Sick chicken not responding to antibiotics help!

[Eggcessive]

In addition to the Tylan, I would give her some plain brand name yogurt for probiotics—about a teapoonful daily during and right after completion of Tylan. There are also probiotic products such as Probios, FortiFlora, and SaveAChick brand probiotics as well. Air sacculitis can be a secondary infection of respiratory diseases. There also can be one or more respiratory diseases at the same time, one being a secondary infection. Make sure that she is drinking enough water. You can mix some into her feed to get more if needed.

 

[Kiki]

Yes USA

I'd like to recommend you check out your state lab's website.
It will probably have a list of the pricing info for testing.
From the labs I have looked at, testing for respiratory disease is reasonably priced.
I highly recommend you send in a sample (usually a tracheal swap) to have tested so you know what you are dealing with.
Necropsy and disease testing lab info

 

[Eggcessive]

From my experience in human medicine, antibiotics can affect bacterial cultures, causing false negatives. I have never questioned vets about this, though. I think with a necropsy after death, they would probably get a diagnosis from tissue samples. If you find out anything by contacting your state poultry lab, please share it with us. You may also contact your local extention agent of NPIP representative about testing.

 

[dawg53]

There's one other possibility; Air Sac Mites. Symptoms are similar to a respiratory disease. Treatment is ivermectin. However it's recommended that verification be made prior to using ivermectin. Here's a link, please read all the way through it. This information applies to all birds including poultry:
https://www.beautyofbirds.com/airsackmites.html

 

[ChixLvr1]

Thank you for the information and I will definitely share whatever information I receive regarding this situation. I will be calling my county Agricultural Extension Office Monday to see if I can get some help from them. I will get some probiotics in her tomorrow morning as well. I Ihave had her on the Tylan 50 for 6 days now both intravenously and orally. Should I continue giving it to her as she doesn't seem to be getting any better? She is worse tonight than I've seen her since this all started last week.

 

[Kiki]

Thank you for the information and I will definitely share whatever information I receive regarding this situation. I will be calling my county Agricultural Extension Office Monday to see if I can get some help from them. I will get some probiotics in her tomorrow morning as well. I Ihave had her on the Tylan 50 for 6 days now both intravenously and orally. Should I continue giving it to her as she doesn't seem to be getting any better? She is worse tonight than I've seen her since this all started last week.

From what you said earlier in this thread you have ben under dosing her.
Under dosing is/can be just the same as not dosing at all.

 

[dawg53]

Stop the tylan for now and call the Ag folks tomorrow like you mentioned.