Very severe case of canker, or something else? Please help

[Frizzlelove]

I noticed my 5 year old bantam Cochin was having trouble eating a couple of weeks ago. When I picked her up she was shockingly light. I rarely take birds to the vet but we’ve had this one so long and she is such a sweet bird that I did take her in. She was diagnosed with probable canker due to the nasty plaques in her mouth and throat. Vet carefully debrided some of them so she could swallow/breathe better and prescribed ronitizine (sp?) daily. I’ve been keeping her in the house and isolated. That med wasn’t helping enough so I took her back to the vet again last week. Different vet this time found what she said was a “fungoma” on top of the canker. It was removed (disgusting) and she was given a fungicide on top of the canker med. We tube fed her for a couple of days and she began really improving and eating on her own, gaining weight. But yesterday the cankers started returning and she began having difficulty eating and acting lethargic. I’m at my wits end with this situation and could really use some advice and/or experiences treating canker. I don’t know if euthanasia is the kindest option at this point - I’m so sad and frustrated. Thanks in advance for any info/experience you can share.

 

[Eggcessive]

Did either vet take a sample of the yellow plaques and look at them under a microscope? Are the plaques yellow? I don’t have any experience with canker, other than reading many posts and articles here. Canker smells very bad, does hers? Canker can also be treated with metronidazole (Fish Zole online) 250 mg orally daily for 5-7 days.

Canker can eventually invade the walls of the crop, and she sounds pretty sick. Canker is contagious to other chickens, and is spread from pigeons and other wild birds visiting feeders or drinking spots. Some cull chickens with canker to limit the spread. Waterers and feeders should be disinfected. Some treat with acidified copper sulfate (1/4 tsp per gallon of water) for 3 days a month to limit spread of canker.

If any of your birds have had fowl pox in the last few months, wet fowl pox can look just like canker inside the beak and throat, but it doesn’t have the bad odor. Fungal infection or yeast inside the beak from antibiotics may also cause white material inside the beak.

 

[Frizzlelove]

Did either vet take a sample of the yellow plaques and look at them under a microscope? Are the plaques yellow? I don’t have any experience with canker, other than reading many posts and articles here. Canker smells very bad, does hers? Canker can also be treated with metronidazole (Fish Zole online) 250 mg orally daily for 5-7 days.

Canker can eventually invade the walls of the crop, and she sounds pretty sick. Canker is contagious to other chickens, and is spread from pigeons and other wild birds visiting feeders or drinking spots. Some cull chickens with canker to limit the spread. Waterers and feeders should be disinfected. Some treat with acidified copper sulfate (1/4 tsp per gallon of water) for 3 days a month to limit spread of canker.

If any of your birds have had fowl pox in the last few months, wet fowl pox can look just like canker inside the beak and throat, but it doesn’t have the bad odor. Fungal infection or yeast inside the beak from antibiotics may also cause white material inside the beak.

It smelled absolutely putrid. Not as bad since we’ve been treating. He did not culture the plaques; I think diagnosed via smell and appearance (and wanting to save us money). No other birds have been sick but we do have wild birds around that unfortunately can’t be kept completely away from the run, plus they do free range. I’m wondering if we should take her in a 3rd time and try to get metronidazole, or if this is not a treatable situation. Yes, she is very sick again - but so weird as she was really rallying for a few days.

 

[Eggcessive]

It might be quicker to get the metronidazole, but you can order it online. It is no longer called Fish Zole, but Aqua Zole. With the holidays and postal delays that might be difficult. Allivet and kvsupply both sell it reasonably, but it has increased this year.
https://www.allivet.com/p-11638-aqu...MIn9aM6tDw9AIVTWpvBB3wxQMGEAQYASABEgLRCfD_BwE