Has anyone given Tramadol to a chicken for pain?

[theacw]

My hen who has been limping for over a month with an infection doesnt seem to be getting any relief after a visit to the vet 8 days ago. The metcam hasnt eased her pain at all and I dont see much of an improvement in her limp. The baytril has seemed to help the redness/infection.

She is going to research Tramadol to see if this is something we can use. Has anyone else used it?

 

[dawg53]

What is the cause of the infection? If it's bumblefoot, minor surgery will take care of this problem. Staph infection caused by bumblefoot will eventually kill a chicken.

 

[theacw]

We are not sure, we found no area that looks like where it started. It was red around her "knee" but it was also red on her scales. Xrays taken, nothing showed up. It is definitely not bumble foot though, her feet look completely normal.

I am nervous to have a bad reaction to this medicine

This is her leg the day before the vet visit, redness has gone down especially around the knee. Limping has not improved much. The redness showed up 2 weeks after the limping though

 

[theacw]

I am very open to opinions on what is wrong since the vet and I are not sure

 

[dawg53]

Since it's not bumblefoot, it could several possibilities: Gout, MS, or mites.
Gout usually causes swelling around joints, can cause a bird to limp. I dont see swelling in the pic...unless you see swelling.
Mycoplasma Synoviae (MS) also causes swelling, also other symptoms. Again I dont see any swelling.
Mites can cause redness/swelling. Try Nu-Stock on the affected area and see if that helps. Or a long course of vaseline treatment on the area.

 

[casportpony]

Haven't used it in a chicken, but my Avian Vet did give me some for a 7-10 pound (can't remember) Muscovy Duck. He got 1/2 a 50mg tablet twice a day.

 

[serenityNH]

My dog takes tramadol and use to take metacam. If I remember correctly they can not be mixed and our dog had to be off of metacam for awhile before starting the tramadol... can't quite remember. I'd do some research first, I would assume it would be the same for a chicken? Best of luck.

 

[theacw]

Wow, thanks for the feedback guys.

Especially regarding mixing the two because that's what she had suggested. We have been working together but she is not as familiar with chickens but I am just happy she will see my chickens. She sees more the "pet birds" I will have to ask about mixing the two.... Thank you SO so so much for telling me, I would have been so upset if something happened! I suppose if ducks can, a chicken can take them.

Any idea how long off the metacam before starting?

There was never any swelling in the joint so I suppose I can rule out the first two. I have never seen mites but where and how would I go about checking?

 

[PureBigBird]

Vet said that dosage is 1 tablet (50mg) for a 10 - 25lb bird and if they are really in TERRIBLE pain especially injury, double this dosage given every 12 hours. Start light dosage and look for anything unusual. It is something like a NSAID without the mouth ulcer side-effects like Banamine, but can bother the liver. Birds have slower reaction time on tramadol is what have read from specialist that have used different types of pain medication. AM no expert. Read that they metabolize it differently. Keep your birds safe!

 

[coach723]

I don't know specifically, but this may help- first article is from 2005 and does not include tramadol, second is from 2015 and does on page 2:

https://vetfolio-vetstreet.s3.amazo...eae44de2bba70c90e9f12d7c/filePV_27_04_299.pdf

http://veterinarycalendar.dvm360.com/updates-avian-analgesia-proceedings?pageID=2