HELP!!! I think my chicken has gapeworm!

[tricia mae]

I am looking for some help with gapeworm.
One of my chickens is very lethargic and looks like he is constantly gagging. He is eating and drinking a little. I think he may have gapeworm. I went to see a vet who supposedly knows about chickens but she didn't even know what gapeworm was. Her suggestion was to put my chicken down.
I would like to try treating him for gapeworm instead of just giving up on him, but don't know what I should use. I am getting mixed information on the internet and since I live in Canada, probably don't have access to may meds.
So if anyone has any experience with this and knows what meds I can get here in Canada, I would really appreciate some suggestions.
Thanks

 

[Michael Apple]

I am looking for some help with gapeworm.
One of my chickens is very lethargic and looks like he is constantly gagging. He is eating and drinking a little. I think he may have gapeworm. I went to see a vet who supposedly knows about chickens but she didn't even know what gapeworm was. Her suggestion was to put my chicken down.
I would like to try treating him for gapeworm instead of just giving up on him, but don't know what I should use. I am getting mixed information on the internet and since I live in Canada, probably don't have access to may meds.
So if anyone has any experience with this and knows what meds I can get here in Canada, I would really appreciate some suggestions.
Thanks

Gapeworm isn't all that common. There are number of things that could cause the bird to gag/gasp. Look down the back of the bird's throat with a flashlight and tell me what you see. Is the crop pendulous (swollen)?

 

[tricia mae]

I tried looking down his throat but couldn't get a good look. I will have to get my husband to give me a hand when he is off work. I thought he may have a problem with his crop, but it seems fine and the vet didn't seem to think that was an issue. He just saw her about 2 hours ago.

 

[Michael Apple]

I tried looking down his throat but couldn't get a good look. I will have to get my husband to give me a hand when he is off work. I thought he may have a problem with his crop, but it seems fine and the vet didn't seem to think that was an issue. He just saw her about 2 hours ago.

It helps to set the bird on your lap and get it calm. It is easier with a helper to hold the light. I gently pinch the beak open and place the tip of my thumb in tip of the birds mouth and hold the bottom of the beak between my index finger and thumb so the bird can't close it's mouth ( I can't do that with chicks). I hold the flashlight with my mouth, lol. Sometimes a blade of grass can get caught, there could be yellow plaque in the back of the throat (canker), etc. Sometimes feeding mash or very powdery feed that a gluttonous bird chows down on, causes gagging or gaping mouth. Was the vet an avian vet you saw? How long has the bird been doing this?

 

[tricia mae]

Ok, so I finally was able to look down his throat and saw nothing. He does have some type of worms. I have seen them in his poo. Could a bad case of worms be causing his "gagging" problem? I will be getting some meds from the vet as soon as I can. They are doing a fecal analysis to determine the type of meds he needs.

 

[settingdusk]

yeah, a bad worm infection can cause a number of problems. If they are doing tests and stuff you should be okay.

 

[dawg53]

Tell your vet to give you fenbendazole/panacur for your chicken, enough for 2 doses...an initial dose and another dose 10 days later. The fenbendazole/panacur will take care of most worms.

 

[Michael Apple]

Tell your vet to give you fenbendazole/panacur for your chicken, enough for 2 doses...an initial dose and another dose 10 days later. The fenbendazole/panacur will take care of most worms.

That's it.

 

[tricia mae]

I finally got the meds from the vet. It is called Ivomec. He's been treated, so i'll see how he is doing in the morning.

 

[KELDEANE]

Did the Ivermet help with the gapeworm? I'm currently treating a chicken I believe has gapeworm. constantly gasping. Couldn't actually see anything
down the throat, but so hard to tell. I am using Ivermectin Cattle pour on, which I have been told can be given orally for gapes.