AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

Hi all, A couple of months ago my chook developed an infection in her left eye. I couldn't see the eyeball at all. There was very little pus, but a lot of watery fluid she kept wiping on her flanks. She was obviously uncomfortable and the whole eyeball area swelled up to the size of a small marble. I kept washing it with saline solution and eventually a fairly hard yellow lump showed. I managed to push a fair amount of it out and the infection, or whatever it was, cleared up. Her eyeball 're-surfaced' though the iris is cloudy and she doesn't react to movement on that side of her head so I don't think she sees much, if anything, from her left eye. However she seemed healthy and happy, eating and laying normally so all good.
About 4 weeks ago I noticed the same symptoms developing in her right eye. I started washing immediately, this time applying colloidal silver twice a day. She also stopped eating so I force fed her some oats and yoghurt and water. Her eye hasn't swollen up and the eyeball is still clear though pushed back by another similar yellowish lump. I've pushed the lump gently, but it won't dislodge and I'm nervous of damaging the eyeball. She's eating on her own again and very very chirpy/clucky (struggles and clucks as she doesn't really like having her eye washed) and her poops appear normal. I'm still keeping her isolated to protect her from the other chooks and because her depth perception is distorted.

I've been advised on another forum to treat her with denagard, a broad spectrum antibiotic. I've checked a couple of places locally, but they've never heard of it. Is it possible to get it or a substitute in Australia without a prescription from a vet?
I would actually prefer not to use an antibiotic without knowing what I'm treating. Has anybody experienced something similar?

Yes, the swelling eventually causes blindness if left untreated. The swelling is usually the result of a respiratory disease.
I treat my birds with Oxymav 100 as soon as I hear the sneezing, gurgling, coughing amongst the flock. You'll probably see some cheesy looking deposits down her throat as well, along with a smelly breath.

Thanks, but there's no sign of respiratory disease in the rest of the flock (7 other chooks and 2 ducks) or this one. I've checked down her throat and it's all clear and no smell. She is losing weight even though she is eating. Her crop feels hard and full, but it's a bit off centre so I'm not sure it is her crop anymore. Thoroughly confused. Appreciate the support.

Hi Fothers,

I agree with Purefeather.

The yellow lump is likely to be hard pus- birds' pus tends to be hard rather than liquidy as in mammals. The fact that it has now appeared in the other eye suggests a sinusitis or an upper respiratory infection. Sometimes the other typical signs eg coughing, sneezing, discharges may only appear subtly or not at all. This bird is almost certainly a carrier and as such you may help to stop the progression of the disease with medications but are unlikely to ever totally clear the bird of the disease.

Antibiotics will not get rid of the hard yellow material. This needs to be expressed out or else removed surgically- a job for the vet.

Be careful of getting medical advice from overseas forums as they have different drug names and different drug registration laws. Denagard is the American trade name for the drug tiamulin. There are other drugs available here and purefeather's suggestion of oxymav 100( oxytetracycline is the active ingredient) is a good starting point but it is a prescription antibiotic so you'll need to take the bird to a vet to get some. Oxymav B- a less concentrated antibiotic, does not need prescription. Some of the better stock agents or rural supplies will stock this or a similar tetracycline-based antibiotics. Otherwise take it to the vet, who will be able to supply a wider range of treatment options.

Good luck

Parvo

Even better advice from Parvo, Fothers. one thing I'd like to add is that if you know your veterinarian fairly well , as I do, you won't have to take your bird in. All I do is ask the folk on the counter to order some Oxymav 100 in and within two days or so I receive a phone call to let me know that my birds medication has arrived.
There's no harm in asking. Except to your birds if you don't ask.

Thanks so much for the brilliant advice. Tried getting some Oxymav B or equivalent at a chemist today, but no luck. Didn't really expect to, but nothing ventured nothing gained I'll see what if I can get it from the vet without taking her in, but might have to visit - worth it, if it prevents the problem spreading to the rest of the flock.
Merry Christmas.

A place like Murray Goulburn co-op or similar would be a better chance than a chemist (chemists are for humans not livestock). Again I would favour Oxymav 100.