Treating Campylobacter

[cricketandhilda]

I posted previously, about my adult hen who was ill, and being home treated for canker and worms. Anyhow, she went to the vet Monday, and a mouth culture was taken. Apparently, campylobacter bacteria basically exploded on her tongue and mouth. On sight, it looked very much like canker, white patches and unable to swallow. There was no sign of canker related bacteria on the culture.

My hen is now on antibiotics for two months, with varying instructions.

Anyone had success with treating? She’s still not interested in eating, have been giving electrolytes by dropper. Still weak, and unable to stand.

 

[glassdragonfly]

So sorry your hen is sick. I have no experience with this but you could try scrambled egg,tuna or canned cat food. See if it gets her interest. When Mercury was cage bound(broken leg) I would cut her some clover from the yard. Also a chicken sling might help.Best of luck

 

[getaclue]

You may have to do a little tube feeding, and hydrating. The mouth may be somewhat sore, so the chicken doesn't want to eat, and drink. It also tends to cause upset stomach, which could further cause the chicken not to want to eat, and drink. The medications can further cause them to not want to eat, and drink much.

 

[Eggcessive]

Campylobacter is a very common bacteria found in many poultry, both layers and meat birds. It would not be unusual to find it in many of our chickens, so I am not sure that finding it in your chicken would cause illness, but I am not a vet. It is a common cause of food poisoning in humans, due to eating undercooked chicken. Normally, though it does not affect or cause harm to chickens themselves. Here is some information about campylobacter:
https://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource/Campylobacter in Poultry.pdf

https://thepoultrysite.com/disease-guide/campylobacter-infection

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/avian-campylobacter-infection/avian-campylobacter-infection

 

[cricketandhilda]

Campylobacter is a very common bacteria found in many poultry, both layers and meat birds. It would not be unusual to find it in many of our chickens, so I am not sure that finding it in your chicken would cause illness, I am not a vet.

Yes, I understand that this bacteria is present, the vet explained it’s usually in their gut I believe. The bacteria can flourish, and it’s presence can be worsened in a hen by sharing water with wild birds etc. I have no reason to believe what the veterinarian saw in the swab sample was campylobacter. His examination was very thorough.

I was hopeful that someone else may have experienced this previously with their own flock, and had first hand advice for making my hen better.

Even better, my experience may help someone else, who is searching for answers when one of their hens go down. At first glance, even to my vet, it looked like canker. Had I left it be, and continued to treat her with Fish Zole, she would have died.

 

[Eggcessive]

Just curious, which antibiotic is the vet using? Please update your thread to let us know how the chicken responds to treatment. Has your chicken had a bad odor from the beak when you first thought it was canker? Canker (trichomonas) is a protozoa, not a bacteria, and most with experience say that is smells pretty bad. We have have some recent OP’s with presumed canker that have turned out to be other issues, including cancerous tumors. Bacteria, wet fowl pox virus, and fungus can also cause beak lesions that appear similar to canker.

 

[dawg53]

What antibiotics were prescribed?
I'd think that feeders and waterers, as well as the soil would be contaminated via infective feces. This is relative to biosecurity requiring frequent cleaning/sanitizing feeders and waterers. Perhaps scooping poop often also, since birds constantly peck the soil.
I hope your hen quickly recovers. Try giving her one drop of Poultry Nutri Drench orally once in the morning and once in the late afternoon for no more than 5 days.

 

[cricketandhilda]

What antibiotics were prescribed?
I'd think that feeders and waterers, as well as the soil would be contaminated via infective feces. This is relative to biosecurity requiring frequent cleaning/sanitizing feeders and waterers. Perhaps scooping poop often also, since birds constantly peck the soil.
I hope your hen quickly recovers. Try giving her one drop of Poultry Nutri Drench orally once in the morning and once in the late afternoon for no more than 5 days.

The antibiotic is Zithromax. Several days up front, then to every other day I believe for the duration.

I have three hens, all older, they are pets now more than anything. I’m a bit of a germaphobe, so if it can be scrubbed or cleaned, I do it regularly. Also, dogs that like to roll in chicken poop- so in this case, I’m just incredibly unlucky I think.

 

[cricketandhilda]

Just curious, which antibiotic is the vet using? Please update your thread to let us know how the chicken responds to treatment. Has your chicken had a bad odor from the beak when you first thought it was canker? Canker (trichomonas) is a protozoa, not a bacteria, and most with experience say that is smells pretty bad. We have have some recent OP’s with presumed canker that have turned out to be other issues, including cancerous tumors. Bacteria, wet fowl pox virus, and fungus can also cause beak lesions that appear similar to canker.

I was given Zithromax for her. The vet did share a story with me, of a parrot he treated with similar symptoms, responded well to meds, but ultimately succumbed to a tumor that had grown in its throat.

I hope my girl pulls through, but will post back progress whichever way it goes.

 

[dawg53]

The antibiotic is Zithromax. Several days up front, then to every other day I believe for the duration.

I have three hens, all older, they are pets now more than anything. I’m a bit of a germaphobe, so if it can be scrubbed or cleaned, I do it regularly. Also, dogs that like to roll in chicken poop- so in this case, I’m just incredibly unlucky I think.

Nah, you're not unlucky. We've all been through it one way or another, no sweat.
If you need more Zithro, here's where you can get it:
https://www.revivalanimal.com/product/bird-zithro/all-pet-supplies-medications-bird-fish-antibiotics