Deworming

[jusdeb]

Well since we control everything else that goes on in the day to day being of caged birds it just seems normal to worm them every 3 months ( my opinion ) .

We line the dogs up , the birds up and even the ferrets and all get a worm out . When the kids were home they copped it too .

Only time this is put off is when its too hot .

[Fincho162]

Mighty fine plan........but think my dog is about to leave home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MadHatter]

Good points both Fincho and Myzomela. Fincho, thank you for your point about the potential that wild birds may be self-medicating. I had not considered that previously and it is certainly an interesting hypothesis. I do agree that in our aviaries, due to their restricted area, we do get an unnaturally high environmental oocyte (egg) load and higher transmission rates as a result. I do maintain that regular faecal screening and targeted administration of medication when parasite loads approach unsafe levels is best practice, however I completely agree that for most people this approach is impractical. Certainly if I had a sizable flock myself in outdoor aviaries, I would absolutely do a regular preventative worming treatment because it is cheaper, less labor intensive and similarly effective.

[VR1Ton]

Thought I'd stir the pot a bit more & ask those who have had losses using Avitrol (or other levamisole products), wich I have not experienced, if any were ever tested for toxicity or was it just linked back to the worming. Just asking, because when I use to worm my parrots with Panacur (fenbendazole), wether it be by crop or by seed, I would add 1 drop of Combantrin suspension (pyrantel) per ml of Panacur. This was done because if a heavy worm load was present, they would congregate(for want of a better word)in the gut/bowel, & bowl compaction/obstruction could occur & the ultimate death of a bird wormed with straight Panacur would result. The combantrin would 'scatter' the worms allowing easy passing for the bird. Finches being a small bird, could this be the reason for deaths related to the levamisole products, & not the product itself ?

[Fincho162]

Alas no not for Avitrol Plus.........the birds drink and then die and have seen them lying around the water bowl - and for the record , yes, it was the correct dose in clean water - and, as you'd know, compaction aint that quick!!!!!

Seen it in Jackies.........heard of it in Red strawbs, red & blue parrotfinches & pytilias from very reliable sources.

Did ask company...........maybe not surprising but they never bothered to reply..........

Still use it drop-wise through a crop needle and never had a problem but never in water............maybe its related to the suspension medium.......the red colour???

[gomer]

Avitrol plus I have had losses with plumheads and blueface using it in water,Mind you once it was a warmish day,But it didnt effect the other birds. And it was not a once off having losses with it. I still also use it somtimes in the crop needle with no losses.

[Myzomela]

Thought I'd stir the pot a bit more & ask those who have had losses using Avitrol (or other levamisole products), wich I have not experienced, if any were ever tested for toxicity or was it just linked back to the worming.

I know of one confirmed case in princess parrots which became ill and died after being crop dosed with a levamisole-based wormer. Toxicity was confirmed on histopayhology and to the company's credit the breeder was compensated.

Have personally experienced losses- one after crop dosing a perfectly healthy hen BFPF , and in another instance a group of saint helenas looked really unwell and one died after a friend had been treating with levamisole in the water for 3 days due to suspected dehydration rather than a direct toxicity.ie the birds wouldn't drink the treated water.

The combantrin would 'scatter' the worms allowing easy passing for the bird

Madhatter, this sounds like an old wives' tail to me. Who told you this? No disrespect intended but both products work by killing or paralysing the worms, they can't "scatter" them. If the worm burden is high and they all die at once then there is a real risk of blockage. I can't see how combantrin will help this. In heavy burdens I know of cases wher lowering the dose of fenbendazole initially has meant a lower kill rate initially, meaning that with repeated dosing over time ( several days-1 week) you can safely eliminate the burden.

[Myzomela]

Sorry Guys,

I realise now that the quote attributed to Madhatter was made by VR1Ton- apologies to both parties!

[VR1Ton]

"scatter" was for want of a better word, wether the product is slower acting or what I don't know, but this was advised by a vet experienced in birds, but not actually a bird vet. Also had 3 experienced parrot breeders advise the same thing, I'll dig around my paper work to see if I can find the info I was given on it from a freinds wife after he died.

[jusdeb]

Have actually seen the combantrum mixture mentioned in another parrot forum as a way to ease compaction of worms in heavily infested birds .