|
Post by Loz on Feb 17, 2024 4:48:47 GMT
To be fair, the water treatment method recommended with S76 is rather detailed and takes into account the drinking habits of budgies. For one thing, it suggests the temporary removal of veggies and other potential sources of hydration during each treatment round, ie two days (or three days, for the first round). In addition, each treatment takes place over at least two days, so the budgie will eventually drink it. There are further instructions to follow and it all might sound complicated but it really isn't.
If you only have a single budgie, or a small number of them, and they are comfortable being handled, the external spot on the skin method is undoubtedly easier and more efficient. For non-handtame budgies (and for groups of budgies!), I'd recommend the water treatment.
I've no idea about the accumulation of dead mites in the air sacs but it sounds ghastly and I hope that isn't an issue.
|
|
Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,784
|
Post by Marianne Marlow on Feb 17, 2024 9:11:30 GMT
I can imagine with the volume of birds you have loz, dosing each one with ivermectin would be a nightmare! I have used the s76 once as a preventative, but if one of my birds definitely had scaley mites then I'd go for the applied on treatment. S76 is quite expensive too.
|
|
|
Post by Loz on Feb 17, 2024 9:40:58 GMT
I can imagine with the volume of birds you have loz , dosing each one with ivermectin would be a nightmare! I have used the s76 once as a preventative, but if one of my birds definitely had scaley mites then I'd go for the applied on treatment. S76 is quite expensive too. It is expensive, Marianne! The problem with individual dosing is you also need to dose any birds who have conceivably had contact with the affected bird. Which either means dosing each one individually, or going the S76 route (and keeping the individually dosed bird separated, to avoid overdosing it!). My take is, if a bird is unwell and you are treating it for a potential parasite, the stress on the unwell bird of handling holds a risk of causing it to decline in health. If the ivermectin treatment is speculative, then the risk is, in my view, unacceptable but that's only my opinion. If the bird is happy to be handled then the stress argument goes away and the individual dosing makes sense. You just need to take into account the characteristics of the bird or birds you intend to treat.
|
|
|
Post by willowsmum on Feb 18, 2024 19:43:22 GMT
Thanks for all the welcome messages and advice. I don't know his history but assume he was a single bird as he was sent for rehoming on his own, but you never really know what's gone on before hand. Yes, he has received the full 4 week course of S76 as per the instructions (his last dose was about 2 weeks ago). In the past I've used S76 with all new arrivals as a precautionary measure rather than having any definite cases of mites to treat but I understand it has it's pros and cons. I raised the possibility of air sac mites with the vet and she wasn't very sure but felt that if it was air sac mites then she would recommend an ivermectin injection. Having read around the symptoms again it does sound like his clicking, squeaking and sneezing match the expected symptoms and I wonder if the itching around his cere could be mite related too. My gut is telling me that a spot on treatment should be the next step before we go down the injection route. Thanks for the advice about locating the spot skysmum. I guess I just hold him as I did when I was syringing the antibiotics, part the feathers in the crop area (at the front of his neck/upper chest) and apply the drop to the skin? I like to know where I'm aiming for but no doubt when I factor in a wriggling budgie the target area will be quite large So I think we'll try the spot on and see how he goes. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the warning about the dead mites Hezz. It sounds grim but it's good to know in case he does show worsening post treatment. Thanks once again everyone for taking the time to advise - It would be so much easier if they could talk!
|
|
|
Post by skysmum on Feb 18, 2024 20:33:32 GMT
Hope you get on ok with it willowsmum , try and keep it reasonably high up to limit him ingesting to much if he preens, of course if you find it tricky the back of the neck would probably suffice. When I do mine I gently blow the feathers to create the path to the skin and drop it on. You never know how much they are taking with stuff in water and if it’s enough to treat a potential problem so this way you’re hitting it directly with no doubts. Keep us posted.
|
|
|
Post by jellybean on Feb 18, 2024 20:50:11 GMT
Good luck willowsmum, I hope the spot on treatment helps the little fella. Fingers crossed for good news.
|
|
|
Post by Hezz on Feb 19, 2024 0:22:35 GMT
I too would be going the spot on treatment first, if for no other reason than that we know it works for mites, it’s easy to apply and cheaper than another vet visit. Good luck; will keep fingers crossed for the little dude. Hope you are able to clear him up once and for all.
|
|
Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,784
|
Post by Marianne Marlow on Feb 19, 2024 7:46:00 GMT
Hope it goes well and helps him
|
|
|
Post by willowsmum on Feb 19, 2024 8:33:05 GMT
Thanks everyone. I'll keep you posted. At least the catching and medicating doesn't seem so daunting now. He is however adept at clinging onto the bars once caught and has perfected the 'grab the doorway with the beak to prevent extraction from the cage' manoeuvre
|
|
|
Post by willowsmum on Feb 20, 2024 19:39:21 GMT
First dosing is complete. We didn't exactly see eye to eye on how it was going to go. There was a brief period of escape and a couple of victory laps of the room, just to prove who was really in charge, but the drop was eventually administered, millet provided and all was forgiven. It ended up on the back of his neck as closer to the crop was impossible but fingers crossed it'll do the trick. I'll let you know how he gets on and the plan is to repeat the process in 7 and then 14 days. I must say I found it harder than syringing the antibiotics into his beak but maybe he's just getting better at wriggling
|
|
|
Post by Loz on Feb 20, 2024 19:49:41 GMT
Just wait until he learns to disappear his neck!
Well done, Willowsmum.
|
|
|
Post by skysmum on Feb 20, 2024 22:13:13 GMT
Well done, it can be a tricky business that’s for sure, his feistiness is a good sign but doesn’t make your job very easy 😁 I really hope it works willowsmum , if it doesn’t at least you know you’ve tried everything to help the little chap.
|
|
|
Post by willowsmum on Feb 21, 2024 16:07:02 GMT
Just wait until he learns to disappear his neck! Well done, Willowsmum. He's saving that manoeuvre for next time
|
|
Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,784
|
Post by Marianne Marlow on Mar 14, 2024 16:13:36 GMT
|
|