Vet suspects hen has Marek's disease

[WannaBeFarmDad]

Hello,
It has been a rough couple of days.
My vet suspects that my hen (named Stretch) has Mareks even though she was vaccinated for it at the hatchery.
She is the chicken in the middle of the picture.

Here are the particulars:
1) Stretch is a Speckled Sussex that is 6-months old. Per the vet she has good musculature and is a healthy weight.
2) She is not moving much and didn't get up to see me why I entered the chicken run. She is eating and drinking very little
3) I have ring cameras in my coop and run. I went back and watched the video and she seemed fine Thursday morning. It was Thursday afternoon when I noticed she was sitting apart from the flock. Friday I took her to the vet.
4) My other 7 hens and 1 rooster all seem fine.
5) No signs of trauma or pain.
6) Hoping it is not Mareks but per vet it is high clinical suspicion for Marek's disease.
7) Prior to the vet I made her a scrambled egg. She pecked at it but ate very little. The vet has me tube feeding her 45mL of EmerAid Omnivore three times per day.
8) I brought her in the house and isolated her Thursday night. Friday morning she had only a small normal looking poop. Her poop, now after a day of feeding tubes, is very runny and white.
9) She has been prescribed Carprofen (anti-inflammatory) and Trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (antibiotic).
10 ) She has gotten back some energy and is eating some more on her own. My intent is to continue to treat her and hope for a recovery. If she declines I will euthanize her and send her for a necropsy. I am curious if others have experienced Marek's disease. I am watching for a decline but am unsure what that means. She doesn't seem to be suffering but does not stand up. In the bottom of her cage I put down pine shavings for bedding. I noticed that she eats some of the shavings. Will this harm her? Should I put down something else for bedding? Anyone know what a decline from Marek's will look like?

Thank you in advance for any advice.

Craig

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you have an up to date picture of her? Can she move either leg if you touch it, and are her toes curled under on either foot? Has she laid eggs recently? Did the vet check for a stuck egg? It is possible for a vaccinated chicken to get Mareks, but I hope the vet’s diagnosis is wrong. Do you have a rooster who might have injured her, or could she have injured herself? There are a number of conditions that can mimic Mareks. Keep us up to date of her condition. Your state vet lab can perform a necropsy and testing on her body, should you lose her some day to look for Mareks.

 

[Mason Farm and Ranch]

Do you have an up to date picture of her? Can she move either leg if you touch it, and are her toes curled under on either foot? Has she laid eggs recently? Did the vet check for a stuck egg? It is possible for a vaccinated chicken to get Mareks, but I hope the vet’s diagnosis is wrong. Do you have a rooster who might have injured her, or could she have injured herself? There are a number of conditions that can mimic Mareks. Keep us up to date of her condition. Your state vet lab can perform a necropsy and testing on her body, should you lose her some day to look for Mareks.

Yes, vaccination for Marek's does not prevent the disease. It supresses the symptoms with the expectation of helping the bird survive the virus.

Vaccinated birds also shed the virus. If 1 has it, likely the entire flock has it.

Nutrition is key to survival. Vitamin supplements are necessary. There are 5 different forms. 3 non-fatal with supportive care. The other 2 range from a 40-90% mortality rate with supportive care.

The lymphatic form causes tumors and is often confused with Avian Leukosis Virus which has 100% mortality rate.

Chinese Skullcap is clinically shown to be effective in sending the Marek's Virus to a dormant state (treatment, not cure). Also hearing a lot of academic chatter about high quality Oregano oil benefits against viral infection and possibly of helping battle Mareks.

 

[Eggcessive]

I had vaccinated birds and unvaccinated birds together for many years. The vaccinated birds did not shed the virus to the others. I never saw a case in my flock. In the future, I would not get vaccinated birds.

 

[Mason Farm and Ranch]

I had vaccinated birds and unvaccinated birds together for many years. The vaccinated birds did not shed the virus to the others. I never saw a case in my flock. In the future, I would not get vaccinated birds.

That's a common assumption. They use a Turkey virus that is harmless to chickens for the vaccine.

 

[WannaBeFarmDad]

She hasn’t laid an egg yet. I originally thought she was egg bound and gave her a couple of Epsom salt baths before going to the vet. The vet confirmed that she is not egg bound.

I brought her to the veterinarian hospital at the University of Illinois. The official diagnosis is pelvic limb paraparesis. Notes indicate: Stretch is unable to walk more than a couple of steps due to significant incoordination and neurologic dysfunction of her legs. She is unaware of where she is placing her legs/feet (proprioceptive deficits), occasionally has a clenched foot, and some trembling when she is lifted up. She does have sensation, and motor function in each leg. There was no overt signs of trauma or predator attack.

It has been 4 days since she first exhibited systems. After tube feeding her a couple of days she is eating and drinking on her own. No real improvement in her ability to walk. She is not in any pain but I am skeptical that she will improve. The same veterinarian hospital will perform the necropsy if it comes to it.

What vitamin supplement do you recommend?

 

[Eggcessive]

With a chicken like yours, I would give 400 IU of human vitamin E and 1/2 tablet daily of human vitamin B complex or the super B complex. Generics or store brands from Walmart or Walgreens or similar may be less.

 

[Mason Farm and Ranch]

With a chicken like yours, I would give 400 IU of human vitamin E and 1/2 tablet daily of human vitamin B complex or the super B complex. Generics or store brands from Walmart or Walgreens or similar may be less.

And Selinium, but not a lot. Chickens need Selinium to absorb Vitamin E. Tuna, beef, eggs, whole wheat, Brown rice and oatmeal are among common chicken safe foods that contain Selinium.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would rather give some egg daily for selenium since it is easy to overdose.

 

[WannaBeFarmDad]

Thank you! I will start her on vitamin B and E plus give her a little egg.

Now at day 6 since I first noticed her not moving. She has regained some mobility. She still walks slowly but can now walk across the room, balance on a perch, and stand on one leg & scratch the ground with the other. She also is now standing to eat and poop instead of sitting.

Not sure what to make of it. Can chickens recover from Marek’s or is it evidence that it might be something else?