Gapeworm

[KellyAnnBarbato]

Hello! So I have an old hen probably 5-6 years old, this past spring she started open mouth breathing and kinda weezing. I’ve treated her with different things all summer, Tylan , vetrx, a natural respiratory mix, nothing was helping. Oh and head shaking and no discharge . So then i decided to treat for gape worm . I got panacur horse wormer which is Fenbendazol (sp???) treated her for 5 days. It appears she’s improving finally, hanging with the flock eating good ect….. but she is still stretching her neck and open mouth breathing. I treated her September 5-9 . Should I treat her again???
Thank you for any advice, all other birds are fine

 

[Kiki]

Hello! So I have an old hen probably 5-6 years old, this past spring she started open mouth breathing and kinda weezing. I’ve treated her with different things all summer, Tylan , vetrx, a natural respiratory mix, nothing was helping. Oh and head shaking and no discharge . So then i decided to treat for gape worm . I got panacur horse wormer which is Fenbendazol (sp???) treated her for 5 days. It appears she’s improving finally, hanging with the flock eating good ect….. but she is still stretching her neck and open mouth breathing. I treated her September 5-9 . Should I treat her again???
Thank you for any advice, all other birds are fine

It's probably not gapeworm. Much more likely she is having trouble breathing. What does her belly area feel like compared to others?
Is it full and hard or full and squishy?

 

[Eggcessive]

Usually a 5 day treatment is enough for all worms except tapeworms, but since we recommend a follow up one time dose after 14 day on some treatments, it won’t hurt her. I have asked @dawg53 about this before and he says it is not necessary.

I agree she may not have gapeworms, but some types of worms can affect breathing. A respiratory disease from a virus, bacteria, or a virus also might be possible. Usually with a bacterial disease one would see eye bubbles or foam, or mucus from the beak. With gapeworm chickens may have trouble eating or drinking because they are gasping so badly.

As Kiki recommended look at her lower belly to see if it is enlarged which could be ascites fluid (water belly.)

 

[KellyAnnBarbato]

It's probably not gapeworm. Much more likely she is having trouble breathing. What does her belly area feel like compared to others?
Is it full and hard or full and squishy?

No it’s normal