Giardiasis in canaries and finches
Other names: Giardia
Symptoms
- Abundant, bulky droppings (like popcorn)
- Feather plucking under the wing and on the thigh (the link is not confirmed)
How it spreads
By swallowing cysts from contaminated water or food.
Diagnosis
A fecal test with zinc sulfate, or a fresh smear, or ELISA, or PCR; it may need repeating.
Treatment
Per Merck: metronidazole 25-50 mg/kg orally every 12-24 hours for 5-7 days, or carnidazole 20-30 mg/kg/day orally for one or two days. (All under veterinary supervision.)
Prevention
Clean water and general hygiene.
Season
Year-round
Treatment and doses are decided by an avian vet after an exam; Zajel does not publish doses.
Other diseases
- Air sac mites (tracheal mites)
- Face and leg mites (scaly face/leg mange)
- Red mites (poultry red mite)
- Feather lice and feather mites
- Coccidiosis (bloody/intestinal diarrhea)
- Atoxoplasmosis (black spot disease / enlarged liver)
- Trichomoniasis (ulcer/canker)
- Cochlosomosis