Hens eye. Pupil smaller

[Kthomson3]

My hens one eye looks smaller then the other. Googled and all I could find was Mereks disease... really hoping it’s not. What do you guys think ??

 

[Eggcessive]

That does look like the ocular form of Mareks disease. Usually the eye becomes grey in color eventually. I am not sure if an injury could casue that appearance, without the grey color. There are 4 different types of Mareks symptoms—the ocular form, the skin form, the neural or nerve form, and the visceral type that causes tumors in organs. There is a Mareks PCR test for $20 available from this lab if you can obtain some blood serum to send to the lab:
http://www.vetdna.com/about-us
Usually Mareks is diagnosed after death with a necropsy. I really hope that it isn’t Mareks, but there could be just the one type that you may see.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

My hens one eye looks smaller then the other. Googled and all I could find was Mereks disease... really hoping it’s not. What do you guys think ??

Unfortunately, that’s what it may be. Was she vaccinated against Mereks as a chick?

 

[Kthomson3]

Unfortunately, that’s what it may be. Was she vaccinated against Mereks as a chick?

I’m not sure if she was. I got her off a friends brother who got them from a lady that could no longer take care of them. They are almost 2 years old and I read that mereks is usually when they are younger or can they get it at any age ?

 

[Eggcessive]

They can get it at any age if they are exposed to a carrier, but the disease is more common under 6-8 months of age. @casportpony has dealt with ocular Mareks I think. She might come along and have a look.

 

[microchick]

I've dealt with it also, @Eggcessive and yes unfortunately that looks like what I saw in the three birds in my flock that presented with ocular Marek's.

My first presented when she was just a year old. Two more followed after her. They all lived to be three. Sassy's progressed to the point where she was having seizures. One sustained an injury to his good eye and was blind resulting in being put down. the other Seized like Sassy did.

I did not have them necropsied. My husband is a retired eye doctor and he was able to diagnose them using a hand held microscope. Ocular Marek's looks like ocular herpes in humans. The initial infection can be quite painful in humans.

My birds never seemed to be in distressed and even Sassy, with both eyes involved, saw well enough to boss the other hens around. I'm sorry you are having to deal with this. Be aware that your whole flock has been exposed and are carriers if you are indeed dealing with ocular Marek's. It's not the end of the world but my best advice is to close your flock and see what happens. Your bird looks fat and sassy as the old saying goes and very well loved..

I lost my last bird showing open signs of Marek's disease this time last year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my flock of 40+ birds stays healthy.

Good luck with your birds.

 

[MgnRose]

Poor girl! It saddens me you and her are having to go through this.

I know from experience that pupils of different sizes can also be a symptom of a numerological issue or trauma? I don’t have any experience with Marek’s (fingers crossed that I never do), but is she displaying any other symptoms of Marek’s?

 

[Kthomson3]

I've dealt with it also, @Eggcessive and yes unfortunately that looks like what I saw in the three birds in my flock that presented with ocular Marek's.

My first presented when she was just a year old. Two more followed after her. They all lived to be three. Sassy's progressed to the point where she was having seizures. One sustained an injury to his good eye and was blind resulting in being put down. the other Seized like Sassy did.

I did not have them necropsied. My husband is a retired eye doctor and he was able to diagnose them using a hand held microscope. Ocular Marek's looks like ocular herpes in humans. The initial infection can be quite painful in humans.

My birds never seemed to be in distressed and even Sassy, with both eyes involved, saw well enough to boss the other hens around. I'm sorry you are having to deal with this. Be aware that your whole flock has been exposed and are carriers if you are indeed dealing with ocular Marek's. It's not the end of the world but my best advice is to close your flock and see what happens. Your bird looks fat and sassy as the old saying goes and very well loved..

I lost my last bird showing open signs of Marek's disease this time last year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my flock of 40+ birds stays healthy.

Good luck with your birds.

Ok thank you

I only have 2 birds, so I’m hoping she can live with this as I don’t want to have just 1 bird. She would be too lonely. I was planning on getting new chicks but won’t be anymore as I don’t want to infect an other birds

 

[Kthomson3]

Poor girl! It saddens me you and her are having to go through this.

I know from experience that pupils of different sizes can also be a symptom of a numerological issue or trauma? I don’t have any experience with Marek’s (fingers crossed that I never do), but is she displaying any other symptoms of Marek’s?

no she’s not. Just the change in her pupil

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Ok thank you

I only have 2 birds, so I’m hoping she can live with this as I don’t want to have just 1 bird. She would be too lonely. I was planning on getting new chicks but won’t be anymore as I don’t want to infect an other birds

I am not entirely sure, but I would think if you got chicks that are vaccinated against Mereks, maybe they wouldn’t get it. Not sure though, you would have to read up on it