What medication should I buy?

kiwi & mango · Post by **kiwi & mango** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 8:15 pm

after reading all the different posts about finches getting sick and a short time or hours later they are dead I guess it would be a good idea to have some medication on hand. Any idea or suggestion as to what one I should get? I have gouldian finches.

Also a question on air sac mites..... if we have our finches in our homes and are never with other birds how do they contact the illness?

thanks

Post by **Sally** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 9:09 pm

There is a good article about assembling a first aid kit here:

www.ladygouldianfinch.com

You don't need everything she has listed necessarily, but it is a good idea to at a minimum have a broad-spectrum antibiotic, a probiotic to give after the antibiotic (like us taking yogurt after antibiotics), a wormer, and since you have Gouldians, you for sure need something for air sac mites. With just a few, I would go with Scatt. You need to have an idea of what you will do for a hospital cage, as when you need one, you want to get your bird isolated and warm as fast as possible.

My understanding is that air sac mites can be dormant in the bird for a long time, so even though I have never had air sac mites with my Gouldians, it doesn't mean that they can't be carrying them. That is where prevention really is best--treat your birds on a regular schedule, and that should take care of it, don't wait for them to get sick.

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 1:40 am

I also heard that air sac mites just live in gouldians and canaries, and they are dormant like Sally said, but when the bird gets really stressed or sick, they hatch...

I don't know for sure if that is how it happens, that is just what I heard from a breeder I believe.

I used Scatt to treat my aviary of air sac mites and it worked great...

I would make sure you have a calcium supplement on hand, like calciboost, vitamins, maybe a probotic*, definitely an antibiotic, um... I think that is all I carry on hand. I also have finch nail clippers and the stuff to stop bleeding.

TammyS · Post by **TammyS** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 2:46 pm

I think heat is the first line of defense with a bird you suspect may be sick. So I would have on hand a clamp light (get one at menards/home depot) and a bulb that provides heat - either a 50w spot light (I like red ones) or a ceramic bulb.

I also recommend giving them some type of electrolyte (I like Guardian Angel) initially as well. If you don't see any improvement in a day or two, then you know it is something more serious and need to take further action (medications).

The above is assuming that the only symptoms the bird is exhibiting is being fluffed and listless.

kiwi & mango · Post by **kiwi & mango** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 4:33 pm

So it looks like the best items would be:
Antibiotics
Probiotic
Wormer
Scatt
I have a smaller container cage sort that will do for a sick bird

Now light...I have a desk lanp that climps onto the side or above that I thought would do the trick. Would a normal light of 40 or 50 watt do the trick or would that be not a good idea?

thanks