Trimethoprim/ Sulfa treatment for Coccidiosis in chickens

[chicknmania]

Has anyone tried this? Our vet recommended it, and gave me the tablets, but I'm a little bit anxious about using it because the dosage is so inexact. He told me to crush 1 and 1/2 tablets and mix with about two pounds of feed, and feed to them morning and night. I mixed it in applesauce to make sure that it was well mixed, and gave them the first dose tonight, but I'm worried.

We've had a terrible problem with Coccidiosis this past year. Normally, we rarely do, so I don't know what the deal is, but I've heard it's been a serious problem in several parts of the country. We've lost a few young chickens and have one ten month old pullet right now who is very sick with coccidiosis, but it's weird because she has no symptoms other than lethargy.

They all act fine and healthy except the one pullet, who is in a hospital pen, and, again, I'm not sure exactly how much to give her. Right now, she's on Sulfamethoxine AND Corid, in her water. She's still eating and drinking, but the Coccidiastats don't seem to be giving her much help.

 

[azygous]

Are you by any chance giving her vitamins at the same time as the coccidiastats?

The coccidia medicine works by blocking enzymes that the coccidia need for survival, in effect starving them. If you give B1 (thiamine) it counters the effect of the meds.

Don't worry about an exact dosage. As long as the flock gets the treatment dose rather than the preventative dose, they're getting the effect they need. Follow your vet's instructions. There may be a followup regimen with a tapering dose to help build immunity.

 

[chicknmania]

Wow, I'm so glad you told me that, because yes I am giving her B & K vitamins, it seemed to be the only thing that was giving her a boost. She is eating enough to partially fill her crop a couple of times a day, and she's drinking a lot of water, but I'm concerned she might not get enough of the T/S. Seems she'd be doing better with the stuff in the water, because she does drink. Do you think it's ok to give her the stuff (Corid & Sulfa) in the water AND the T/S in her food? I'm seeing the vet tomorrow afternoon (for one of our other animals) so I can ask him as well, but I'm just curious, as they'll be fed in the morning before I see the vet.

 

[chicknmania]

Also, I'm just curious, do Coccidia give off toxins during a die-off, as worms would? She had a few Capillary worms too, but I dewormed her...so I think part of the reason she is not doing better is because she might be suffering from the worm die-off, as well as, of course, the coccidiosis. We deworm quarterly, so I was surprised she had any, although the vet said she only had a light worm burden.

In the case of an inflammatory reaction from the die-off, I'm also wondering if baby aspirin might help with that. Another thing that I will ask the vet, unless someone knows in the meantime?

 

[azygous]

To be honest, I wasn't aware of any other coccidiastats other than Corid (amprolium) until about a week or so ago. An OP from Australia with a thread on coccidiosis mentioned one that I'd never heard of, and I did some research and learned there are over half a dozen different ones that all pretty much work in the same manner, but have different dosages and treatment timelines.

One thing they all have in common is that vitamins can interfere with the effectiveness of the treatment by supplying the nutrients that keep the coccidia replicating. Therefore, it's advised to only give those vitamins during coccidiosis treatment that your vet prescribes. In the case of the OP from Australia, their vet had prescribed B-12 along with the Coccidiosis treatment.

Talk about this with your vet, and follow their advice.

 

[azygous]

Baby aspirin can be given to chickens, but I would urge your to consult your vet first. If your little patient is suffering from intestinal inflammation from the coccidia, aspirin might be harmful instead of helpful, so I would hesitate to recommend it for coccidiosis.

 

[chicknmania]

Thank you for all the info. I've never had to worry much about Cocci, as I said, up til now. I asked one of the vet's staff about the aspirin, and she was in agreement not to give any, though did not give a reason why. Yours makes sense, so thanks for clarifying.