Turkey with respiratory distress

[thebirdgirl]

I have a four year old broad breasted turkey hen (Betty) who has always been healthy. Recently I noticed that she would occasionally breathe with her beak open, along with a sneezing sound like she was trying to clear something out of her airway. It was an occasional thing at first, and seemed to happen when she was worked up or excited. Over the last week it has increased so that whenever she is up and walking around or even eating, she is breathing like this. It almost looks like gasping. She has not lost any weight and doesn't have any other symptoms.
At first I thought she had inhaled something, but now I am wondering if she has an infection or something else going on? She does appear to be in distress when I bother her too much trying to examine her, and I don't think she would tolerate a car ride to the vet. I don't want her to suffer if this isn't something that she will recover from, but we are very fond of her and I would like to treat her if possible.
I don't know what this could be, she has no other symptoms and her turkey buddy (Bubba) also is not sick. I am wondering if this sounds infectious or maybe something like a tumor? She has always lived in a coop with chickens on the other side, and I have heard of a disease that turkeys can pick up from chickens.
If anyone has any advice or needs more info to help me out, please let me know!
Thanks so much!

 

[bargain]

How has your climate been? I'm wondering if she might have gape worms with her mouthbeing open constantly. If you have had a lot of rain, she may have eaten some mildewed feed which can give some similar reactions including the sneezing.
Have you recently brought any new birds home at all ??? That might be near the turkeys??? Please do consider a vet as this could be an issue that might spread to others in your flock...

At a minimum I would isolate her and worm her to see if some symptoms subside.... Good luck!!!

 

[thebirdgirl]

The winter was very mild, and it hasn't been too wet but it warmed up quickly last week. I will worm her and see if that helps- I have a vial of Ivermectin; does anyone know what the dosing would be? She weighs approx. 45 pounds.
Thanks!