How Quickly Does Albendazole Work?

[Patricia W]

... unless you think I should.

 

Just when I thought we were all getting better, this morning I found Plop, ( the smallest Poland- weighs about 250gms I guess) turning in a circle, cheaping loudly, and with a strange head nodding movement. It was only for a few moments, then she stood still, and preened herself and is now eating.

 

Now, I've been keeping an eye on her since we got her about 3 weeks ago, because she is the smallest and quietest, last to come to eat and drink and has this strange head nodding from time to time.

 

She, like the others is on Baytril, although as it's in their water, I'm not sure how much she is getting.

 

If it's an ear infection, I would think the Baytril will deal with it. But I'm wondering if its something more sinister - Mareks? and maybe we should cull her??

 

At the moment, I'm just keeping an eye on her. Any ideas?

 

Tricia

[Daphne]

I'd watch and wait Tricia. Let the Baytril do its job if its something which can be fixed by ABs. How old is Plop? (Plop ). Mareks didn't present like that with me but polands and their thin skulls means they can get odd medical problems.

[Patricia W]

Thanks Daphne, I was hoping to hear that. She is very sweet.

 

I think she's about 14 weeks. There is a huge size difference between the six. Three are brash, lively, and at least twice her size, then we have the three small ones of which Plop is the smallest.

 

They are all very close to one another though and there seems to be no excluding the smaller ones from food. They just patiently wait their turn. When I tried to separate out the three smaller ones thinking to give them more space and easier access to food , there was a riot from both groups- so they are back together!

 

Tricia

[Jools]

Patricia, sorry to hear that. Terry Beebe is one of the foremost breeders of Polands somewhere in the depths of my memory I remembered that crested breeds are prone to something or other so I just googled his website.

 

www.beebepolands.com then go to The Science of Polands and scroll down to Cerebral Hernia. I hope it isn't, but it's best to be aware of the possibilities I think. Make sure you keep us posted and good luck

[Redwing]

Polands are prone to ear infections apparently

 

Check her crest for mites too just in case as they are prone to mite problems too

 

anything they arent prone to I wonder?

[Patricia W]

Thanks Redwing- my original ones are very healthy, it seems to be this second batch I got from a breeder some distance away.

 

I've brought her and a sister in to make sure she's getting Baytril and food. She seems to be eating alright but she does twitch!

 

I'll keep you posted.

 

Tricia

[Patricia W]

Hmm, very good article. The symptons match.

 

It says the Cerebral Hernia symptons can " can occur with a respiratory condition. The immune system can respond to the invasion of bacteria or a virus by producing more fluid with similar results. "

 

 

I hope it's that. Otherwise, it looks as though a cortisone injection may be the only possibility.

 

Tricia

[Patricia W]

I think we ARE back to the vets tomorrow.

 

Plop has been on Baytril all week ( although to be quite honest, I'm not sure how much she has had). She spins and cheeps pitifully when she first gets up, and then seems to calm and is better during the day. I had her and a friend in all day recently just to observe her and she was eating for England.

 

So, I'll take the Beeb article with me and we'll see what he says. As long as she is not in pain, I don't mind a nodding, spinning Poland!

 

Tricia

[sandyhas3chucks]

I have to say that I personally think that vets giving us antibiotic to put in the water is pants!

whenever mine are ill, they go right off food and water, so what is the point?

I can understand that in big flocks but even then you would be medicating healthy with poorly.

If it were mine i would request either a shot 1st tommorrow and/or baytrill for syringing.

Have to say all the vets I have seen have done this the only exception was the recommendations from Retford(which was to put in the water)

My vet worked out the correct direct dose for her in that instance.

Good luck

[Patricia W]

Mine weren't off their food or water at all - it was really a " just in case" to do all 6 as I'd had Phillip and Dusty with respiratory problems. So I know they were all getting some, but Plop is a bit slow in coming forward so I'm not sure she got as much as she should.

 

Anyway, we'll see how she is tomorrow. Fingers crossed, it is either treatable or containable.

 

Tricia

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

The couple of times we've been given ABs by the vet they've given us syringes to dose them orally. It seems the best way. You know they're getting the measured dose. But then we've only had to do one at a time, not the whole flock.

[Jools]

It very much depends on what the vet thinks the problem might be and whether it could affect the rest of the flock or not. Medicating them all is sometimes the best option.

 

Good luck tomorrow Tricia.

[Patricia W]

I've just got back from the vets with Plop. He agrees it is most likely the cerebral hernia and probably triggered by the respiratory infection they all had. She obviously as a weakness. He tells me he has seen it in some dog breeds too.

 

We've agreed to try the cortisone so he's given her an injection and I'll monitor her over the next day or two. If it helps, I may have to keep medicating her, but he tells me I could do it with ground up pills which are " pennies".

 

If it doesn't work, then I have the option of him doing the deed, or taking her to a friend who has done the culling course ( which I must do, I now realise).

 

So not necessarily good news, but thank you so much for helping with the diagnosis. This condition is a risk in all crested breeds apparently, although rare. Silkies and Polands mainly.

 

My " guaranteed " girls are now reducing - probably with Plop and this morning Tina Turner crowed and so is now Ike! I'm also getting suspicious about 2 of the others...... You do learn a lot with chickens!

 

Tricia

[Daphne]

Tricia - very sorry to hear this. I think you've had bad luck with this bought-in batch and I suggest you let the breeder know. I don't know if the condition is hereditary, and it sounds like the vet thinks circumstances have played a part in poor Plop developing it (although if she's a bit stunted so to speak then that doesn't augur well either) but even so the breeder might want to consider if they want to continue using the parents. If its not hereditary then of course there's no problem but even so, the breeder should be alerted to the fact that this rare condition has occured.

[Jools]

Unfortunately it's not that rare in crested breeds and the only thing breeders can do is breed for strength, i.e. culling and only breeding from their strongest stock. It does suggest only buying these breeds from the very best breeders who've done just that rather than well meaning amateurs.

 

Hope it works out for you Tricia. Poor wee thing.

[Daphne]

Just to say again that personally I think you've had bad luck - this problem is known about but it is rare (in the sense of being uncommon rather than anything like unique) and I wouldn't want to put anybody off having polands because of it. Jools is quite right - you do want to be happy that your breeder knows what they are doing and only breeds from healthy stock, but I would also be aware that incidences are likely to be higher amongst highly bred or interbred birds with their smaller gene pools.

 

I'd take her back with Philip and see what the vet says. Good Luck.