sandyhas3chucks Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 keep reading "my hen has diarrhea/ mucky bot, not quite right. I keep saying "send a sample" I have been quilty of not sending soon enough but i have now lost count of the times when Libby has saved my girls by getting a definitive answer to what is wrong and what treats it. Just now I have one with a poor prognosis on a liquidy diet and 2 with her with wet poos and one of the ok gorls with the odd wet milky and One with stinky... Soo easy to think it is due to the sloppy diet, or something else but that feeling that all is not right led me to whizz sample off Monday. ................. MODERATE brachy....!!! had I left it longer clearly would be more,. had I not sent it... Baytrill is ineffective... dead chooks???? nuff said dont mess about, send it off... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counturchickens Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Hi sandy, found your post! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Are you sure you are not on commission Sandy On a serious note though, you can take a sample in to your vets who have similar labs that they use for faecal analysis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Its a fine line to tread I wouldnt leave my dog sick for three days while I posted his poop to a lab, I'd get him to a vet I dont understand why people sit on the fence when their hen is sick, if people arent experienced enough to diagnose and administer treatment then they shouldnt leave it to suffer while they dither about vets fees etc.. I do think that sending off samples does have its place, as you refer to in your post they are useful if a hen just looks under the weather for example or has a mucky bum but otherwise quite well but I am not sure that many people have the experience to make the call as to whether then hen will be ok enough to wait for the results to come in and medication to arrive Never under estimate the uefulness of a proper poultry experienced vet - my vet is worth their weight in gold and I dont begrudge them a single penny, 90% of the time they can diagnose a disease quicker than the time it would take me to get a poop sample to the postbox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 ....I wouldnt leave my dog sick for three days while I posted his poop to a lab, I'd get him to a vet ... Same here ...also I would want a full clinical examination to be carried out in addition to any poo testing , which can't be done postally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Good points Redwing, sending samples can aid diagnosis but treatment is they key. You do also have to be aware that finding certain things in certain numbers in faecal samples does not necessarily mean that that is the source of the problem, they can be incidental findings. For example you could send a sample off and get a low, moderate or even high result on a worm egg count yet have a chicken with peritonitis or myco. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted July 8, 2011 Author Share Posted July 8, 2011 Commission good idea but I know someone with shares In flubenvet not all vets do do own tests.neither of mine do and samples get picked up by noon so unless you go dirst morning takes same time. My vet then can provide meds if they can. I totally agree but if same folks just don't go to vet despite that being advice given or due to dis interested vets that are posted about then at least they might send off samples. One of my brachy girls is also likely to be terminal with growth which clearly needed an Exam so I agree a good vet is a blessing. My neardst avian specialist Is over hour away but goodu interested vet can deal with most things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 I'd just like to add that although I'm glad I posted off samples to Retfords to get to the bottom of my girls problems, it took forever to receive the written report so that I could arrange meds. Over a week in fact, during which time I continually chased them up as I was worried about the condition of my girls deteriorating. When I finally received it, it had only been posted out second class. During this time, I'd sadly lost one of my chooks. It turned out that my vet didn't have the recommended drugs and I ended up having to get Retfords to supply them. Lots and lots of lost time... Most frustrating and in future, if I feel the need to use their service again, I shall ask for reassurance that they will post out first class! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted July 9, 2011 Author Share Posted July 9, 2011 ah.. what a shame you had not read earlier posts... but for all... you can ring for results. sent mine normal 1st class mail Monday, testing started Tuesday. Results by Thursday afternoon, though I "think" some... worm counts and maybe cocci?? take less time to culture.? You can then ring your vets to see if recommended drug is available but have always had meds needed from them posted that day and arrived next(despite Royal Mail). So sorry you lost your girl. that is why I tend to send soon as now.. generally I have a feeling all is not right then by the time I can phone them am starting to feel desperate for a result in order to take action. I don't know if Baytrill (most commonly given by vets for a cover all) buys them some time or not even if the bacteria you are going to treat is not affected by it?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 ah.. what a shame you had not read earlier posts... but for all... you can ring for results. sent mine normal 1st class mail Monday, testing started Tuesday. Results by Thursday afternoon, though I "think" some... worm counts and maybe cocci?? take less time to culture.? I had read the earlier posts- this all happened about three months ago. I did ring for results but I needed the written report to be able to present to my vet. It actually took a few different drugs in the end to knock out the brachyspira (hopefully... all still seem fine a month after last treatment ! I know it's a valuable service that they provide but my point was that it may be wise to specifically ask for first class postage for anybody else considering using them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 From my point of view, a thorough physical examination by a trained professional has to beat a test which may show certain features in isolation. Other factors may be the true cause of the illness, and need to be taken into account when establishing a diagnosis and these aren't addressed adequately by faecal testing alone. In fact, I'll go further than that and say that I am surprised that medicines can be dispensed on the basis of faecal testing alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 In fact, I'll