Tylan Powder Uses

Tylan is the brand name of a medication called tylosin. It is an antibiotic in the same family as erythromycin and also has anti-inflammatory properties. You can only get Tylan by prescription only. It comes as a soluble powder, a chewable tablet and by injectioln. Tylan is labeled for use in chickens, turkeys, pigs, and honey bees, although it is also commonly used "extra label" (not an FDA tested and approved use, but agreed to be safe and effective) in many other species, including dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, reptiles and pocket pets. Tylan seems to have just a few side effects.

  1. Use of Tylan in Livestock

    • Tylan is labeled for use in chickens with chronic respiratory disease.

      Tylan is approved for use in chickens to treat and control respiratory disease caused by mycoplasma bacteria, and in turkeys to help them to use their food efficiently and maintain their weight when they have contagious sinus infections. In pigs, Tylan combats severe diarrhea and inflammatory bowel disease. Give the medication in powder form mixed with the drinking water. Length of treatment depends on the condition being treated. You have a waiting period before any animal treated with Tylan can be slaughtered for food; 24 hours in chickens, 5 days in turkeys and 48 hours in pigs.

    Use of Tylan in Dogs and other Small Mammals

    • Tylan is most commonly given to dogs in powdered form, but it tastes bad.

      As an antibiotic, Tylan works in dogs and small mammals to treat certain respiratory and skin infections. As an anti-inflammatory, Tylan is most commonly used in small animals in the treatment of colitis (inflammation of the bowels) and the resulting diarrhea. You usually administer it in the powder form, which can be a problem because the powder has a very nasty taste. If an animal won't take the powder, you can administer the medication in specially compounded capsules, or as an injection given by the veterinarian. The injection can cause some local irritation at the site. Tylosin can cause allergic reactions in animals who have sensitivities to erythromycin or other antibiotics in that family.

    Use of Tylan in Honeybees

    • Tylan can be fed to honeybees to help control foulbrood disease.

      Another FDA approved use of tylosin is in honeybee colonies to control foulbrood. Foulbrood is a disease that affects the larvae of the bees when they're less than three days old. It can eradicate a colony. To treatt, mix a small amount of Tylan powder with a larger amount of confectioners sugar and feed it to the bees. The colony should finish with Tylan treatment at least four weeks before honey-producing season begins.

    A Cosmetic Use of Tylan in Dogs

    • Small, white dogs often experience tear staining on their face.

      A second use of tylosin in dogs, (particularly popular with owners of small, white dogs), is to treat and control tear stains on the fur around their eyes. For this use, owners give a flavored chewable tablet containing tylosin, called Angel Eyes, to their dog every day. The use of tylosin for strictly cosmetic purposes is controversial.Some have concern over the risk of creating bacterial resistances to certain classes of antibiotics with constant daily use. And because Angel Eyes doesn't list the amount of tylosin in the product on the label, there's additional concern over giving an individual unknown amounts of antibiotics every day.