Its Time To NAME THAT EYE PROBLEM!!!Update: PG 11 bottom of Post #101

[threehorses]

Quote:
Unfortunately a vet has to do it if it's the C&S - usually - unless you know someone who can do it for you as a phlebotomist, but then they have to be able to interpret it.

The other testing - rule out testing - doesn't have to be.

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
That's a good question. The blood can be drawn by anyone with the
guts to do it. They make a cut under the wing with a scalpel.

Contact your state vet first. Find out who handles NPIP testing.

I'm not sure that the state testers do other tests. I know that there is a certification course to become a NPIP tester, but I don't recall that they do other tests - but I hope I'm wrong. A blood test is a blood test as long as you collect the blood into the right kind of container and have someone put it into the right kind of test.

By the way, the reason I was thinking (and still recommend) the culture and sensitivity was to find out exactly what the bacteria was - not just that it isn't disease A or B. You'll find out if it was MG or another disease, but at the same time if it isn't, the kid will know for what to treat.

I think that's very important. That's basicallly what she wants to know: "What the heck can I do to fix this?"

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
Actually I haven't looked up that vet yet. I used one a friend recommended. Not sure if this changes anything but the vet (Dr. Abbernathy) said that unless their eyes get pasted shut, they start having gunk come out of their nostrils, and they stop eating and start losing weight, that its just the pink eye. If they start to get those symptoms that we should look deeper into it. I give up searching. So far it looks like NM doesn't have anyone who does MG tests

. Oh he also said that if it wasn't a bad infection they should be cured in a few days. If its worse it could last 2 weeks

. I dunno what to do anymore (Shaking head)

.

OHHHH DUH, I got your vet confused with the one I recommended. The one I recommended was an avian certified vet and - even if she wouldn't test a chicken (most do - haven't met one that won't) she'd know someone who could.

And Dr. Abbernathy is simply wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong about "no gunk no illness". Wow what a waste of your money, I'm so sorry.

And you don't HAVE to have the MG test - what you need is a Culture and Sensitivity. I'm tellin ya... It tests to see what the bacteria is no matter what it is - not just to rule out a bacteria, but to find the name of YOUR bacteria - and then it tells you exactly what antibiotic to use for it.

You want to ask for that specifically. "Culture and Sensitivity". If you don't, it's possible that your vet will misprescribe the antibiotic (no matter how 'big' a vet they are). Some strains develop resistance.

What they do (again) is swab the gunk and in the mouth, they grow that bacteria, they identify it, and then they grow more on a plate that has antibiotic coated discs. The discs that the bacteria can't grow around, that's the antibiotic that you use.

I'd call the avian vet - ask her for a quote for an exam and culture and sensitivity for one bird in order to treat a flock. Tell her you're a kid doing a project. Quotes are free.

 

[lildinkem]

I agree with Jean ( pips & peeps ), I don't like the Vets diagnosis.
Isn't conjunctivitis, a generic term for any pussy discharge from the eye? Do you really think 4 eye drops a day will save your flock?
It didn't for me. I had something like that last summer. I lost about 10% of my flock. Those who lived are healthy, and having healthy chicks.
Must be some expensive birds. I don't think I spent $60 to get both my Black and Buff Orpington flocks.

 

[The Wolf Queen]

Ill contact three horses vet but now I'm worried about getting a test cuz like I said apparently if they even find a hint of that one disease they would cull the entire flock.

 

[threehorses]

Take a deep breath, and think positive. MG isn't a required cull disease. It's a recommended cull because if you treat it, it comes back anyway. And it's passed vertically to eggs. So the babies you raise would be sickly and you'd have to medicate them. So it's better to know now and at least be able to save more lives, than to just worry.

BUT I want you to think positive. Chicken diseases are scary and intimidating. But not every flock is MG. I'm going to think positive for you.

This is a good life- lesson, and I think you're actually being given a gift (in disquise) that will make you a more exceptional adult. Learn now to face that fear and say "I will control you, you will not control me" and do what you CAN about this. The things that you can't control, those things you accept. This way you'll at least not have to live in fear of "what if".

You're dong really well, considering that this does seem to be a very scary thing. It's a big project. Take a deep breath, look your worries right in the face, and say "no". It's not easy or anyone could do it. But I know you'll do well!

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
The opposite of fear is FAITH.

I like what ThreeHorses is saying here.

Think about how this experience will make you a better chicken keeper
and person in general. Think about how you will be able to help others
combat diseases in their flocks.

Have FAITH that this will all work out. It WILL.

 

[kycowgirlchick]

I was worried I had something serious. I had an eye junk kind of infection in some of my 4 month old babies. I seperated them and gave them tylan for 3 days in their water. Now they are better and I have not seen any other sick ones.
So my question is, Would that have been MG. It seems if it was contagious that all of my birds would have had it. Especially the ones that were in the same pin.

 

[threehorses]

You won't know unless you test unfortunately. not really know.

By the way, never give an antibiotic like Tylan for only three days unless it's indicated on the packaging or by the vet. You really are setting up a risk of antibiotic resistance. You MUST use the antibiotic no less than 5 days, more likely 7 days. YOu can't just stop when they're better.

Word to the wise..

 

[kycowgirlchick]

Quote:
Thanks but yeah I read that on the container. I gave it to them for 3 days. Actually more like 2 1/2. Then the next day they got yogurt and some vitamin supplement.