Rooster Eye Problem (No respiratory symptoms)

[bokbokbokBOKBOKBOKBKAAA]

Hello, my precious rooster has conjunctivitis/swelling. We visited an emergency vet (we do not have a regular vet) that saw him twice, 5 days apart after it got worse.

The first visit they prescribed Terramycin ointment, as well as oral antibiotic (Trinethoprim/sulfamethaxazole -- Bactrim), and Meloxicam. He had conjunctivitis and had a hard time opening his eye. It seemed straightforward and okay.

But, even with that medication, he became much worse. His eye became very swollen, he became lethargic, lost weight, and pooped watery green.

The 2nd visit (yesterday) they prescribed a different eye drop medication (Tobramycin), and continued the oral antibiotic and Meloxicam, and added Gabapentin. They also injected fluids because he was dehydrated. They said his eye should improve in a day or two.

Though it has only been about 1.5 days of the new drops, it's still not better.

He does NOT have any respiratory symptoms or bubbles in the eye.

Does anybody here have any idea what is going on with him? Pictures attached.

 

[Eggcessive]

I don’t know why vets are so enamored with gabapentin, a drug used for nerve pain, since it causes drowsiness. He could have mycoplasma gallisepticum or MG, a common respiratory infection that causes sinus infection and conjunctivitis. Have you noticed a bad odor from the face? If not I would not think he has coryza. Then antibiotics the vet is using are for coryza, not MG. It won’t hurt to finish the antibiotics, but I would also add some Tylosin, in case of MG. The vet could have done testing or a culture to find out what disease they are treating. I would try to get him drinking fluids and eating some chicken feed made mushy with water, and some egg or bits of tuna for interest. Here is where to find tylosin online, and dosage is 1 tsp per gallon of water for 5 days. It may not arrive until next week.
https://jedds.com/products/tylosin-...SqyFzTY9w6zZaIAfnmcUcYG-wzimWLMNh7-Bzc-ypZDPh

 

[bokbokbokBOKBOKBOKBKAAA]

I don’t know why vets are so enamored with gabapentin, a drug used for nerve pain, since it causes drowsiness. He could have mycoplasma gallisepticum or MG, a common respiratory infection that causes sinus infection and conjunctivitis. Have you noticed a bad odor from the face? If not I would not think he has coryza. Then antibiotics the vet is using are for coryza, not MG. It won’t hurt to finish the antibiotics, but I would also add some Tylosin, in case of MG. The vet could have done testing or a culture to find out what disease they are treating. I would try to get him drinking fluids and eating some chicken feed made mushy with water, and some egg or bits of tuna for interest. Here is where to find tylosin online, and dosage is 1 tsp per gallon of water for 5 days. It may not arrive until next week.
https://jedds.com/products/tylosin-...SqyFzTY9w6zZaIAfnmcUcYG-wzimWLMNh7-Bzc-ypZDPh

Thank you so much for your response. MG can present itself without any respiratory symptoms? I thought the eyes had bubbles or foam for MG. None of the other birds have any symptoms at all and it's been a week. If you see him you wouldn't think he has a respiratory infection.

I am worried to wait another week for that Tylosin to arrive, but I can try to see if the vet could prescribe the right antibiotic for it-- what IS the right antibiotic? And is there a different eye drop that would be better? I have Moxifloxacin for humans.

Thank you!!!

 

[bokbokbokBOKBOKBOKBKAAA]

I don’t know why vets are so enamored with gabapentin, a drug used for nerve pain, since it causes drowsiness. He could have mycoplasma gallisepticum or MG, a common respiratory infection that causes sinus infection and conjunctivitis. Have you noticed a bad odor from the face? If not I would not think he has coryza. Then antibiotics the vet is using are for coryza, not MG. It won’t hurt to finish the antibiotics, but I would also add some Tylosin, in case of MG. The vet could have done testing or a culture to find out what disease they are treating. I would try to get him drinking fluids and eating some chicken feed made mushy with water, and some egg or bits of tuna for interest. Here is where to find tylosin online, and dosage is 1 tsp per gallon of water for 5 days. It may not arrive until next week.
https://jedds.com/products/tylosin-...SqyFzTY9w6zZaIAfnmcUcYG-wzimWLMNh7-Bzc-ypZDPh

Hello again,

The vet performed a poultry respiratory panel PCR test which came back all negative and ruled out Mycoplasma among other things. They also ruled out avian chlamydia. They are saying it is probably a virus.

Unfortunately now today a hen is presenting with the swollen upper eyelid and a watery eye. This is 2.5 weeks after the rooster first showed this.

We have been treating the rooster with Doxycycline, Tobramycin, Meloxicam, and Gabapentin and he can open his eye but it is completely white (edema). It has been weeks for such a small amount of improvement?

Do you think there is something else going on and a better course of treatment?

 

[bokbokbokBOKBOKBOKBKAAA]

Here is the hen today:

 

[bokbokbokBOKBOKBOKBKAAA]

Do you think this could be fowl pox? There are no respiratory symptoms. The hen has little dots on her comb that you can kind of see in the picture.

Our mosquitoes have been horrible...

 

[bokbokbokBOKBOKBOKBKAAA]

Updating for the record, we had other chickens develop the eyelid area swelling. We administered Terramycin on the chickens immediately and they recovered quickly. Our rooster, however, who did not get terramycin quickly enough, is still having eye issues.

We believe this to be a mild form of dry fowl pox after recognizing the tiny black pox marks on their combs, faces, beaks and wattles, that were subtle.

Our rooster developed a secondary infection in the eye which has caused him further problems. His eye is still not okay but his general disposition is good.

Fowl pox is spread by mosquitoes and one of the more helpful resources I found was this Lisa Steele blog post.

Terramycin requires a prescription from a vet (wasn't always the case), but can be purchased online for pigeons from Jedds.

 

[Eggcessive]

Thank you for the update. I am still thinking the hen and rooster look like they have MG. It is possible for testing to come back negative. The swollen eyelid and bubbles/watery eye are classic signs. There may be some fowl pox, but sometimes it is hard to tell scabs from peck marks. I have read that fowl pox can make the conditions right for an outbreak of MG, since it is so common. However, I’m glad they are doing better. Terramycin is usually available in feed stores and online from Chewy, Tractor Supply, etc, but some states have made it illegal to sell.

 

[bokbokbokBOKBOKBOKBKAAA]

Thank you for the update. I am still thinking the hen and rooster look like they have MG. It is possible for testing to come back negative. The swollen eyelid and bubbles/watery eye are classic signs. There may be some fowl pox, but sometimes it is hard to tell scabs from peck marks. I have read that fowl pox can make the conditions right for an outbreak of MG, since it is so common. However, I’m glad they are doing better. Terramycin is usually available in feed stores and online from Chewy, Tractor Supply, etc, but some states have made it illegal to sell.

It was a PCR test and I don't think those are known for false negatives.

Regarding purchasing Terramycin, the FDA recently changed the rules and if you check TSC's website and the other companies you will see it now requires a prescription. It's not available in the store (I tried). This page lists all of the medications that now require a prescription, and Zoetis Terramycin (Oxytetracycline, Polymyxin B) is the 2nd item on the list. Here is more information on the change, which took place over the span of a few years and is now fully in effect.