MG-continued symptoms even after treatment with denegaurd-now experiencing joint issues and deplumin

[luvaduck88]

This is my first year with chickens and so I am learning as I go. It has not been the easiest learning experience, but I have grown to love my chickens dearly and they are worth it to me. My poor rooster came down with MG this past December. He did not see a vet, but presented first with rattling breathing with his mouth open and clear nasal discharge. I added ACV, garlic, cayenne pepper, and probiotics to his water (at different times of course), with little improvement.. He then developed bubbles in his eyes and it was then that I was finally able to diagnose him with MG. He never experienced sinus swelling. I treated him and his coopmate with denegaurd, although I cannot remember the dose or dosing schedule that I used, but I found it on this forum some time in January or February. He seemed to be feeling better and the eye and nasal discharge stopped. He continued to breath with his mouth open when stressed and still seems uncomfortable when you touch his throat-he opens his mouth to breath when it is touched.

He has been suffering from depluming mites and it took me a long time to be able to figure out what they were and how to treat them. I started treating my whole flock with ivermectin pour on once every 7-12 days and have given three treatments so far. I plan to do two more treatments as suggested in another post. From what I understand he will not regrow his broken and damaged feathers until he molts, but I hope that it is helping because it has spread to my hens at this point. He is a brahma so the first place I noticed an issue was in the feathers on his feet. The skin at the base of the feathers started to turn bright red and some of the feathers were growing out damaged and a few had super thick quills filled with a scabby like material. I initially thought that this was causing him pain so I cleaned and soaked his feet in epsom salts, tried to pull a few of the affected feathers and trimmed some so that they would not effect him when he walked. He has been limping for a few months now and I had thought that it was because of his feet. I recently was near by to him and heard a clicking/grinding noise while he walked and realized that he must be experiencing some kind of MG related joint issues. I have heard that some people recommend culling MG infected birds, but he is the sweetest rooster I really don't want to lose him. I also really don't want him to be uncomfortable and in pain though so I am looking for some advice as to what I should do for him. Should I be treating him again with denegaurd? If so, can someone please tell me the correct dose/dosing schedule so that I know I am treating him correctly? Do all of my hens have MG now? Should I be treating everyone? I am at a loss for what to do next and I feel badly for him. He looks like hell, missing feathers all around his neck and his skin is very red and irritated. The noises from his joints concern me most, will this get better? Thank you for any and all advice as to how to make him feel better/recover.

 

[luvaduck88]

If anyone out there has a good understanding of MG and how to treat it, I would greatly appreciate some guidance. I don't want my rooster to suffer and I don't want it to spread to all of my other chickens if at all possible. I have done research on the subject, but I want to know what other people's experience with this is. Thanks!

 

[Eggcessive]

It seems like you may have mycoplasma synovitis in your rooster. It is similar to MG, but mostly affects the joints. There can be swelling of the joints, sometimes with a yellow exudate, and there can be breast blisters or sores on the keel due to lying down instead of roosting. It is possible to have both MG and MS at the same time. You should try to get testing done to confirm your diagnosis. It will allow you to know what medication you may need, and how to proceed. Tylan, oxytetracycline, and chlortetracycline are useful in treatment, but this disease is chronic and contagious.qqqa

 

[Woobsie]

Yes it could definitely be mycoplasma synovial in this case. My experience is with MG and I have successfully treated MG symptoms with tylan 200 or TYlan 50 injected subcutaneous for up to 5 days. Denegard is great for preventing symptoms but I have not had it do anything about treating symptoms. Tylan 50 at a rate of 0.5 cc 2x a day for 5 days or TYlan 200 at 0.25 cc 1 x a day...if they are bubble eye double the dose. Denegard 12.5% I use at a concentration of 20 ml in 20 L of water