How to measure medication?

[Sharoane]

One of our hens is sneezing and her eyes are swollen shut, seems to be a respitory infection. We went to Tractor Supply and got antibiotic powder that is supposed to be mixed in their water. The powder is 10 grams. The instructions call for 200 to 400 milligrams per gallon of water. We're trying to figure out how to measure that out since we don't have a food scale (never mind one that measures in mgs) and conversion calculators are absolutely no help. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Imp]

Quote:
Sharone,

Here's some info about different diseases. It might be important to determine the illness. Different illnesses respond better to different meds.

http://www.colchesterpoultryclub.com/health.htm

http://www.welphatchery.com/poultry_health.asp


Here's a recent discussion, on med doses. It would help if you posted what kind of antibiotic it is.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=369505&p=1


Good luck,

Imp

 

[Imp]

triple post. I got stuck in submit. Lol

 

[Imp]

Sorry,
Computer or me acting up

Imp

 

[mcvrxjen]

1 gram = 1000 mg
200 to 400 mg is not a hugely exact dose- I would divide the powder into 10 equal groups using the old eyeball method, that would give you about a gram or 1000 mg...
dissolve this into 2 & 1/2 gallons to 5 gallons and that will give you a 200mg to 400mg per gallon solution, then dish it out as you need it. Check to see how long it good for once you mix it, though.
I am a pharmacist by the way... America's most trusted profession

 

[Sharoane]

That's great, mcvrxjen! My better half is actually a pharmacy tech and just took the packet of medication over so that the pharmacist can help us out. However, your advice was probably exactly what we needed.

 

[mcvrxjen]

I was so excited that I actually knew an answer to a question on here!

 

[Sharoane]

One of the pharmacists that Alyssa works with figured out that 1.4 or so teaspoons is approx. what we need to be dosing the hens with in a gallon of water. I don't remember the name of the medication we tried, it's downstairs in the fridge, but it's working! Big Red's eyes are both open, the swelling in her cheeks almost all gone and she was scratching up a storm in her cage today! Big Blue was sneezing yesterday but today I only heard a few birdie "achoos!" so it sounds like she's also feeling better. The other four hens look fine.

Original symptoms were closed eyes, puffy cheeks and a little lethargic. However, once we flushed her eyes with saline, Red was happy to eat and drink up a storm. She could see just well enough to be able to find the water and food we put in her cage with her. Today had her up and about with both eyes open and only a little drainage out of one of them, which was gone by afternoon along with some residual cheek puffiness on the same side. Red is our friendliest hen and we're awfully fond of her. She follows us around the yard like a little dog and loves to be patted.

 

[Imp]

Glad to hear the good news

Imp