Scaly feet in canary or hypochondria in owner?

[lovemyfinch]

What do the vets suggest using instead? I have always used Scatt without any side effects, but am always open to new suggestions..

[6finchfriends]

Yes, please tell what the Vet's recomend instead of Scatt. I am going to order online either Scatt or S76 to have on hand in case my sick finch isn't sick from a respiratory infection. Air sack mites is my plan B.

I'm sorry about your Cricket. You know, you don't have to tame finches so you could get some pretty ones. Not that they'd replace your lost one.

[CricketandI]

What I was told is that a vitamin A deficiency causes very similar symptoms, such as dry-looking feet. Adding greens like kale which are high in vitamin A usually takes care of it. My friend recommended that if that does not fix the problem, and it is mites, SCATT should only be used under the care of an avian vet and only as a last resort. She learned the hard way like I did.
Even the company that I bought the SCATT from said that canaries rarely get mites. They also said that it had been a long time since they had heard of a death from the product, but apparently it does happen. I am not sure that the supplier is a very reliable source for that information.

[CricketandI]

6finchfriends:
When we got Cricket, I really wanted a bird that I could interact with. I love watching the outdoor bird feeders, but there would not have been much joy for me in keeping a bird that I couldn't have a relationship with. On the other hand, most of the birds that fit that description are closer to parrots in size and voice. A canary seemed like the best of both worlds since I had read about some being finger-trained. There were many hours of just sitting very still with my hand in the cage, and it was a long process (partly because he was already an adult - it's very difficult to get young birds unless you breed them yourself), but after a while, I had a bird who would fly out of the cage onto my hand when I opened his cage. It seemed very special to me to have earned the trust of a creature whose instinct was to be wary of people. It actually seemed like he wanted the attention.
Anyway, this experience has been so horrible and sudden that I can't imagine getting another bird. Maybe at some point I will have a change of heart, and I'll be back on the forum again.
I truly appreciate all of the kindness that everyone has expressed.

[pupDr]

The only dosing information that I could find on ivermectin is 0.2mg/kg topically once every 2 weeks for 3 doses. I have yet to find a reference for dosing the moxidectin but I haven't had much time to spend on it. The results from either drug are variable so one isn't better than the other as long as they are used correctly. I'll have an easier time finding diluted ivermectin than moxidectin so, when the time comes, I'm going with the ivermectin.

The main issue in overdosing Scatt is that the instructions are too vague. It tells you to apply 1 or 2 drops but then doesn't provide an apparatus to administer the correct sized drop. They leave it up to you to find what you can to make a "drop". Drops come in different sizes depending on what is used to make them. Example, in IV administration sets there are macro and micro drips. The macro drip provides 15 drops per ml of fluid. The micro drip provides 60 drops per ml of fluid. That's a four time difference in drop size which is a huge difference when medicating something as small as a bird. The easiest "dropper" to get is one made for oral meds in children as they are readily available in any pharmacy. The drop size on something like that is huge and would lead to an overdose.

My guess is that, if you have been using Scatt successfully with no problems, then you are making a correct sized drop and you could continue to do so. You can overdose on ivermectin just as easily as all of these drugs are toxic if used in excess. Hope this helps!

[B CAMP]

I got a bottle of Scatt over a year ago and never felt I understood how to measure a drop tried many droppers and they seemed to be bigger or smaller so now its outdated.
I got the S76 it seemed to be safer when mixed in water and a lot easier.

[L in Ontario]

All my bottles of Scatt had built in droppers. I just shake the bottle and turn it over to let a drop fall out and on to the bird.

Must be different styles of bottles out there. That would not be convenient if I had to go and buy a separate dropper.

[6finchfriends]

CricketandI~
I know exactly what you're saying. I own 4 parrots and 6 finches. There is something about birds. They are a special type of intelligence. Bonding is very different than with a dog or cat. One thing you might want to check into is a Parrotlet. they are the smallest parrots in the Americas. They do not squawk but peep and they are not that expensive. They bond with you very easily and are easy to take care of. Just lovely little birds. I have a crusty old rescued Parrotlet that I love. Maybe in a month or two you might want to try again. If you're interested, check out PizzaPete on Youtube. I'm sorry about your broken heart.

[CricketandI]

That's a really good point about drop size. The dropper I used was the one that New Hampshire Bird Supply sells for use with SCATT. It came with two tips, and we used the smaller tip.

6finchfriends: You are very kind. Thank you. I had considered a parrotlet before we got Cricket. Maybe at some point I will be able to find a rescued one. Did you find yours through a bird rescue organization? Maybe saving a bird would help us. But not yet.

[6finchfriends]

there is one small bird store in our small town. People just bring birds to her in hopes she can find good homes. They are always abused and neglected little things. We have the parrotlet who was a rescue and my husband rescued a Goffins 'Too from there. She always has at least 2 rescues in her shop now but she's very picky about who gets them. She has the heart of a lion and has saved many birds from very sad lives. When i was looking for finches I tried and tried to find ones I could adopt but never did. I think that's good to hear. I mean, I just got my finches a month ago and you couldn't pry them out of my house!