Sick Peacock with Respiratory Issue

[Katie Rowan]

5 days ago I noticed my peacock Paul was struggling to breath. He kept his beak open and struggled for each breath. I was told by a more experienced owner that respiratory infections are much more common then gape worm. So we gave him 3 injections of Tylan 200, one each day. On the second day he seemed to be improving, still struggling to breath but was taking treats again and walking around the pen. By the 3rd injection he went down hill. Desperate we tried worming him. We found him dead this morning. I feel so terrible we caused him more stress and didn't medicate him properly. I am heartbroken. It is so hard to know what to do. I have read so many different articles and conflicting treatments. I tried to swab his throat and only got a little booger looking thing. I have 3 other peas. Now I'm worried about their health. The hens currently are asymptomatic. Not Paul my other male is free range and the two hens are in the coupe. He was shaking his head yesterday and I heard a few sneezes. I put safe guard in their water and they have been eating the safeguard pellets. I have been so stressed and upset over theses guys. Help!

 

[Kiki]

I'm not sure using both, the Safeguard in the water and pellets, at the same time is a good idea.
@casportpony may recommend you sending the body for a necropsy.

 

[casportpony]

5 days ago I noticed my peacock Paul was struggling to breath. He kept his beak open and struggled for each breath. I was told by a more experienced owner that respiratory infections are much more common then gape worm. So we gave him 3 injections of Tylan 200, one each day. On the second day he seemed to be improving, still struggling to breath but was taking treats again and walking around the pen. By the 3rd injection he went down hill. Desperate we tried worming him. We found him dead this morning. I feel so terrible we caused him more stress and didn't medicate him properly. I am heartbroken. It is so hard to know what to do. I have read so many different articles and conflicting treatments. I tried to swab his throat and only got a little booger looking thing. I have 3 other peas. Now I'm worried about their health. The hens currently are asymptomatic. Not Paul my other male is free range and the two hens are in the coupe. He was shaking his head yesterday and I heard a few sneezes. I put safe guard in their water and they have been eating the safeguard pellets. I have been so stressed and upset over theses guys. Help!

So sorry for your loss. If you still have his body you can very easily rule out gapeworms by dissecting his trachea and searching looking for gapes.

Tylan is good for some bacterial infection, but not many, so you might want to consider getting Baytril or Denagard if you think you have a bacterial respiratory infection.

Can you send him off for necropsy? That would be best. What state do you live in?

 

[casportpony]

As for Safeguard in the water, I wouldn't because it's not effective. Same with the pellets... Not very effective. If you want to worm, get some Valbazen?

Is a vet an option?

 

[Katie Rowan]

I haven't been able to find a vet in our area that treats peafowl. I called one vet that specializes in birds and I never got a call back. I would like to get them on a proper worming plan that doesn't involve handling them. They are use to us but it was awful trying to catch the sick male and very stressful on him. The lady we got them from in February has raised peafowl for years and not had any issues with sickness. She hasn't even been worming her flock. Between our group going miss 2 different times for a week and Paul sickness and death, I don't know that I have what it takes . I love having them but I feel like I'm doing it all wrong

 

[Katie Rowan]

So sorry for your loss. If you still have his body you can very easily rule out gapeworms by dissecting his trachea and searching looking for gapes.

Tylan is good for some bacterial infection, but not many, so you might want to consider getting Baytril or Denagard if you think you have a bacterial respiratory infection.

Can you send him off for necropsy? That would be best. What state do you live in?

I live in Northern Florida. I was so upset this morning my Husband toke care of it and disposed of the body and I probably would need to dig it up. I don't have a clue where I could take the body. I have found no help with any of the local vets or the closest wildlife refuge. I just want to do what I can for the remaining 3 so they don't get sick. Is gape worm contagious?

 

[Kiki]

Worms of any kind can be passed back in forth

 

[casportpony]

What's the largest closest city to you?