Oral canker in a Chicken

RE: Oral canker in a Chicken

Kate Richardson — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 18:00:35 GMT

Happy to be criticised in this instance if it helps me learn! My onlyand poor defence is I don't see many chooks. In hindsight I should have taken samples, but a) didn't think about it and b) owner didnt want to spend a huge amount. I think I'll advise taking a look at the other chooks to see if anything similar and potentially getting samples if I do. Thanks guys

RE: Oral canker in a Chicken

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 17:39:54 GMT

I'm not criticising the OP, nor trying to outdo Marie (as if I could!) but the post-mortem findings don't sound so very definitive. I don't think you can be sure it's trichomoniasis without seeing Trichomonas on a wet smear.

I'd guess it's quite likely to be an advanced chronic mycoplasmosis (Mycoplasma gallisepticum) (what were the sinuses like?) in which case it would not be a bad idea to treat the rest with tylosin, or tiamutin (Denagard). It will still be present at a low level though. The only way to eradicate it totally from a flock would be to kill them all.

By all means shoot me down, I'm no expert.

RE: Oral canker in a Chicken

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 17:26:42 GMT

[quote user="Marie Kubiak"]Metronidazole is on the banned medicine list so cannot be used in chickens[/quote]

Ooooo...fair enough.

[quote user="Marie Kubiak"] This doesn't leave any treatment options but generally canker like lesions turn out to be something else when a quick cytology is done.[/quote]

That's what I've found.....hence why I've never medicated for it. (Does that get me an 'out'? )

RE: Oral canker in a Chicken

Marie Kubiak — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 17:08:39 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

[quote user="Sarah Wheadon"]Chicken Vet advice is that the most effective treatment is metronidazole which is not a permitted substance, so the owners would not be able to eat the eggs from the hens. [/quote]

Surely you would just use the standard egg withdrawal then?

[quote user="Sarah Wheadon"]Better to concentrate on husbandry as it's transmitted by drinking water.[/quote]

Although preventing further spread is important, oral trichomonas is awful and birds can just starve/asphyxiate. You have to treat or cull if there is already clinical disease- no?

[/quote]

Metronidazole is on the banned medicine list so cannot be used in chickens, as is Ronidazole. Although not named as banned Carnidazole is also not on the allowed list so use would be hard to defend. This doesn't leave any treatment options but generally canker like lesions turn out to be something else when a quick cytology is done.

Marie

RE: Oral canker in a Chicken

Sarah Wheadon — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 17:08:14 GMT

Well, apparently you can treat them effectively with metronidazole on an individual case basis, but as it is a non-permitted drug, there is no egg withdrawal, so you cannot safely advise the owners when to start eating eggs again. High dose OTC is also said to be effective. Wouldn't want to give either as prophylaxis, which was the question. I was commenting on drug use for the rest of the flock rather than the affected individual. Treat or cull for those, definitely.

RE: Oral canker in a Chicken

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 16:59:53 GMT

Surely you would just use the standard egg withdrawal then?

[quote user="Sarah Wheadon"]Better to concentrate on husbandry as it's transmitted by drinking water.[/quote]

Although preventing further spread is important, oral trichomonas is awful and birds can just starve/asphyxiate. You have to treat or cull if there is already clinical disease- no?

RE: Oral canker in a Chicken

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 16:56:54 GMT

Trichomonas does tend to spread via drinkers, feeders etc. Can't think I've seen it in a hen tbh but I guess I'd reach for the metronidazole.

Might be best to get a couple of its friends in and check it is, before treating them all. Are they layers?

RE: Oral canker in a Chicken

Sarah Wheadon — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 16:56:38 GMT

I would say not. Chicken Vet advice is that the most effective treatment is metronidazole which is not a permitted substance, so the owners would not be able to eat the eggs from the hens. Better to concentrate on husbandry as it's transmitted by drinking water. Ensure wild birds, particularly pigeons have no access to the water and check that food and water is provided fresh daily, with remains from the day before discarded.