Ticks in parrots: treatment and prevention

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Parrots are the most mysterious exotic birds that experts are still studying. The diseases that these little songbirds suffer from are so diverse that even an experienced veterinarian is not immediately able to make an accurate diagnosis. Even so, parrots are gaining more and more popularity among breeders. Therefore, each owner should know the main diseases that an exotic bird suffers from. One of them is parrot mites, which are not visible to the eye, but cause great damage to the he alth of feathered pets.

General information

The tick is a parasite that attacks not only birds, but also animals and humans. In scientific terms, the tick is knemidokoptosis, which has not yet been fully studied. This is an insect that reaches a size of 0.5 mm. The body of the parasite is round in shape with a gray-yellow color. Like all parasites, the main source of nutrition for these crumbs is the epidermis. On it, the females layeggs, making indentations in the skin.

The life cycle of parasites reaches one month. By the time of his death, the larvae reach adulthood and continue to live on the skin, causing a lot of inconvenience to their carrier. Therefore, if ticks were found in a parrot, then measures must be taken immediately, until the disease has reached disastrous consequences.

Reasons for appearance

To cope with the disease in time, you need to know exactly why ticks appear in parrots. There can be a great variety of infection factors, therefore, having discovered an illness, you should not become discouraged and self-flagellate.

The he alth of a bird can be affected by factors such as:

• lack of vitamins;
• stress;
• bad containment conditions;
• infection of birds from other birds;
• poor quality food;
• infected foliage and tree branches;
• raw cell and attributes.

To keep your pet he althy, you need to pay attention to even the smallest things, any manifestation of symptoms should be stopped immediately after detection.

Symptoms

Ticks in parrots do not pose a big threat if they are detected in time. The pet owner needs to carefully observe the behavior of the pet.

It is thanks to the analysis of well-being and general appearance that parasites can be identified and timely treatment can begin. General characteristicsthe presence of parasites is:

• Itch - the parrot is in a constant quest to scratch, sometimes it comes to wounds that the bird inflicts on itself.
• Lack of appetite.
• Sleep state.
• Skin peeling and dryness.

Also, do not forget that each type of tick carries a special damage. There may be skin growths, loss of plumage, sneezing and coughing, redness of the eyes, mites on the beak of a parrot can cause deformation and prevent the bird from eating.

Types of ticks

• Feather mites. They are quite rare, but carry a serious danger. The parasite feeds on particles of the epidermis and feather down. This leads to the loss of feathers, and the bird has every chance of becoming bald. Such a tick is not easy to notice, but you can pay attention to the general condition of the surface of the feathers and, as mentioned above, the constant scratching of the feathered body.
• Scabies mite. This parasite is localized on the skin of the feathered epidermis and, like the feather parasite, actively feeds on skin particles and parrot blood. Attacks occur at night, which keeps the pet awake. The affected areas are usually covered with growths and crust. The bird looks emaciated and depressed.
• The parrot mite is similar to the feather mite. It is too difficult to determine its presence by symptoms alone, so a timely appeal to specialists will help to understand the diagnosis and begin treatment.
• The tracheal mite in a parrot causes constant sneezing and coughing. The feathered pet constantly throws its head back andbreathing heavily. Usually the bird simply refuses to eat or regurgitates food.

Stages of scabies mite disease

At first glance, it may seem that the most dangerous type of tick is the tracheal or feather tick in parrots, but this is not so. The scabies mite is the most insidious species of all parasites of this type.

The disease has several stages:

• 1 stage. Parasites are almost impossible to find. The feathered animal lives a normal life while the parasites settle into a new habitat. Therefore, the owner may notice the strange behavior of the pet only at the second stage.
• 2 stage. Gradually, new symptoms appear. Growths appear, the color of the feathered skin changes. The parrot sometimes scratches, but leads an active lifestyle.
• 3 stage. There is a general deterioration in well-being, weakness and fatigue appear. The tick infects the limbs and beak of the feathered one. The pet begins to itch before the appearance of abrasions and wounds. Feathers begin to fall out, and the paws become covered with a crust. At this stage, treatment should begin immediately and be sure to show the pet to the doctor.
• 4 stage. The pet is scary to look at. He is going bald, his beak is deformed, the parrot is very emaciated. This stage most often ends in the death of a bird.

Treatment

Tick in budgerigars, the treatment of which is best entrusted to specialists, responds well to modern drugs. Today, there are many ointments, such as: novertin, averse andavermectin. Also, the owner can try to smear the pet with vaseline ointment, but this is an extreme case if nothing else is at hand.

Preparations are sold in specialized veterinary pharmacies. When using ointments, it is also recommended to give a vitamin complex to boost immunity. We must not forget that everything that the parrot touches is also subject to special treatment, up to the complete recovery of the pet. For this, special tools, also purchased at a pharmacy, are suitable. It is better to show the feathered veterinarian for a quality selection of drugs. Treatment of parrots lasts until the complete disappearance of all symptoms.

Prevention

Tick in a budgerigar, a photo of the manifestation of the disease can be found in this article, quite insidious, but still it can be outwitted. Even if the bird has never been subjected to such an ailment, this is not a reason to let everything take its course, because no one is insured, even the cleanest and most well-groomed parrot can become a carrier of insidious parasites.

There are several rules that will help the owner avoid trouble:

• Don't bring "furniture" to the bird from the street. No sticks, twigs, pebbles or leaves.
• Food parrot must be of high quality. Unverified brands may add ingredients that birds do not need.
• Be sure to be attentive to the well-being of your pet. If the tick is detected in the early stages, then the treatment will be short and not so painful.

If you follow these recommendations, then the pet will always delight its owner with he alth and good mood.