FINCHforum

I got a new canary from a breeder at a fair two weeks ago. He has been in quarantine and looks great, but after reading more on airsac mites here (thanks for the sticky!) and elsewhere, I wonder if I should do a preventative treatment.

When he is done with quarantine, he will join a giant flight cage with several finches, including two Gouldians. I also wonder if I should just do a preventative treatment on all my birds.

My hesitation is that I have also read that the medication is very strong, and I don't want to harm any of them.

I am guessing that I would go with Ivermectin in the drinking water since my chances of catching zebras, societies, and Gouldians mulitiple times in a giant cage are not great.

Do you treat new birds before they finish quarantine, especially canaries and Gouldians?

Thanks!

Treatments vary, either oral or topical

Orals are s76, iverlux,Moxidectin (it also acts like a de-wormer except for tape, you will need a derwormer to cover tape). Moxidectin Plus covers mites and worms including tape.

Topicals include iveromec (ivermecin 1%) or scatt (moxidectin)

there is a debate about how effective orals are since they are placed in the water and some species do not drink as much or drink more than others. Oral ivermectin can be irritating on the throat and GI tract.

Topicals are skin absorbed into the blood stream.

Scatt says it stays in the body for 21 days but it does not remain at full strength for the entire 21 days and vets are seeing break through cases of mites.... so it is suggested to treat every 2 weeks with scatt for a total of 3 doses to provide overlap and stop the mite cycle.

Ivermectin 1% is recommended to dose 1 drop to the back of the bare neck, one drop a week for a total of 3 doses/3 weeks. Ivermectin stays in the sytem for about 4.

Best to do you preventative in quarantine. Scaly mites can be on your bird for 6 months to a yr before you see physical signs of the mites on the beak and/or legs.

ASM does not lay dormant in your bird, they have several air sacs, by the time you hear the clicking the bird has had ASM for some time.

Thanks, cindy. I was getting my treatments mixed up. I guess Ivermectin is the active ingredient in Iverlux.

I could do the topical on the canary, though I would rather do the liquid. I also have three societies in quarantine in the same room, but not the same cage. I may go ahead and do everyone, including my longtime resident birds, before introducing them.

some people have started using the Moxidectin Plus in the water since it takes care or mites and worms. I have not used it since my vet recommends topical..less stress on the liver.