FINCHforum

Hello...brought my new friend home. I'm sitting here in the room and can hear him breathing as if he has a cold. It sounds gurgle. Obviously upper respirtory...but can I treat ASMs at the same time?

I've added a heat lamp and now I see him wiping his beak and preening. Why do I always get sick birds?

Aw, I'm sorry to hear that.

Yes, you can treat for ASM and a URI (upper respiratory infection) simultaneously.

I actually do this routinely per my vet's recommendation.
As the mites are killed off, it takes time for the body to flush out the dead mites. The more severe the ASM infestation, the more problematic this can be. So until they're flushed out, each mite is a degrading biomass that can lead to infection.
This, combined with a weakened immune system from the stress of a new home, is a recipe for a respiratory infection. So in cases of severe infestation, I'll treat with antibiotics as a prophylactic. (And in every case I've done that, it has been a wise decision as it took a week or so for recovery -- consistent with a URI).

Hello Kirsty it's not just you who gets sick birds as some birds when brought can in fact look healthy but birds are great at hiding problems. With the move to a new environment the shock/stress can bring the problem out so it's unfortunate that this happens but this is why quarantine has been implemented by most bird breeders and keepers. Being gurgling sound it would seem to me to be a respitory problem but what one? A cold ,infection which one would be hard to determine. If it's a bacterial then an antibiotic would be the best course. IMO I wouldn't mix any meds unless it's absoultly last chance to cure a bird which seems to be on its last leg but in your case I would consider treating the problem first and then treat the secondary being ASM when the Canary is over the first. If this happened to be and ASM related respitory infection I still would treat the infection then follow up with a ASM treatment to kill the parasites. With new arrivals I always tread lightly when medicating as we don't really know what the new arrival may have been given previous to the purchase and if medicating on an already medicated bird can lead to other problems.

It's day 2 and he seems much more active. Eating , drinking and bouncing around. I started ASM treatment once I got him home and then medicated his water for URI around 10:00 pm last night.

What product should I use for a disinfectant in the even it is ASMs? I found a product called Focus and also purchased some mite spray from Laraines Gouldian site.