Metronidazole is a popular and effective drug whose purpose is to combat harmful microorganisms. The product is common among poultry farmers and is actively used to treat poultry infections. The drug is effective in eliminating parasites in the body and preventing the death of birds. Let's look at the mechanism of action of the drug and figure out how to use Metronidazole correctly and with the best effect to treat chickens.
Composition and release form
The main active ingredient included in the product is an antibacterial component, which has the same name as the drug itself - metronidazole. Excipients are cellulose, calcium stearate, starch.
They are designed to speed up the effect of metronidazole on harmful bacteria.
The drug is produced in tablets weighing five hundred milligrams; one package can contain a different number of tablets - from one hundred to a thousand. In addition, there is a product option in the form of capsules, suppositories, powder and ointments. However, for birds it will be most acceptable to use a tablet form of release, as well as capsules or powder.
Mechanism of action
The principle of action of the drug is that it restores the 5-nitro group of metronidazole with the help of intracellular proteins in the body of the parasite. As a result, the reduced nitro group affects the DNA of the microorganism in such a way that the synthesis of substances in its cells slows down. This process leads to the complete death of the microorganism.
For best absorption and effectiveness, the product should be administered to the bird through the gastrointestinal tract, along with food.
Indications for use
The medicine should be given to chickens, laying hens and roosters to treat infectious diseases caused by exposure to parasitic protozoan microorganisms. These include diseases such as trichomoniasis, coccidiosis, and various infections caused by anaerobic bacteria.
Their action can be signaled by: the appearance of bloody diarrhea in birds, decreased appetite and increased fluid consumption, decreased physical activity and the desire of birds to stay closer to heat sources even at high air temperatures.
Instructions for use and dosage of the drug for chickens
To treat chickens with Metronidazole in tablet form, the tablets should be crushed and added to food, calculating the dosage. The medicine is given to the bird for three days in a row, twice a day. In some cases, the period of taking the medicine can be up to ten days.
If you use a powder form of the medicine, it should be diluted with water. However, due to the fact that the powder tends to settle at the bottom of the container, it must be given to the chicks through a pipette. The product is safe for birds, with the exception of rare cases when chickens are hypersensitive to some components of the drug.
Overdose
An overdose of the drug is signaled by symptoms such as vomiting, a sharp decrease in appetite and convulsive twitching in the limbs. If the dose is exceeded, measures should be taken immediately: gastric lavage, take enterosorbent. An overdose itself is possible when using the medicine in the form of tablets or powder, so you should carefully calculate the dose of the medicine per individual in order to avoid negative side effects.
Side effects
The main side effects that may occur when taking Metronidazole are a sharp decrease in appetite, loose stools, nausea, and allergic reactions. If you correctly follow the instructions for the drug and carefully follow the dosage, the risk of side effects is low.
If you violate the order of administration, for example, exceed the dosage, the birds may experience kidney or liver failure, which, in turn, will lead to the death of the chicken.If a bird experiences allergic reactions to the drug, contact a specialist to prescribe an analogue that is safe for birds.
Contraindications for use
The main contraindication when using Metronidazone to treat birds for infectious diseases, as mentioned above, is allergic reactions caused by the bird’s individual intolerance to the components of the drug, as with most other drugs.
This happens quite rarely. However, if you notice similar reactions in birds to the drug, you should select a drug with a similar effect, based on other components. To do this, you should consult a veterinarian.
Conditions and shelf life
The medicine package should be stored in a dry, warm place, protected from direct sunlight, at a temperature not exceeding twenty to twenty-five degrees Celsius. If the storage conditions are properly observed, the shelf life of Metronidazole will be twenty-four months from the date of release. Before using the medicine, you should consult a qualified professional to evaluate the symptoms of the disease, make a diagnosis, and prescribe treatment and dosage.
You should not prescribe treatment on your own; always, when symptoms of a poultry disease appear, contact a veterinarian, so as not to make a mistake and not spoil the condition of the bird’s body even more. Carefully follow the order of administration and dosage of the drug prescribed by your doctor.
The cost of the drug and where to buy it?
The price for a package of medicine starts from about twenty rubles, depending on the form of release and the amount of medicine in the package.You can buy Metronidazole at any pharmacy. The market offers imported options, as well as options from domestic manufacturers.
The composition of the medicine does not differ depending on the manufacturer, however, an imported medicine will cost more, since its price includes a surcharge for transportation.
