St John’s Wort vs hypericum

[smott]

I have a bird with Marek’s symptoms (blood test pending). She has been having difficulty with progressively poor balance and leg weakness for over two weeks now. I have read many threads regarding improvement of symptoms using St. John’s wort and/or hypericum however there seems to be a difference in the two that I am confused about. Many of the posts seem to reference a homeopathic formulation of hypericum which I cannot find. What I found locally is the St. John’s wort 300 mg capsule (states active ingredient is hypericum perforatum). Is there anyone who can tell me what the appropriate dosage to try would be for a 9 week old 290 gram bantam?

 

[smott]

To give more details, I have taken her to the only two vets in my area that will see poultry. First one said she had a splayed leg and recommended euthanasia. 2nd one said she had congenital leg/foot deformities and gave her vitamin b12 injection which perked her up for a day or so. Last visit she did leg xrays and found that her bones and tendons are fine. Sent off blood for Mareks and Newcastle but didn’t offer any additional advice. I have been giving her daily doses of poultry cell in addition to extras like boiled egg yolk.

 

[casportpony]

Can you take a video of her walking, upload it to YouTube or Vimeo then copy and paste the link here?

 

[smott]

Can you take a video of her walking, upload it to YouTube or Vimeo then copy and paste the link here?

IDK how to do that but I will try to figure out!

 

[smott]

@casportpony I hope this works. This is best video I could get of her. She has actually strengthened over the last couple of days to what appears to be more of a limp favoring the right leg. She had actually gotten so weak that she was barely able to stand a few days ago. I have given her the St. John’s Wort for 5 days now. Found a study referencing a dose of 667.9 mg/kg daily that showed effectiveness at treating some viral symptoms (not specifically Mareks) so that is what I have been *trying* to give her. She is having tremors worst in that leg and especially if she exerts herself even a little.

 

[casportpony]

Is she getting enough to drink?

 

[smott]

Is she getting enough to drink?

I think so! She is eating and drinking good. I’ve made sure to support her at the feeder and waterer several times a day while she eats/drinks until she tires. Plus I’ve observed her eating/drinking on her own as well.

 

[smott]

@casportpony you also commented on another thread I had started about Dottie. There’s a little more info about what’s been going on with her there. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...fficulty-walking-in-8-week-old-chick.1382728/

 

[pozees2]

@casportpony I hope this works. This is best video I could get of her. She has actually strengthened over the last couple of days to what appears to be more of a limp favoring the right leg. She had actually gotten so weak that she was barely able to stand a few days ago. I have given her the St. John’s Wort for 5 days now. Found a study referencing a dose of 667.9 mg/kg daily that showed effectiveness at treating some viral symptoms (not specifically Mareks) so that is what I have been *trying* to give her. She is having tremors worst in that leg and especially if she exerts herself even a little.

Have you given that right foot a good look? I know it's hard with all the feathering, but I noticed her pecking at it and wondered if maybe there's something wrong with the foot.

 

[smott]

Have you given that right foot a good look? I know it's hard with all the feathering, but I noticed her pecking at it and wondered if maybe there's something wrong with the foot.

Yes there’s nothing visibly wrong and vet that thought there was a bone deformity actually x-rayed her and found nothing. They actually sedated her, picked quite a few feathers off both legs in order to examine and X-ray them. Both legs were almost flaccid at one point but now the left one is obviously stronger than the right (despite the fact that she has a toe that turns under on the left).