https://www.facebook.com/groups/1183107 ... 423345632/
I don't quite like facebook so I'm asking my next question here.
I have three birds: pair of goldfinches and a canary. At the moment they're two weeks into the treatment against the protozoan infection (with Baycox - prescribed by the vet) with two weeks to go.
Two of the birds - male goldfinch and the canary - aren't doing the best and don't seem to be improving. They've lost weight - I can clearly feel their chest bone "V" through the feathers.
The male goldfinch has developed this leg condition where his joints are enlarged and look very sore. He's avoiding to stand on his feet and he's sitting low on his belly, photos are better describing this:
Photos of his feet:
You can see the lump on the outside toe joint and the toes are twisted inwards because of that.
One leg is especially bad because the outside toe is curled underneath. He's keeping this leg up most of the time:
Also this red spot appeared on the bottom of his beak:
Photos of canary's feet:
You can see little sores on the bottom of her feet too. But she's using them both and perching as normal. I've been suggested to treat them for scaly leg mites by several people on facebook. But would the leg mites cause the deformities of the goldfinch feet?
I've read that when birds are infected with protozoa these parasites are robbing the birds of the nutrients. Could the goldfinch leg problems be cause by lack of nutrients? I've got some cream with aloe vera to sooth their sore legs and some vitamins to help with their skin condition, you can see those here:
I feed them mostly seed and give mashed egg with the prescribed vitamins twice a week. Their greens are mostly dandelion leaves and some broccoli - they're very picky when it comes to fruit and veg.
I couldn't catch the 3rd bird - female goldfinch - The Feathery Rocket - to take some photos of her legs but she's doing the best of all, perching normal, feet are more or less fine and looking nice and plump. She's brought the mysterious diseases into the house by the way.
I forgot to mention that the two birds each have plucked one of their thighs completely bare - they're probably itchy. I have some Ivermictin at home from their previous treatment but I'm not sure whether it's ok to treat them with it while they're on other medication. One vet I spoke to said "ok", another said "no"
Has anyone seen leg problems like that? Please share your thoughts as I really want to help my birds
