Knemidokoptosis in parrots: treatment of an insidious disease that affects the skin and areas around the beak and cloaca
Knemidocoptosis is one of the most common diseases of budgerigars. According to statistics, every 10th feathered friend suffers from it. Also, this ailment is called parrot scabies or spongy beak - this is due to the fact that often the area around the pet's beak begins to suffer from it, first of all. At the same time, the parrot is worried about constant itching, white growths appear on the affected areas, which are unpleasant in appearance.
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What is knemidokoptosis in birds
Knemidokoptosis in birds can proceed in different ways: both in a mild form and in a severe one if the disease is started. The sooner treatment begins, the greater the chance of a full recovery.
Diagnosis of knemidocoptosis
Only an ornithologist (in a veterinary clinic or at home) can accurately diagnose the disease. To do this, specialists examine the bird, and also make a scraping from its skin for examination in the laboratory. All this is necessary to distinguish knemidokoptosis from other diseases and mechanical damage and to correctly prescribe treatment.
Stages
In total, there are 4 stages of knemidokoptosis. And the sooner treatment begins, the more likely it is that your budgerigar will live a full life upon recovery.
| Stage | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| 1st stage | In some birds it goes unnoticed. The symptoms are mild, but an attentive breeder can see a slight white coating around the pet's beak. |
| 2st stage | At this stage, the bird already clearly shows that it is sick. The plaque becomes more noticeable, the beak and paws may be affected, the parrot may be bothered by itching. |
| 3th stage | Growths cover the entire or almost the entire infected area. The areas around the eyes and around the cloaca, cere, paws suffer. Beak deformity may begin. |
| 4st stage | The most severe and intractable. The parrot begins to lose feathers and the mites spread to the skin of the body. Possible necrosis of the limbs, claws may fall off. |
Treatment of knemidokoptosis at home and in the clinic
It is more correct to treat knemidokoptosis with medicines suitable for birds. But there are situations when the right medicine is not at hand and you have to turn to folk remedies. Luckily, parrot mange is treatable in both ways.
Medication
To treat the affected areas, purchase a thin watercolor brush and one of the following preparations:
- Aversectin ointment (produced in Russia)
- Avermectin ointment (production - Belarus)
- Novertin ointment (Ukraine)
- Vaseline oil or boric vaseline (if you could not buy any of the ointments)
At the initial stage, it is necessary to treat the affected areas with a brush once every 1-3 days, and with advanced disease - every two days until recovery.
Aftermath
With timely treatment, the pet will quickly be able to return to a full life. The main thing is not to start the disease to such an extent that it becomes difficult to help the parrot. Therefore, if scabies is suspected, it is advisable to contact a specialist without delay.
Prevention
To avoid infection with knemidokoptosis, you need to follow a number of rules:
- Pay attention to bird nutrition: use high-quality feed, do not forget about vitamins and minerals.
- Keep the cage clean and keep your pet hygienic.
- Since most infected birds are found in pet stores, new pets, cages, and cage contents should be treated when you bring them home.