Best treatment for gapeworm?

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lilypad

lilypad

Chirping
6 Years
Aug 17, 2013
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UK
Hi there.

I'm sure two girls in my flock have gape worm, they're gaping, "snaking" their heads, rattle when they breath etc. It's been going on for weeks (although one hasn't had it that long, and has been quite poorly today).

They've been treated with flubenvet 3 (or maybe 4) times in the past 3 months. The last dose started last Saturday and was due to stop on Friday but I'm still continuing it as there's not been any improvement.

Can anyone help at all? My Orp has been quite poorly today, as if she was choking, and has barely eaten for a few days.

What else can I do?

Thank you x
 
I've read that Valbazen is the best dewormer if your birds have gapeworms. I believe that Safeguard can also work if you give it in a strong enough dosage twice.

I'm not so sure that your chickens have gapeworm. Gapeworm is relatively rare. You can tell for sure if they have gapeworm by swabbing their throats with a cotton swab (the worms will appear as thin red strings).

A respiratory infection might be the real cause. Respiratory diseases can cause rattling, head shaking, gurgling, sneezing, and coughing. Depending on the strain/severity of the disease, you might notice only a few symptoms, or lots of them. Just keep in mind that gapeworm is not the only problem that can cause the symptoms your birds are exhibiting.

Hope I've helped!
 
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A study shows that fenbendazole given at 20mg/kg 3 days in a row is effective against gapes, but I've never seen any info on the efficacy of albendazole (Valbazen) and gapes.

-Kathy
 
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lilypad said:
Hi there.

I'm sure two girls in my flock have gape worm, they're gaping, "snaking" their heads, rattle when they breath etc. It's been going on for weeks (although one hasn't had it that long, and has been quite poorly today).

They've been treated with flubenvet 3 (or maybe 4) times in the past 3 months. The last dose started last Saturday and was due to stop on Friday but I'm still continuing it as there's not been any improvement.

Can anyone help at all? My Orp has been quite poorly today, as if she was choking, and has barely eaten for a few days.

What else can I do?

Thank you x
Click to expand...
You mentioned that the symptoms have been going on for weeks. In addition you've given them flubenvet several times without improvement.
Most likely you're dealing with a respiratory disease. If your birds had gapeworms, they would be dead by now from suffocation. Additionally, flubenvet in high doses will kill gapes...it hasnt happened....again, most likely a respiratory disease. Also, gapes are rare in chickens.
 
Oh, I should have added, they were treated with 3 doses of ABs at the start (over the course of a month) with no change at all.

The only symptom is the gaping and rattle, other than that the other chicken who has this problem has been absolutely fine in herself, but my Orp seems to be struggling a bit.

They've been to different vets who are no help at all (chickens aren't common round here, and the vets don't seem to really care for them).

I'll try another wormer and see what happens, I have read that gapeworm can take a few doses to clear. The other hen with this problem seems to get better (no rattle) for a while, but then the rattle comes back.

Not sure what I'm meant to do x
 
dawg53 said:
Quote: Also I have seen gaping when it was a respiratory problem (aspergillosis). Gaping doesn't necessarily mean gapeworm as dawg53 said. I have never dealt with gapeworm. This could definitely be a respiratory disease (I don't have the knowledge to say it isn't gapeworm but wanted to chime in that gaping is seen with respiratory ailments also).
Click to expand...
 
Thanks everyone, but why wouldnt the ABs they were on in the first place not help? They had 20 days on baytril and a week on septrin, the vet said as there was no impovement at all then it's unlikely anymore will help and it's likely a different illness, and to try worming in case of gapeworm.
The first hen to get sick, come to think of it, must of had this problem for about 7 weeks and non of the other 6 hens have been sick until now. I thought with resp. Infections they spread like wildfire?

I guess another vet trip is in order, but what do I do as the ABs haven't made a difference?
 

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