the time between infection and first eggs shed.

 

[Aleks65]

How common is Gapeworm in Canada? In certain discussions I've seen online, it seems that it's extremely rare in many areas of the world. Many vets never seeing it in their career. Seems like a few in this thread have seen it in Canada. I'm in the Ottawa region.

Reason I'm asking is I have a new Hen that has that throat gurgle (not constant) that often sounds like she's snoring. From reading up on causes, everyone seems to go for respiratory because Gapeworm is supposedly so rare. But respiratory issues are almost always accompanied by mucous or some sort or lethargy which she has none of. There's an occasional cough, no mucous or discharge around eyes/nose, not lethargic, has an appetite but isn't currently laying. She does occasionally lower and shakes her head like she's trying to loosen something. Her breathing can be totally quiet for extended periods of time (she's set up nearby to me while I work from home). Seems more gurgly when she gets excited a bit. I did try looking down the throat and I can't see anything obvious at the larynx.

I noticed the occasional gurgling a few hours after I got her and she's been in isolation since inside for 5 days now. It hasn't gotten worse or better. Feathers look nice, eyes look alert but she hasn't laid since I've had her. The 2 other hens I got at the same time have been doing well and showing no similar signs, they've been laying almost every day.

I have Panacur dewormer that should arrive today Friday or Monday and plan to treat everyone.

 

[casportpony]

I have Panacur dewormer that should arrive today Friday or Monday and plan to treat everyone.

Welcome to BYC! For gapes, you need to give it for five consecutive days. Any less will not treat gapes. Are you getting the Panacur paste for horses or the liquid? Either way, you want to give no less than 0.14 ml per pond of bodyweight orally five days in a row.

 

[Aleks65]

Welcome to BYC! For gapes, you need to give it for five consecutive days. Any less will not treat gapes. Are you getting the Panacur paste for horses or the liquid? Either way, you want to give no less than 0.14 ml per pond of bodyweight orally five days in a row.

Thanks for the quick answer and welcome!

I have the 10% oral suspension (I figured out the proper dosing). I plan to treat her while still inside for 3-4 days first (to confirm she's drinking the water) and simultaneously treat everyone else outside. (I'll extend by a day per your recommendation). I was planning on doing another treatment in about 2 weeks.

My 1 concern was if I it was possible to "over" dose the wormer? Like if I do double the recommended dosing, are there any positive/negative effects or is it just wasting the de-wormer?