[non-emergency] Marek's Homeopathic Treatment - Video

[FowlPlayFox]

OC Chick - I am so sorry to hear about your hen. I was really pulling for her. I haven't posted anything on my hen in a couple days as she is pretty much staying the same. The only thing that has changed is that her left wing has started drooping a little- it isn't tucked up against her body as tightly as the other one. She still can't walk, but she is eating fine, although she does feel lighter than when this all started. Also one of her legs is prone to getting stuck out in front of her - which is not a good sign I have come to find out.

I hope you can find something out with the necropsy. I will definately be having any new chicks vaccinated from here on out. If for no other reason as to rule out Mareks when they do get sick. It is kind of a hard disease to diagnose and so the correct treatment for someting else might be missed until it is too late.

That video of your little hen demanding to get into the kitchen and then looking for crumbs is too funny. She'd have more to find in my kitchen

 

[O.C.Chick]

FoulPlayFox, Sorry your chicken is "in limbo" too...That's the worst part, not knowing what's wrong or what's going to happen. In the past, several of my gals were so sick that I was certain death was inevitable...Then they just snapped back like nothing had ever been wrong. This long, drawn-out illness was so terrible and emotionally draining to watch mine go through. I sedated her last night, and she was barely alive. I was sure she'd have passed this morning, but horrifyingly, she was still alive and seemed aware of everything going on around her. This was just heart-wrenching. I gave her a larger dose of the sedative this morning, and she seemed to relax a little more. Then I had someone drive her to the lab where they will put her to sleep and start her final examination. I'm sure she is there by now. The pathologist, who was SO KIND SYMPATHETIC, said she'd call me with her initial findings this afternoon.

I have to mention, this State lab is SO THOROUGH!!! They test for EVERYTHING, diseases, bacteria, and even metal toxicity and botulism. Pretty amazing! My vet would have charged me THOUSANDS for these tests, almost certainly.

Anyway, I'll post on the Pathologist's initial findings when I hear from her.

Alys

P.S. Yes, that little Araucana is quite the pushy little character! She can even push the door open if it is not latched, Sometimes if I forget and leave the door open, she'll fly right in onto my counter-top! Let's hope my house is never CSI (Chicken Scene Investigation) tested....I would be found extremely guilty!

 

[O.C.Chick]

I just spoke to the pathologist...Her very preliminary findings showed slight evidence of either Lymphoid Leukosis or Histomonas (parasite from earthworms that causes Blackhead) in the liver and intestines. This is her initial "Guess", but she said there are inconsistencies with both of those findings, and it is in no way conclusive...We could find that it is something else entirely. She is doing a series of other tests and slides that will be far more conclusive on Monday, and should have more results next week. I was so shocked that I completely forgot to ask her what she thought about Marek's symptoms

I will find out more next week and will keep you all posted.

 

[FowlPlayFox]

I just got up out of bed to check and see if you had heard anything yet! .....Very Interesting. So, I wonder if routine worming could have helped prevent this from happening. I have never wormed my chickens; they do free range and have plenty of exposure to earth worms...I wonder if I should worm them twice a year or something as a precaution. I can't wait to hear what you find out on Monday.

If my hen doesn't get any better I'd like to look into a necropsy as well. I wonder if there is anything like that lab in OH.

 

[O.C.Chick]

FPF, I will ask about the worming thing, but I don't think so...

Histomonas is a protozoa, It IS a parasite, but it is an organism that is different from a parasitic worm. Histomonas are carried by a small percentage of (non-parasitic) earthworms that have come into contact with them, and the earthworms can be a carrier of the parasite to chickens if injested.

BTW, I use food-grade DE and my chickens have NEVER had parasitic worms. However, they have had coccidia (which is also a protozoa, kind of like giardia in bad water is to humans), and coccidia does not respond to worm medications. Also, worming is very hard on their systems, so (in my opinion) should not be done unless necessary. Plus, the DE seems to work for worm issues and is non-toxic with no egg-withdrawal, unlike wormers.

I hope your hen gets better and you don't have to go through this, EVER!!! As far as a lab in your area, I would think so...Check with your County, or University's Cooperative / Agricultural Extension. Also, your Animal Control department (usually through Police Dpt) may have that information as well. Get it ahead of time...If you are prepared, then hopefully you'll never need it!

 

[O.C.Chick]

QUESTION ABOUT LYMPHOID LEUKOSIS:

Does anyone know, if it does turn out to be LL, if that means that my other Appenzeller will get sick and possibly die too? Or is it possible that she can carry LL and not be affected? I tried reading articles and the Merck Vet. Manual, and I couldn't get a sense of how inevitable fatalities are if it is genetic. Anyone who can explain in simpler terms would be much appreciated! Thanks.

 

[pips&peeps]

From what I understand it passes from the parents to the offspring, I could be wrong. I was afraid it was leukosis because of that thread that was quoted about a person having it in the same variety birds you have. I don't think we have a high incidence of blackhead in the West.

There is info on the Merck Veterinary Manual. You have to search for avian leukosis.

 

[O.C.Chick]

Hi Jean,

I was actually going to PM you earlier when I got the initial thoughts form the pathologist. Thanks for your response....Your gut instinct may have been right.

I did check the Merck' s Vet Manual and they did have extensive information in it, but it was really hard to understand...It even seemed to say that there was treatment for those affected, somehow relating to treatment of the Bursa...It was just really hard to make sense of and was hoping to get a "translation" to non-vet language.

They said that initial tests done were on the liver and intestines, and that she found white spotting that was indicative of either blackhead or LL, but that neither were conclusive. Interesting on the LL, because the pathologist had not read my extensive notes, which included your info on hereditary tendency toward the disease, so she got this just based on visual assesment & appearence of the liver and intestine.

I will have much more information from the lab by mid-week, as they are doing slides and continuing with the necropsy on Monday.

Thanks!

 

[PandoraTaylor]

this sounds just like my Penny, which I cured myself and she is back with the flock now and laying everyday.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=273003

I even consulted with Wisconsin a Vet

It took me almost 3 weeks of syringe feeding & watering to get Penny through it.

 

[O.C.Chick]

Hi Pandora
I am so glad your hen got better! Thank youfor adding your thread with your experience, since this was originally intended as a hopeful & informative thread about different causes and cures for this condition. (until it turned into a depressing thread all about my sad experience )

We received a lot of great information and everyone's experience helps. It's so hard to diagnose the exact cause of something that seems like it should be simple...I've discovered that so many types of disease and injury can cause the exact same symptoms, so the more info we have, at least we are more aware of variables and ways to eliminate the unlikely. Mine appears to have had Lymphoid Leukosis; A diganosis not confirmed yet by the pathologist, but not one that I would have EVER matched up to the symptoms.

Since no one else has mentioned head injury and your hen's symptoms seem to be exactly the same as all of ours, this is a perfect example of how many variables there are!

Thanks and let's hope NONE of us ever have to go through this again!

Take care,

Alys