This is bad

Why is it that every time things seem lovely and settled in our flock something comes along and rocks our boat!

This morning Freckles seemed her usual self but by lunch time I noticed that she was sitting dozing and her head was bobbing up and down. Alarm bells starting ringing within me. I remembered Caramel dozing while her head bobbed up and down.

Freckles was dozing all afternoon

Speckles sat with her and kept her company

Every time I checked on Freckles she was still sitting, dozing. That is not a good sign. I offered her a dandelion leaf to see if she would stand. She did but her head wobbled and then she wobbled. As she walked she wobbled to one side. That is exactly how Caramel was from the first day we had her.

I didn’t know then what it meant but I recognise these symptoms now. Caramel and then Pebbles had mycoplasma. Pebbles slept on the same perch as Rusty and Freckles but this was seven months ago. I treated the whole flock with baytril in the water for five days which should have offered them protection.

I panicked and put Freckles in the cat box with food and water. My first instinct was to separate her from the flock.

Freckles in the cat box in our dining room

I am terrified of this passing through my flock. By now it was time for me to go to my dentist appointment, hygienist and check up, booked six months ago. I had to keep the appointment and thought about what to do next while I was there.

I still have a course of tylan powder (I only needed half of it last time) and  liquid antibiotic (again I only needed half of it last time). What I wasn’t sure about is whether it is still good after seven months. I looked on the internet but couldn’t find out how long these medicines are good for.

I rang the vet to ask but was told by the receptionist that she would ask the vet and call me back. By now it was near closing time and I didn’t hear back. I rang again and got the out of hours receptionist who said she also didn’t know and that I should ring again in the morning. I realised that I would have to make a decision myself for now.

I decided to put the tylan in the water which needs to be replaced daily for five days. It should protect the whole flock. I decided to give Freckles the antibiotic. This should be given once a day for seven days. I know someone else who has been in a similar situation and was told by her vet that it was fine to use both.

I felt that I needed to act fast, as if I could treat it early this time, there might be a chance of nipping this in the bud. I will call the vet in the morning but I felt it was best to act straight away. I returned Freckles to the flock as I felt that I couldn’t keep her in a cat box for a week.

I am totally acting on instinct here. I am terrified of this passing through the flock. I have done what I can for now and I will call the vet again tomorrow. I can only keep everything crossed and watch the flock anxiously.