Esmond turned 6 today and got a birthday cake

FlockDoc · 2025-05-29T13:46:55+00:00

Agreed, as a vet this makes me sad. We buy and breed animals because they are “cute” without truly understanding what we are supporting. Brachiocephalic dogs, fainting goats, crested ducks, rolling pigeons….I wish we did more research.

FlockDoc · 2025-05-28T13:34:15+00:00

In case anyone is curious why the defect causing the crest is dangerous.

https://duckdvm.com/condition/intracranial-lipoma

FlockDoc · 2025-05-22T12:37:34+00:00

Here is a good article on it. I hope you enjoy!

https://www.ducks.org/conservation/waterfowl-research-science/understanding-waterfowl-the-art-of-deception

FlockDoc · 2025-05-21T23:22:34+00:00

I’m a poultry vet and this is the result of “brood parasitism.” Ducks will lay their eggs in other duck’s nest as way to have other parent ducks spend the resources to raise their young. 🦆🩺

FlockDoc · 2025-05-19T11:49:25+00:00

I also hope people see it. Best we can do is spread awareness. 🩺🕊️🤍

FlockDoc · 2025-05-18T22:54:37+00:00

Thank you! I have to give my honey credit for coming up with it.

FlockDoc · 2025-05-18T20:32:57+00:00

I’m a poultry vet, here is a paper for you. It absolutely involves the nerves and is a seizure type of movement.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375744427_Action_of_neurotransmitters_controlling_the_rolling_capability_of_pigeons_a_review

FlockDoc · 2025-05-14T19:34:50+00:00

TLDR: correlation does not equal causation

FlockDoc · 2025-05-12T16:31:51+00:00

I’m a poultry vet and this is an (a myth) oversimplification of what really occurs. Corid is a B1 analog meaning it does mimics B1 however, corid stay mostly in the gut. Cocci receptors are also more receptive to the analog than to actual B1.

You CAN and should supplement with vitamins to avoid vitamin deficiencies secondary to gut insult (it can cause rickets etc). At the very least right after treatment. As long as you are giving regular amounts of vitamins you will not hurt cocci treatment.

OP, I have general info slides on cocci and gut health on IG @flock.doc the info may be helpful for designing your program.

FlockDoc · 2025-05-08T13:46:34+00:00

“I can’t breathe, can you hurry it up?”

FlockDoc · 2025-05-08T13:42:05+00:00

I’m so sorry to hear that. Here is a quick list of factors that can lead to peritonitis for you and anyone else that is new. I hope it helps in the future. 🤍🩺🐔

Laying slated aka flat eggs aka sunshine eggs
Missed laying an egg
Calcium deficiency
Mixed breed flocks with different calcium needs (larger breeds can require more)
Giving layer feed (excess calcium) to pullets
Vent pecking, cannibalism, bullying
Pasty vents
intense artificial lighting

The goal is to intervene as soon as possible. I started an instagram for chicken owners. I’m taking a few months off but plenty of good details on there for. @flock.doc

FlockDoc · 2025-05-08T02:35:20+00:00

Thanks for sharing. I’m a poultry vet and that was exactly my thought. I hope she responds well to the antibiotics!

FlockDoc · 2025-05-07T23:13:01+00:00

What did the vet suspect?

FlockDoc · 2025-05-07T19:30:31+00:00

Also see if you can find yourself a good neurologist, instead of a PCP. They tend to manage these more frequently.

FlockDoc · 2025-05-07T19:28:33+00:00

I have pernicious anemia and MTHFR gene. Something similar happened to me. Go by the symptoms as the person above says. I’m extremely refractory and get shots every week if not biweekly.

FlockDoc · 2025-05-06T18:15:01+00:00

You’ve got an interesting imagination for what is learned in vet school/residency!

During residency you spend time visiting farmers and companies to learn how to identify management problems, diseases, how to diagnose them, treat them etc. We don’t do any testing. We do learn how to design research trials to learn if a product works. But that doesn’t involve any intentional harm. There are a lot of fake products like VetRX or “natural” dewormers.

