Gurgling/Rales/Respiratory Treatment not working

[shooflydesign]

Hey all....SO I brought one of my hens inside about 2 weeks ago when she was showing signs of a respiratory infection--terrible gurgling and wet rattling from her lungs. My flock was diagnosed with Mycoplasma several years ago and it crops up from time to time as general sniffles and runny noses. Nothing like this, but I know that secondary infections are very common with mycoplasma outbreaks. Although she is acting normal otherwise--eating well, drinking, pooping, etc., she is obviously not well.
I immediately got her on supplements in the water and began injecting Tylan in the recommended dosage every day for 5 days. I expected to see some improvement (as I have almost immediately in other birds with mycoplasma-like symptoms), but so far NOTHING. I am completely baffled. What could be wrong with this poor bird? I don't want to have her in my living room much longer, but can't put her back out wheezing and rattling--something just isn't right.

Thanks so much for help in advance....Monica

 

[Eggcessive]

There are some other drugs you can try. Denegard (tiamulin) 10% pre-mix can be used--it can also be used in unison with Duramycin10 (tetracycline) in treatment of MG. Many sick birds can have more than one major disease going on at the same time, for instance MG with coryza or E.coli.

 

[shooflydesign]

I just ordered new drugs online but why, oh why didn't the Tylan injectable work? I feel like that should have knocked this thing right out of the park and it didn't even make a dent.

M

 

[dawg53]

I just ordered new drugs online but why, oh why didn't the Tylan injectable work? I feel like that should have knocked this thing right out of the park and it didn't even make a dent.

M

If you used tylan before, most likely the disease has built resistance to it. Tylan is potent, there's only 3 other things that are more effective than tylan in treating mycoplasma diseases: Baytril, denagard, culling. (Not necessarily in that order.)

 

[shooflydesign]

I have only started using Tylan recently--and usually only in the water. But, you may be right, I don't know. How long does it take for a resistance to begin? I hate to cull her, but it may be the humane thing as she is not better at all and the rasping/rattling is getting worse. I have Baytril on hand but know that it is frowned upon using so don't know what to do. Thanks for your input. This Mycoplasma thing really sucks.

 

[shooflydesign]

Is there anything I can do for her to ease her comfort level?? Right now she is in a very small cage, eating and drinking no problem. Sometimes the gurgling gets worse and although she doesn't seem to be suffering, it can't be comfortable. I had some of that mentholated Chicken RX and dabbed it in her beak, but you know, I hate to make things worse for her...Any suggestions? Thanks...

 

[Eggcessive]

Tylan works best as an injection into the breast muscle, second best straight into the mouth, then third best, as added to the drinking water. Make sure the first two methods are only the injectable form though, since the kid put in water is a powder. I keep the injectable kind in my chicken medicine box for an emergency, but I would only use it straight by injection or orally. I kind of feel like I would put the chicken down is she is suffering very much, but that is a personal decision. If I couldn't do it, I would ask someone who could.

 

[casportpony]

According to the book I have, Plumb's Veterinary Drug handbook, the recommended dose of Tylan (Tylosin) is 40mg/kg once a day or 10-40mg/kg two to three times a day. So for those that are doing as the label says, I don't think you're giving enough, it's labeled for cattle, pigs and sheep, right? Birds get more...

-Kathy

 

[dawg53]

I immediately got her on supplements in the water and began injecting Tylan in the recommended dosage every day for 5 days. I expected to see some improvement (as I have almost immediately in other birds with mycoplasma-like symptoms), but so far NOTHING.

In your first post you stated that you were injecting tylan, then you stated in post #5 that you were the putting tylan in water.
Eggcessive is correct. Tylan is more effective when injected into the breast muscle and improvement can be seen in as little as 2 days depending on the strain. Sick birds will not drink water, if they do, it's not enough to be effective. Since you have baytril, use it. You can look up the dosage in the BYC search box. Baytril has a 5 day withdrawal period.

 

[shooflydesign]

Yes, if you look at my post, I explain that I have been using the injectable on this hen, but that in the past, I have used the powdered form in water. I believe we were discussing the possibility of a resistance building so I thought that it would be important to mention the powdered Tylan as it is much weaker. I am aware of Tylan being more effective when injected, which is why I originally posted. I was (again) surprised that it did not work. At this point I think the more important point is whether to get her back on the Tylan injectable, but more of it and for longer, or put her on something else.