go further than that and say that I am surprised that medicines can be dispensed on the basis of faecal testing alone. Me too, are Retfords giving out prescription drugs to animals 'not under their care'? How can they do that they have not examined them and they are not registered patients Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 I'm interested in this one too. to be honest, I would prefer to go to the vet (and we are lucky, our 3 branch practice has a 'chicken vet' in two branches). I can see the idea of sending off a sample, but I think it might be more useful for those with large (50+) flocks where something infectious could be disastrous. at my stage of chicken-keeping, I think I can see if they are not well and can make a judgement on whether its a case of short-term TLC and then vet if necessary, or immediate vet. I might not always be right; but sadly there is an economic factor to consider - what I would do for the dog or cats or rabbits (eg surgery) I would not do for a chicken. so if the chook was poorly enough for me to post a sample to someone, I would just short-circuit the process and go see a vet who could tell me whether medical action was worth a try or not - and actually we usually agree on this at the initial consultation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 I had to use Retfords as a last resort as my vet admittedly knows very little about chickens. I'd tried all sorts of other things but nothing was getting to the bottom of the problem. The good news for me though is that my vet and one of the practice nurses are going on a Poultry Health course in September! I'm hoping that I won't need to go elsewhere after that! I should add that I had to take my girl in to see the vet before she would supply the second lot of meds for me. Thankfully, she had the suggested drugs on hand that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted July 9, 2011 Author Share Posted July 9, 2011 my vet fax them a prescription. Another spoke to them directly for result and advice. And NO yes NO vets in a 15 mile radius Surrey keep the required drug to treat Brachyaspira,( a friend was ringiung around desperately just before Christmas) it cost £75 per Litre and they don't want to stock it and I know of 4 vets in Surrey that are happy that Retfords can supply in 100ml bottles. Always been sent 1st class. Geez am so sorry had a bad experience, I hate to hear of deaths..and that must have been distressing I would have been going demented!!! Lets just take Brachy & Cocci as an example. Hens can be VERY ill, the poo does NOT follow any pattern... ie does NOT always look like the photographic examples AS prevouisly discussed NOT always blood in feaces for Cocci. As we also are aware hens present much the same for many illnesses. Many many vets , even some experienced are taking a stab in the dark WITHOUT a sample being tested. BOTH the examples can and are fatal if not treated with CORRECT drugs ASAP. Baytrill the most commonly prescribed is in effective. My first dying girl had been treated with 3 different antibiotics and appeared to recover for a really good length of time in beteen before succombing again and on reading here or about Retfords I sent a sample. She had Kleibsella and sadly I lost her , whether I would have saved her or not had I got the right antibiotic is something I will always wonder. And never take that chance again. I think despite this I only just got my results back just in time this last time, my vaguely poorly girl was clearly more poorly as her recovery is well A M A Z I N G !!! My Vet and I are both pleased as punch as this is a 2 year 7 month released ex bats with an amazing lot of problems, and a very special friend to a very special even more disable than her hen... But I am truly blessed with my Vets . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 my vet fax them a prescription. Another spoke to them directly for result and advice. but does someone actually examine the bird? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted July 9, 2011 Author Share Posted July 9, 2011 oh yes... But then as I said I am blessed with my vets... no excessive charges as some folks do... Which does not make you too scared to go. TBH I would have less hens and treat them as I would Any pet by taking them to a vet when illm if cost became a consideration or not have them at all if I could not provide proper care for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 I think that what Beach Chick was saying above is the same as my philosophy - I'd take a sick hen to the vet and discuss options, but if it was going to mean surgery or lengthy treatment I might decide not to pursue it. That doesn't mean we don't care for our hens, it means we're not prepared to pursue treatment at any cost (and I don't just mean financial cost). Of course any sick animal should receive veterinary attention, and not be left suffering, but I will put my hand up and say that there's a financial limit to what I would spend on one of my hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 oh sorry was not replying to anything in particular. oops! Just I have heard of HUGE consults and not brilliant advice or knowledge some folks get. Am just very very lucky and privileged with my lot!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 I am another one that wont spend large amounts of money on getting a chicken treated at the vets and would spend more money to get my dog treated but my bugbear is the people that watch a hen suffer rather than pay an initial consultation, we have had threads on here where people have watched their chook fade away over a period of days and even weeks as if the hens life simply isnt worth the money, they wont even get it culled to put it out of its misery Its the ability to be decisive and practical that makes a good pet owner IMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 I completely agree. If a hen is sick and you don't know what it is/can't treat it then a trip to the vet is needed, there's no justification for letting any animal suffer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 I am another one that wont spend large amounts of money on getting a chicken treated at the vets and would spend more money to get my dog treated but my bugbear is the people that watch a hen suffer rather than pay an initial consultation, we have had threads on here where people have watched their chook fade away over a period of days and even weeks as if the hens life simply isnt worth the money, they wont even get it culled to put it out of its misery Its the ability to be decisive and practical that makes a good pet owner IMHO Yes, these posts break my heart I just want to get them and get them to a vet.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
