Tick in a budgerigar: symptoms and treatment of a dangerous disease for the best result
Budgerigars, like other animal species, are susceptible to infection by various types of parasites. If left untreated, the disease can bring the bird to exhaustion, radically change its behavior and appearance. Ticks on the body of parrots go unnoticed for a long time, and the symptoms of the disease go unnoticed. In order to prevent irreparable consequences, each owner needs to know what the scabies mite and other types of pests look like on the body of a parrot.
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Ticks in parrots: sources and causes of infection
Many breeders mistakenly believe that if a bird is constantly in its cage and does not contact its relatives, there is nowhere for it to get infected. In reality, there are many sources of infection.
| Food | Special food for parrots can be contaminated even at the packaging stage, in addition, parasites can start in a food box if not stored properly. Greens, grass, fresh vegetables and fruits may contain larvae and eggs of mites. |
| Organic Toys | Various twigs, twigs, wooden items taken from the street can contain parasites, even if they are brought from clean places. |
| home furnishings | The overall cleanliness of the home also plays a role. Ticks can be brought on clothes, shoes, often parasites are brought into the house by other pets. |
Tick in parrots: varieties
Some types of ticks are very dangerous for parrots. They cause pathologies of the cornea, feathers and skin. In combination with lack of care, weakened health, ticks attack the bird, causing serious harm to its health.
Symptoms and risk of infection
Each type of tick harms the body of a parrot in its own way. Some change the condition of the skin, others can deprive him of plumage, and still others can disrupt the functioning of internal organs.
General symptoms
Common signs of bird infestation include:
- frizziness;
- loss of appetite;
- decreased activity;
- restless behavior, irritability;
- skin peeling;
- frequent scratching.
Pests can live in the body of a bird for 3 months and do not show their existence in any way. At the first stages of the development of the disease, the bird may experience only slight itching, the behavior remains normal.
For each parasite separately
Signs by which you can determine that the bird was struck scabies mite:
- change in the color of the beak and wax;
- wounds and cracks form in the corners of the beak, it is deformed, grows faster than usual;
- yellowish crusts form around the eyes;
- pores become visible on the skin;
- the scales on the paws become stiff, rise, the parrot tries to gnaw them, shifts from foot to foot;
- the appearance of gray growths on the paws, inflammation of the joints;
- the bird is itching furiously.
chimney tick also causes severe itching. The bird constantly moves along the perch, cannot find a place for itself. Other signs of infection with a tick mite:
- plumage loses its former volume and luster;
- feathers on the tail and wings break off and fall out;
- the parrot plucks feathers, tears the skin to blood;
- loss of appetite, weight loss.
If the parrot is infected tracheal tickthe symptoms are very specific:
- the bird constantly throws its head back;
- voice changes, hoarseness appears;
- secretion of mucus from the nostrils;
- difficulty breathing with wheezing.
As mentioned above, the tracheal mite is extremely dangerous for a parrot. Mucus and epithelium accumulate in the respiratory tract of the bird, as a result of which the external passages are filled. This leads to obstruction, suffocation and death of the animal.
Ticks that live off the body of parrots are not adapted to life on the human body, so these types of parasites do not pose a danger to humans.
Ticks in budgerigars: stages of the disease
It is customary for veterinarians to distinguish several stages in the development of acaridiasis in parrots. Below are the symptoms of each.
The process of treating poultry at home
If you suspect a parrot is infected with ticks, you should immediately show it to an ornithologist. Planning of any treatment is possible only after the establishment of the final diagnosis. The specialist will take a blood and feather test and, depending on the result, will decide whether treatment at home is possible.
Bird Quarantine
When the first signs of the disease appear, it is necessary to immediately move the parrot to another cage. If the bird had a partner, they need to be separated. The second pet will also need treatment, as most likely he is also a carrier of parasites, but the symptoms have not yet appeared.
The parrot should not be let out of the cage to fly around the room, because when the wings flap, the eggs and larvae of ticks will scatter around the room and become new sources of infection.
During bird quarantine, the following recommendations should be followed:
- carry out daily cleaning in the cage and change the litter;
- change water several times a day;
- do not leave uneaten food.
Necessary drugs
Drug treatment is prescribed exclusively by a doctor. Most often, specialists prescribe the following drugs:
- aversectin ointment for external use;
- ivermectin (ivermek, otodektin) - for external and internal use, the preparations have an insecticidal effect.
Folk remedies
As an adjunctive therapy, you can use folk remedies. There are the following recipes.
| Chamomile decoction | With a cool cooled broth, wipe the affected areas on the skin of the bird. This will relieve inflammation and reduce itching. |
| Vaseline oil | Twice a day, treat the lesions with vaseline oil. The method is powerless against parasite larvae, so relapses of the disease are possible. |
Pet handling rules
The treatment prescribed by a specialist is usually divided into 2 stages: external treatment and oral medication. When carrying out external processing of poultry, the following rules must be observed:
- Stick to the regimen, apply drugs at the same time. This is due to the fact that the active substances of medicines have their own period of action: too short an interval between applications can harm the bird's body, if too much time passes, the therapeutic effect may decrease.
- Ointments and gels should be applied to the affected areas in a thin layer, avoiding contact with mucous membranes. It is better to use cotton swabs as a tool.
- Liquid preparations or aerosols should be applied to the withers or the area between the wings.
- It is better to perform procedures during the period when the pet is the least active.
Recommendations for internal administration of drugs should be given by a doctor. The treatment regimen and dosage is selected for each bird individually.
Disinfection of the cage and accessories
Treatment in the clinic
Specialists and modern highly effective drugs can save the life of a parrot even in advanced forms of the disease. But even at an easy stage, you can seek help from veterinarians - they will show you how to properly carry out the procedures and give additional recommendations.
At a severe stage, the bird can be placed for treatment in a hospital, where specialists will perform the necessary manipulations: injections, droppers, surgery if necessary.
Prevention of tick infestation
As preventive measures for infection with ticks of parrots, the following measures can be distinguished:
- carry out regular cleaning and timely disinfection of the cage and inventory;
- do not bring sticks, twigs, etc. from the street;
- use only high-quality feed of well-known brands;
- pour boiling water over fruits, vegetables and greens;
- maintain quarantine for 3-4 months for new parrots.