Sick Pea Chick Died - Going to Vet School For Necropsy - Will Post Results

[Frosty]

For the record, I am definitely a long way from "expert" status though. I can only say Thank God for the BYC search engine & the UPA site - that's where I go for information & I can honestly say I have always found answers!

As I have said many times... I stay away from folks who claim to know everything. The folks who do know a lot also know that there is a lot left to learn (and that our critters are really good at showing us how much we don't know...

)

I am really glad that your little pea is doing better! And great job... all to often it's a case of 'by the time they show symptoms, it's too late.'

How is your turkey doing? Did you find a definate answer for what was wrong?

 

[kuntrygirl]

For the record, I am definitely a long way from "expert" status though. I can only say Thank God for the BYC search engine

As I have said many times... I stay away from folks who claim to know everything.  The folks who do know a lot also know that there is a lot left to learn (and that our critters are really good at showing us how much we don't know... )  

I am really glad that your little pea is doing better!  And great job... all to often it's a case of 'by the time they show symptoms, it's too late.' 

How is your turkey doing?  Did you find a definate answer for what was wrong?

Hey FROSTY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Glad to see you. I miss seeing you around.

Thanks. I am determined to keep my baby alive. Even though I have a gazillion animals, I look at EACH and EVERY one of them every single day. It's amazing how we know when they don't "look right". It's so confusing because on Saturday, my pea and her sister (don't know the sexes - LOL) were running around the chicken yard and teasing the peacocks and pea hens in their flight pen. There was nothing wrong with her. But then the next day (Sunday afternoon) when I went out to 1 of my many weekend checks, I noticed she didn't look right. So then I scooped her up, brought her in, started reading and started texting TerriLaChicks and immediately started treatment. I am praying ALL DAY that she pulls through. I really need to get her poop to the avian vet ASAP for testing.

As far as Mr. Turkey, he is doing GREAT! The state vet had his poop, vet records and labs sent off to some "fancy schmancy" vet school in another state. They could only determine that he had an injury. There were no illnesses reported. I am still confused on the results but I guess that's all I can go on. The state vet told me that in the unlikely event he goes to turkey heaven, I should immediately call him and put Mr. Turkey on ice. They will come and pick up the body and do a necropsy (Free of charge) to determine what was really wrong with him. He said they will use his case as a teaching study at LSU Vet School. I really don't want him to be cut but it's the only way to really know and maybe it can help the next turkey owner.

Thanks for stopping in Frosty. I will keep everyone posted.

And if you have any suggestions on anything else I can do, please post.

 

[Frosty]

My understanding is that they need fresh poop to check for cocci. I think even poop from the day before is too old, so I don't know if mailing it would work. I need to set up my microscope, but first I need test tubes for a centrifuge that I picked up on eBay. Then I'll pretty much be able to do my own fecals (I have a book with lots of pics, Veterinary Clinical Parasitology).

I wish I could be here more often, but I got a job and am scheduled to work 57 hours a week (plus a total of 3 hours for mandatory unpaid lunch breaks). Things have been so busy there that I end up working 66 - 70 hours a week instead. I took a week off to catch up with stuff that needs done here. I really miss you guys! I come here and read a few posts when I get home, then wake up a few hours later with my face planted on my desk and it's time to get ready for work.

If you get a chance, getting the stuff to do your own fecals could really help you with diagnosis. I think there was a discussion on that a while back here.

Keeping your little pea in my thoughts and prayers!

 

[Frosty]

I also wanted to mention that if it is cocci and you started treatment, they might not find anything.

 

[kuntrygirl]

My understanding is that they need fresh poop to check for cocci.  I think even poop from the day before is too old, so I don't know if mailing it would work. I need to set up my microscope, but first I need test tubes for a centrifuge that I picked up on eBay.  Then I'll pretty much be able to do my own fecals (I have a book with lots of pics, Veterinary Clinical Parasitology). 

I wish I could be here more often, but I got a job and am scheduled to work 57 hours a week (plus a total of 3 hours for mandatory unpaid lunch breaks).  Things have been so busy there that I end up working 66 - 70 hours a week instead.  I took a week off to catch up with stuff that needs done here.  I really miss you guys!  I come here and read a few posts when I get home, then wake up a few hours later with my face planted on my desk and it's time to get ready for work.

If you get a chance, getting the stuff to do your own fecals could really help you with diagnosis.  I think there was a discussion on that a while back here. 

Keeping your little pea in my thoughts and prayers! 

You know what? Someone gave me a microscope a few years ago and I kept putting off on learning how to use it and now I need it. This nice lady from Craigslist that worked at this (I won't name the place) place had one that she wasn't using and she gave it to me for FREE.

This is it.

Is it easy to learn Frosty? I may have to PM you. I have a lot of questions now that you said microscope.

Sorry to hear that work is keeping you busy but that's a good thing Frosty.

I guess I should call the avian vet and see what he says.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I also wanted to mention that if it is cocci and you started treatment, they might not find anything.

You're right. :/

 

[Frosty]

Sometimes I hate being right...

 

[casportpony]

Can anyone comment on why the bottle of Sulmet lists only four types of coccidia that it treats for? I know that chickens get at least 11, so does that mean that it's not effective on the ones that aren't listed?

 

[kuntrygirl]

Can anyone comment on why the bottle of Sulmet lists only four types of coccidia that it treats for? I know that chickens get at least 11, so does that mean that it's not effective on the ones that aren't listed?

You mean this? (for chickens)?

Chickens get at least 11 what?

For The Control Of

Chickens

Infectious Coryza (Avibacterium paragallinarum)

Coccidiosis (Eimeria tenella, Eimeria necatrix)

Acute Fowl Cholera (Pasteurella multocida)

Pullorum Disease (Salmonella Pullorum)
********************************************************************

Turkeys

Coccidiosis (Eimeria meleagrimitis, Eimeria adenoeides)

 

[casportpony]

You mean this? (for chickens)?
Chickens get at least 11 what?

Chickens get at least 11 different strains of coccidiosis, and the label only two for chickens, Eimeria tenella and Eimeria necatrix as you can see. I was told that every breed of bird or mammal gets a different type of coccidiosis.

I have no idea what type/strain peafowl get. If puppies or kittens get it, I believe, thery are treated with a sulpha drug like Sulmet.