How Quickly Does Albendazole Work?

[Egghead68]

All three of my girls have had mycoplasma for between 1-3 weeks.

 

I've had three trips to the vet and they have all been on Tylan injections (Mrs P has had two courses, the others one).

 

Unfortunately they continue to have symptoms one week since the last antibiotic dose although fortunately they are fairly mild (eye scratching, sneezing, mild lethargy and joint creaking). The symptoms went away initially on the antibiotics. Otherwise they are eating well, lively etc.

 

Has anyone any idea what I should do? The chicken vet has been away and the non-specialists I have asked are clueless.

 

As I see it the options are:

1. Another course of Tylan (but this hasn't helped in Mrs P's case)

2. Leave them and see if they recover on their own

3. Go to the vet's a fourth time and ask again for a change to a second type of antibiotic (Baytril? noroclav?)

 

Sorry for the long post.

[mimi5]

Oh dear I really feel for you as you may remember I have also had myco here in my classic group!!! So Polly perked up fine after one week of baytril, but I lost Mr Morris a few days after they finished.....could have been unrelated as he appeared not to have any symptoms and was a newbie But Tilly, who had symptoms first did a back slide and had another week of baytril and me bringing her in a night to "feed" her up before bed (Polly her sister bullies her and it's worse since we lost Morris!!!) Thankfully she seems on the mend now, but hasn't begun to lay....I guess she may never??

 

This is my second experience of myco and baytril has always worked, my vet seems to feel it's best for this kind of respiratory thing. Also, I always syringe it in to them as he feels it's the best way to be sure that they get a good dose.They are a worry I hope your gang pick up!!!!

 

Let us know how you go

[Egghead68]

Thanks Mimi. I do remember and I am glad Tilly is on the mend.

 

I have emailed the specialist vet to ask if he will prescribe Baytril on your recommendation. Fingers crossed.

[Redwing]

Baytril is better for Myco. I have used Denegard for minor respiritory problems though and was really impressed, it seemed to work quicker than Baytril and they were certainly more inclined to drink the medicated water

 

I'm not sure if Denegard is licenced for use on chickens though

[Egghead68]

Thanks Redwing. I can't get hold of the specialist vet but I will try to source some Denegard. I have had problems getting them to drink it before though.

[Egghead68]

OK they are now on 2ml per litre of Denegard in their drinking water. I will try to get extra in to them via grapes later on. Fingers crossed.

[Egghead68]

So far so good on the Denegard. I got home 15 mins before their bedtime and there was no sneezing, joint creaking or eye scratching in that time. Mrs P also seems to be coming back into lay.

 

Hope it continues ...

[mimi5]

Ah that sounds positive Let's hope the improvement continues and you get an egg soon too!!

[Monty14]

My Milly had a Baytril injection followed by Tylan syringed and also a powder form in water to counteract further outbreaks. She survived well for 2 yrs and went on to be a great layer and a real character. Sadly, I lost her earlier this year due to a throat tumour (identified by our excellent Avian Vet Richard Jones). I think the key is to find a vet who knows birds and remember some hens are hardier than others - some will survive Myco and others will give in. All you can do is what you can and don't blame yourself if you lose a chook.

[Egghead68]

Thanks Monty and sorry about your girl's tumour.

 

Fortunately my chickens seem pretty perky at the moment. They are currently screaming in unison wanting to be let out but as it is -1 here I would like to wait until it warms up a few degrees.

 

They are still sneezing or eye-scratching approx once per hour each but this is an improvement thanks to the Denegard. They do seem extremely reluctant to drink it. I am going to keep them on it for a few more days but try to syringe extra in to them.

[Egghead68]

I'm sad to report that Mrs P took quite a turn for the worse last night - it came on quite suddenly, straight after her marbocyl injection. She is now unable to walk without tripping over frequently and she spent most of today standing still. She had been doing fine before that and was laying well and generally chirpy.

 

Has anyone had any success treating mycoplasma synoviae?

 

So far she has had several courses each of tylan, denegard and marbocyl. The marbocyl ended yesterday and she is back on denegard and metacam again until I can get her to the specialist vets.

 

I will certainly ask the vet about baytril. I don't know why he has been reluctant to prescribe it so far.

[mimi5]

Oh no just caught up !! So sorry to hear this set back after things appeared on the up! As you will remember I have only ever used baytril and it has been very successful Dare I say it ...could you approach a different vet??

 

I have been having a really bad run with my Florence.......you may remember?? I haven't dare post on her yet, as when I was about to take her to be PTS she seemed to be improving! So hubby and I gave her a couple more days.......and she is better day on day I still worry as she is just a feather duster really........and who knows if she will make it through

 

Best wishes and keep us posted X

[Egghead68]

I have been wanting to ask about Florence, Mimi, but did not dare to. I am really pleased (fingers crossed) that she is picking up a bit. High energy budgie food and suet can be good for weight gain.

 

Anyhow - I just went to check on Mrs P and she was waiting outside the back door for treats! Because my garden is on a steep hill this means she has had to climb the equivalent of a one and a bit storey building!! I do not know what is going on as she has not been able to walk properly all day. Maybe the denegard has kicked in or something. She is still a bit unsteady going downstairs though.

 

I am going to get the first appt I can with the vet and press for baytril. If he won't prescribe it I will go elsewhere as you suggest.

 

All best wishes to Florence. X

[Egghead68]

The problems rumble on. They are pretty fine on antibiotics but after 5-6 days the symptoms return until I change to a different antibiotic. Each time the symptoms return they get worse. So far they have had tylan, denegard, marbocyl and karidox (multiple courses of each). They are now back on denegard.

 

The vet thinks there is insufficient penetrance of the antibiotics (i.e. the mycoplasma is hiding out somewhere they are not reaching).

 

He does not want to prescribe baytril as it is very similar to marbocyl but can't be injected (he says).

 

I have taken in a list of all other antibiotics that might work (basically 2 more classes I think).I am going to try a course from each class.

 

Any other ideas? I wondered about maybe mega-doses of the antibiotics or the possibility of combining multiple antibiotics.