Tylosin Tartrate Torpedoes?

[K2goatsandducks]

One of my 5 month old Cuckoo Marans hens has come down with a respiratory issue.
It started with coughing and sneezing with no other symptoms. She ran around happily and ate and drank and laid her eggs like normal. I kept an eye on things, but her immune system seemed to be keeping it at bay, so I didn't interfere.
3 weeks later, she has reduced her feed intake to where she was barely eating at all, she has stopped laying, and she is sneezing mucus and sounds very congested.

I separated her with her sister (for company), and have had them on Tylosin Tartrate water for the past 7 days, but unfortunately the only improvement I have seen from her is that she has started pecking at her food a bit. Still sneezing and wheezing and occasionally gurgling.

I don't think she was drinking enough of the medicated water because when I gave her a dish of untreated water, she dove into it like she hadn't had a drink all day.

I started force feeding her with torpedoes (I have a crossbeak that gets supplemental torpedoes, so I already had some on hand), and she is taking to it well and it gets something in her crop. I had the idea, that perhaps I could fill one of her torpedoes with her dose of the tylosin powder. The dosage is 50mg/pound per day, so she should get about 200mg a day.

If I tried this, how long do you think I should wait since she was just on the Tylosin water for 7 days? Should I divide the 200mg into two doses (morning 100 and evening 100), or would a once a day dose work just as well?

I know all about the fact that this is likely contagious and my whole flock is probably carriers. We are keeping this flock for their lifetimes, so I just want a way to support them through illnesses.

Thank you for any ideas!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The dosage is 50mg/pound per day, so she should get about 200mg a day.

If I tried this, how long do you think I should wait since she was just on the Tylosin water for 7 days? Should I divide the 200mg into two doses (morning 100 and evening 100), or would a once a day dose work just as well?

Source for your dosing?

IF she's not responded to Tylosin in the water by now, then likely you are not dealing with Mycloplasma, it could be a viral infection instead of another bacterial infection that doesn't respond to Tylosin.

Try a different antibiotic like Baytril or a Sulfa Antibiotic.

Is her crop emptying overnight?
Any lesions inside the beak or signs of canker?


Tylosin dosing is 10-40mg/kg given 2-3 times a day. 200mg twice a day is way too high!
Re-check your dosing.

 

[K2goatsandducks]

Source for your dosing?

IF she's not responded to Tylosin in the water by now, then likely you are not dealing with Mycloplasma, it could be a viral infection instead of another bacterial infection that doesn't respond to Tylosin.

Try a different antibiotic like Baytril or a Sulfa Antibiotic.

Is her crop emptying overnight?
Any lesions inside the beak or signs of canker?


Tylosin dosing is 10-40mg/kg given 2-3 times a day. 200mg twice a day is way too high!
Re-check your dosing.

Oh my I definitely don’t want to overdose. I read the 50mg/pound statistic here: https://www.asp-inc.com/products/documents/prodinfo/t/tysol.pdf

Her crop is emptying, and no signs of cankers or lesions. Just clear mucus and sneeze-coughs.

She drinks but barely eats on her own.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Oh my I definitely don’t want to overdose. I read the 50mg/pound statistic here: https://www.asp-inc.com/products/documents/prodinfo/t/tysol.pdf

Her crop is emptying, and no signs of cankers or lesions. Just clear mucus and sneeze-coughs.

She drinks but barely eats on her own.

Right, but that's saying the birds need to drink enough medicated water to get to 50mg per pound.

Do you have the large tub of Tylosin or a small packet? How did you mix your powder? It should be 1teaspoon Tylosin to 1 Gallon of water.

If she's not better by drinking the mixed water by now, then she's not likely to respond to it by extending the dosing period. You gave for 7 days, the time period is usually 5 days.

I'd switch to a different medication or consider that she has a virus or something else is going on.

 

[K2goatsandducks]

Right, but that's saying the birds need to drink enough medicated water to get to 50mg per pound.

Do you have the large tub of Tylosin or a small packet? How did you mix your powder? It should be 1teaspoon Tylosin to 1 Gallon of water.

If she's not better by drinking the mixed water by now, then she's not likely to respond to it by extending the dosing period. You gave for 7 days, the time period is usually 5 days.

I'd switch to a different medication or consider that she has a virus or something else is going on.

I have a 100 gram packet.
I calculated the ratio and mixed 1/4 teaspoon with 4 cups of water.
I made a fresh batch ever morning.

I have erythromycin (fish meds) on hand. Might that be a good option to try since the Tylosin didn’t work? No other birds are showing symptoms still.

She did have food in her crop last night, and I didn’t torpedo feed her yesterday, so she’s eating some now on her own. I’m hopeful that she keeps improving.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Erythormycin has been used in the past to treat Mycoplasma, I'm not sure of the dosing, so you'd have to look it up.