Please help! Sick silkie and seems to be progressing quick! What should I do?

[suebee]

Kathy, your advice has been wonderful! In this desperate situation use what you've got...both antibiotics that she has on hand have proven very effective. I agree Baytril is great too but keep in mind it may take a week or more for shipping.

 

[War Chicken]

I am starting to notice white cloudy mucous in her mouth.

I did do a swab of her throat a couple days ago and saw no worms or mucous but I am not sure if I got as far back as I am suppose to

Check her mouth daily and note any changes. If you need a normal reference you can look inside the mouths of your other chickens. The swab can't rule out pneumonia or gapeworm if nothing is found. It can only rule things in if found.

Baytril(fluoroquinolone class drug) - generic name is ciprofloxacin is bacteriocidal(kills bacteria) Doxycycline(tetracycline class drug) is bacteriostatic(inhibit the growth of bacteria).

My understanding of drug classifications is that you should not mix a bacteriocidal with bacteriostatic drug as they may cancel each other out,reason is if you are using a bacteriostatic then the bacteria is growing slow or has stopped therefore a bacteriocidal will not be effective in killing the bacteria. I would not recommend using Cipro with Doxycycline,as they may not work together. I would suggest one or the other,Baytril(bacteriocidal) or Tylan(bacteriostatic)there is no point in ordering drugs that will not work in combination with each other.

http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/38/6/864.long

[66]

In my opinion you're getting advised of using way too many antibiotics at once. Stick with either Tylan or Duramycin and give it a chance to work...7 to 10 days minimum. Let her out as much as possible with the water bowls or let a hose run so she will drink. I'd discontinue the Corid also.

In human pneumonia, you expect improvement 48-72 hours after starting antibiotics. If not, it's to time to re-evaluate the treatment strategy. There's a lot of antibiotic resistance to Tylan these days. Regular tetracycline is often ineffective as well. I wouldn't recommend either for really sick birds where you don't have the luxury of time.

 

[theacw]

Is that Tylan still good if it is 6 months expired? It was not chilled at the store I go it at.

Im glad to get everyones input, even thought everyone has a different opinion... I know you all experienced and knowledgable. It does just get confusing with everyone suggesting something different. I know Tylan has a good feedback for respiratory stuff and I have had good luck with baytril for a whole different thing in the past. I will order baytril for sure. And are we thinking she should have something besides baytril if we decide to switch her over at some point? I know someone said yes and someone said it might cancel it out so I just want to confirm

-No improvements, maybe more clumsy. I did discover she is very comfortable in my lap in a big fleece blanket. We had some cuddle time in.... she did less gasping and seemed very at ease with her head nestled into the blanket.

 

[suebee]

The original poster reported her chicken sick a little more than 48 hours ago so I'd give the antibiotics time to work. (7-10 days)
The Tylan should still be OK.

 

[ten chicks]

Is that Tylan still good if it is 6 months expired? It was not chilled at the store I go it at.

Im glad to get everyones input, even thought everyone has a different opinion... I know you all experienced and knowledgable. It does just get confusing with everyone suggesting something different. I know Tylan has a good feedback for respiratory stuff and I have had good luck with baytril for a whole different thing in the past. I will order baytril for sure. And are we thinking she should have something besides baytril if we decide to switch her over at some point? I know someone said yes and someone said it might cancel it out so I just want to confirm

-No improvements, maybe more clumsy. I did discover she is very comfortable in my lap in a big fleece blanket. We had some cuddle time in.... she did less gasping and seemed very at ease with her head nestled into the blanket.

The store has drugs that are 6 months past the expiration date,unbelievable,i have read of other people using Tylan past the expiration date(i believe Tylan has a short shelf life of 6 months)and it has still been effective. In regards to Baytril(bacteriocidal),i had mentioned that you do not want to use a bacteriocidal(kills pathogens)with a bacteriostatic(slows down growth or stops bacteria,example tetracycline family)as they may not be as effective together. Check when mixing any drugs not only for side effects but for effectiveness when combining. Baytril is powerful and potent,a great drug.

 

[theacw]

The store has drugs that are 6 months past the expiration date,unbelievable,i have read of other people using Tylan past the expiration date(i believe Tylan has a short shelf life of 6 months)and it has still been effective. In regards to Baytril(bacteriocidal),i had mentioned that you do not want to use a bacteriocidal(kills pathogens)with a bacteriostatic(slows down growth or stops bacteria,example tetracycline family)as they may not be as effective together. Check when mixing any drugs not only for side effects but for effectiveness when combining. Baytril is powerful and potent,a great drug.

YA, I was so PO'ed when I got home and saw that. I want to call and complain because I drove hours to get it and come home and see that. Probably wouldnt care though. This is the same place that claimed they didnt carry it but my "motherly instinct" told me they were lying so I risked the drive to go see for myself.

I need some advice on her throwing everything up. Or what I have seen, her sneezing it out. I went out for 2 hours to give myself a little break to get away and came up and the egg/water mixture is ALL over in her basket. UGH. So frustrating!!! Am I giving her too much? Or what is going on? I am 99% sure its being sneezed out unless thats what it looks like when they throw up.

I feel like she is not getting worse, but so many steps are going backwards with me trying to help. Do I have to wait the full 48 hours to give her another injection? Since I am still not abolutely sure she got it, I am eager to give her another one. I hope I can find a helping hand to help me this time. Its hard to do it by myself.

 

[casportpony]

I have never seen anything from a veterinary source that says to give Tylan every 48 hours, I've only seen direction that say to give 10-40mg/kg 1 to 3 times a day. I am not a vet, but I think giving it every 48 hours would be a mistake. Did the 48 hour thing come from poultrypedia? If so, I have seen numerous mistakes on that site, so take it for what it is, it's a bunch of info that someone put together, it was not done by a vet, and makes no claim as to accuracy, etc. (read the disclaimers).

That said this is info that I have on Tylan (Tylosin)
The following four pictures are from this link:
http://avianmedicine.net/content/uploads/2013/03/09_therapeutic_agents.pdf

 

[theacw]

Ah dang it! I was told 48 hours at one point. So should I get another .25 cc in her RIGHT NOW?

 

[casportpony]

Ah dang it! I was told 48 hours at one point. So should I get another .25 cc in her RIGHT NOW?

I honestly don't know.

-Kathy

 

[theacw]

Hmm alright. Thanks though. I'll just do some searching on here and use my best judgement