Pecked eye - flipflop the sablepoot

[Blackberry Hill]

Hi, Shabana! How are you and Flipflop?

The problem I have in making a recommendation on what antibiotic to switch to is that I do not know what you have available.

Perhaps your resources are similar to ours. In both countries , you can go to the Vet. Or buy things at shops meant for humans that may work for animals such as the drops. Are you able to go to the farm supply or feed store and purchase antibiotics such as injectable Penicillen or Baytril? Or ophthalmic ointments with antibiotics made for animals?

We have online sources and mail order catalogues that feature animal medications. I could give you a list of web sites with the items that you should look for and you could see if they can ship to the UK. Or perhaps you could do a search to find a source and check on what is available.

I will make up a list of possible antibiotics to consider and get back to you. Are you comfortable giving injections? I could give you step by step instructions and you can practice on a banana or orange...

In regard to choosing an antibiotic, normally a culture & sensitivty could be done by a Vet. All we can do is choose a broad spectrum systemic bactericide, try it for 14 to 21 days and if not successful then switch to another.

Hopefully, this can get us started in the right direction. Take Care, Sherilyn

 

[Blackberry Hill]

A to brighten your day!

 

[Blackberry Hill]

Whoa! It just occurred that we have not covered probiotics! I read back thru your posts and saw no mention of them. As you know any course of antibiotics kills off the good and bad bacteria. The good is needed for proper digestion. Very important.

You can try feeding a tablespoon of yogurt to her each day or a supplement of lactobacillus. These are made for humans as well as animals. I am a fan of Benebac. It is a gel that is easily placed in the mouth or added to food.

Any questions?

Have a GREAT Day!

 

[Shabana]

Hey there !!
Thank you for all this fantastic advice
I hadn't even thought about probiotics so I trotted off to flipflop and slippers pen this morning with my live yoghurt and they loved it - especially slipper who ended up with it everywhere
Over here in the uk we are a bit scuppered when it comes to getting antibiotics if we order online they can be seized and if we order from a uk seller you have to have a prescription. Farm shops near me aren't allowed to stock them, so it's a vet and a big bill usually.
Plus the vets although are trying dont always seem to stock a lot of chickeny stuff or know very much
I've never injected anything with anything but I would be happy to do it with some advice but I probably won't be able to get the stuff I need.

We can't buy antibiotics here for people either, only the ones like in general eye drops but certainly not proper stuff like penicillin etc
I might give it a go and order something and see if it makes it through to me.

I have some clarithromycin 500mg tablets prescribed to me for a chest infection which I would imagine would far too much for a little sablepoot but is it worth keeping them or can I even use them in any ground up quantities for hens ? They are good till feb 2015 and in view of the restrictions here I just wondered if they would be worth saving and if so what they could be used for and in what quantities ?

Thank you for your help Hun - it's really appreciated.

Flipflop is bright eyed and bushy tailed she's almost there I think and probably this extra week of tylan and the eye drops will get her there. She seems perkier and so I feel pretty optimistic
I wish she would lay an egg. Not for any reason other than it would show me that she feels settled enough to do so.

Thanks again !!
Love
Shabana

 

[Blackberry Hill]

Hi, Shabana --- I am thinking this over... will get back to you on your questions regarding the clarithromycin.

I will get you the list of vet ophthalmic ointments that you may be able to try buying online. Think it over. You need to be comfortable with your decision. I will respect it whatever it is because I know you have Flipflop's best interest at heart.

One thing to consider: healing takes time. I have a pet rabbit who had an abscess on her jaw about the size of a walnut. I surgically drained it and packed the opening so it would continue to drain and heal by granulating out. For an antibiotic, I gave her oral Orbax. My point is that even after this healed completely, there was a lump of scar tissue. Over time, it receeded somewhat and I can barely tell that it is there.

So, part of Flipflop's lump could be scar tissue and part could be the residue from an abscess that was not drained --- the body has to break that down and reabsorb it. That takes time.

I will be in touch. Take Care! Sherilyn

 

[Shabana]

Thanks Sherilyn

Yup that makes sense. Yesterday I bought some mineral and Vitamin supplements which mixes into their food, it said it contains seaweed and probiotics etc so I thought that would be good and they can still have their yoghurt too (mixed it with some scrambled egg this morning which went down a treat !)

I would love to have a little toolbox of medicines at the ready just in case. Don't get me wrong I,m all for natural preventative stuff like garlic and ACV etc and in fact I rely heavily on it, but the regulations on prescription medication in the UK does leave us stranded at times - our only option being vets who often don't know very much and a large bill.

Thanks for your fabulous help.

You have been a godsend x

 

[Blackberry Hill]

Hi, Shabana --- Sorry that yesterday and today I have been tied up with the other chicken's eye thread. She got the infection cleared up and with the help of a photo, I could finally tell for sure what we were dealing with.

Tomorrow, I will pick up with your questions and check into those eye ointments.

Those chickens must love you as you spoil them so. Of course, that is half the fun. Mine are getting watermelon tomorrow. A favorite!

Have a GREAT Day!

 

[Shabana]

Awww thanks for checking in Hun !
You are such a lovely lady helping us all out - big big thanks from my family and I !!!

Flipflop will tuck into most stuff but she's ever so reserved and hangs back, I think she didn't get much before she came to us and is still not used to the fact that No ones gonna hurt her or bully her and yes that's her courgette/apple/tomato etc

She has a few outdoor perches in her pen and I think that's her safety zone and where she feels happiest. Slipper sits with her a lot and yesterday I spied them dust bathing together and for all the world looking like they were snuggling lol !

Couple of days left if the tylan then I'm out. To be fair I don't think her eye has changed much, but a friend who hadn't seen her for a couple of weeks remarked how much better she looks so maybe it's a slow road

It's hard not to fall in love with flipflop - she's such a sweetheart

Thanks again
Love
Shabana xx

 

[Shabana]

I thought I'd update this because it's nice to get the ending to a happy story

Flipflop laid an egg today !!!!

Its taken her a few months and alot of tlc but shes back to being a beautiful happy hen !!

I wanted to say a big thankyou for all the advice and private messages of goodwill I received

...and they all lived happily ever after ...