Help! Respiratory problem?

pntdhorses

Songster
9 Years
Oct 18, 2015
121
144
176
SE Kansas
I have some sort of respiratory thing going on. One girl was making noises Saturday morning. Immediately took her to the vet. Did x-rays, everything looked clear. She had no discharge coming from eyes, nose, mouth. He put her on Meloxicam and Panacur in case of gapeworm. She is much better but now I have another girl doing the very same thing. Has anyone experienced this issue? Talked to vet again and will most likely have to treat the whole flock with Tylosin. But seems how first girl is greatly improved, wants to put 2nd girl on Meloxicam also.

I have heard of chickens developing cold like symptoms in the fall when you can have semi warm days but cold nights. Don’t know if that’s what’s going on.
 
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Meloxicam is not an antibiotic. It is a pain inflammation reducer. Was prescribed to me for knee pain. Panacur is a broad spectrum wormer. Neither one of these would address a bacterial respiratory infection.

Tylosin is a water soluble form of Tylan and will address a bacterial infection however getting the chickens to drink adequate quantities of the medicated water may be a challenge. It gives the water a very bitter taste imo. I wouldn't drink it.

You may want to inquire about Tylan 50 vial. Doxycycline is another good antibiotic and has the advantage of not needing to be injected multiple times during the day as Tylan does.
 
Meloxicam is not an antibiotic. It is a pain inflammation reducer. Was prescribed to me for knee pain. Panacur is a broad spectrum wormer. Neither one of these would address a bacterial respiratory infection.

Tylosin is a water soluble form of Tylan and will address a bacterial infection however getting the chickens to drink adequate quantities of the medicated water may be a challenge. It gives the water a very bitter taste imo. I wouldn't drink it.

You may want to inquire about Tylan 50 vial. Doxycycline is another good antibiotic and has the advantage of not needing to be injected multiple times during the day as Tylan does.
Anytime I give Tylosin, I syringe feed it as I know it has to taste pretty nasty. I’ve always had good luck using it that way.
I wish I could upload the video of the sound she is making but am having problems doing that.

Vet said throat and airway was completely clear on first chicken. She wasn’t doing head stretching or anything. As a matter of fact, when she held her head down, she completely quit making the noise and seemed to be breathing fine.
 
What symptoms exactly are you seeing? You describe making noises, but is there sneezing, crackles or wheezes? Do you see any gasping? Chickens do not have cold symptoms, but may suffer from respiratory viruses, bacterial diseases, and fungal infections from mold. Tylosin only treats symptoms of some bacterial respiratory diseases, such as MG (mycoplasma gallisepticum.) Tylosin powder for treating the water is still available, but the injectable tylosin (Tylan) is not available online or in stores at present. Tylosin will not treat a virus, such as infectious bronchitis. Since your first chicken was improved with the anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam, it may be a virus.
 
Moose impressionist chicken, you could make millions.
Joking aside, my chickens kinda make that noise if they're unsure about something, is there something new in her environment? She could be in pain or have allergies, I suppose, but she looks fairly alert.
 
Nothing new in their environment And the first chicken was making even louder sounds with every single breath. Definitely alarming and not right. This is a continuous sound they are making with every breath. They are alert and eating normally too. My vet is stumped!!
 
I have some sort of respiratory thing going on. One girl was making noises Saturday morning. Immediately took her to the vet. Did x-rays, everything looked clear. She had no discharge coming from eyes, nose, mouth. He put her on Meloxicam and Panacur in case of gapeworm. She is much better but now I have another girl doing the very same thing. Has anyone experienced this issue? Talked to vet again and will most likely have to treat the whole flock with Tylosin. But seems how first girl is greatly improved, wants to put 2nd girl on Meloxicam also.

I have heard of chickens developing cold like symptoms in the fall when you can have semi warm days but cold nights. Don’t know if that’s what’s going on.

Anytime I give Tylosin

Vet said throat and airway was completely clear on first chicken. She wasn’t doing head stretching or anything. As a matter of fact, when she held her head down, she completely quit making the noise and seemed to be breathing fine.

Occasionally some sneezing type noises but mostly just this sound.

Can you get some photos of her face and eyes?

You mentioned that anytime you give Tylosin, you give it orally. What has been the purpose in the past that you needed to use it - Tylosin is commonly used to treat respiratory disease like Mycoplasma. Do you have a history of illness in your flock?

I would also check inside her beak for any canker, obstruction, mucous, yellow cheesy material. Make sure her crop is completely empty/flat first thing in the morning before eating/drinking.

The noise she makes sounds similar to Stridor which usually resolves in a few hours - since this has been going on since Saturday, I would tend to lean toward respiratory infection, especially with another bird starting to have symptoms as well.
 
Can you get some photos of her face and eyes?

You mentioned that anytime you give Tylosin, you give it orally. What has been the purpose in the past that you needed to use it - Tylosin is commonly used to treat respiratory disease like Mycoplasma. Do you have a history of illness in your flock?

I would also check inside her beak for any canker, obstruction, mucous, yellow cheesy material. Make sure her crop is completely empty/flat first thing in the morning before eating/drinking.

The noise she makes sounds similar to Stridor which usually resolves in a few hours - since this has been going on since Saturday, I would tend to lean toward respiratory infection, especially with another bird starting to have symptoms as well.
 

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