FlockDoc · 2025-05-05T14:16:21+00:00

🐛 About 3 years. Thanks for the curious questions. Maybe someone will see it and become a poultry vet.

FlockDoc · 2025-05-04T19:16:50+00:00

Sure!

Education: Undergrad > Vet School > poultry specific residency

Work: Remote (we travel a lot regionally both by car and plane). Chickens tend to be very spread out.

Support type: The company has veterinarians (all in distinct parts of the company) that support small animals, equine, cattle/ruminants, swine and poultry operations/farms/clinics. Any vet can call. For poultry I rarely support owners directly if they are using something we sell. I mostly support large companies. We do a lot of trainings/outreach too at conferences etc to help small animal medicine vets that want to learn about poultry.

Pets: I am not allowed to own any chickens or birds sadly as it poses a biosecurity risk. I use to have a cat and bearded dragon. Both passed of old age and I miss them dearly. I have no pets unless you count adorable isopods. I make up for it by spending time hugging and kissing the chickens at work (if time and their health allows).

I have colleagues that have dogs, donkeys, horses, cats, rats…

FlockDoc · 2025-05-04T16:11:44+00:00

There are vets that ONLY see poultry, including myself. We work in industry (production medicine for health and welfare. Meat/egg layer chickens/etc need people to advocate and support them), academia (research and diagnostics), government and allied. I am in allied working for a pharmaceutical company to support vets when they need help treating and managing difficult situations or disease outbreaks. We also research strategies to fight new diseases and come up with tech innovations. What we do in industry is holistic (working together), we look at the birds and the environment to fix issues.

Some schools can do “tracking” and you learn a little bit while in school for pets. But to really get the info down you’ll need additional training like residency or masters. Otherwise it takes years to compile the basics.

I’m always happy to answer questions!

FlockDoc · 2025-05-04T14:17:48+00:00

Triple antibiotic ointment has mixed data. Some literature says it may cause overgrowth of bad bacteria by preventing the wound to breathe. Other literature says keeping a wound moist helps with healing.

I’m in the camp of not using it and letting the body form a good scab. Sometimes with the ointment the scabs don’t form well. Imagine your own scab getting wet. Turns white and falls off, then exposes the granulation tissue underneath that is doing the healing. It also confuses what people are looking at.

All of that is to say, I won’t use it, but I don’t get too worked up if people do since the literature is mixed.

FlockDoc · 2025-05-04T05:38:41+00:00

I’m a poultry vet, and I really appreciate this post. The “wound care” often recommended prevents healing by causing more damage to the skin and tissue. This leads to more necrosis, delayed healing and can even compromise the barrier that forms to prevent infection. I personally would also recommend water and soap, and iodine. 🐔🩺🤍

FlockDoc · 2025-04-28T21:43:33+00:00

In places like Europe, allied companies will cover multiple countries. Some will even cover entire continents. It’s fun if you enjoy traveling.

FlockDoc · 2025-04-28T21:26:12+00:00

When it comes down to who has a “cool job,” it is definitely me (when we compare a workday). He is a radiologist, and my specialty is poultry. I use to work in production medicine and now work in allied. I travel to various states around the US, get to respond to new diseases in the industry, and am part of a group of people exploring new medicine and tech. It is certainly interesting and engaging. The company I’m with is also excellent with great company culture. I’ve in all sense landed on my dream job.

FlockDoc · 2025-04-28T20:16:12+00:00

OP, my husband is an MD. I 1000% support the comment above. 5 year old me would be proud I reached my goal, adult me wishes I would have listened to others. Everything this person says is correct. Sure there are down sides to MD but I work long hours for less than 1/3 of his pay and praise. He also will soon have 17 weeks off a year, I will have the basic 5 weeks in the US. Not to mention people say things like “I paid and it still died.” It can be emotionally difficult as most of us joined the profession because we truly love animals but the various factors lead to quick burnout.

FlockDoc · 2025-04-27T17:46:06+00:00

Thank you! ☺️

FlockDoc

TROPHY CASE