Iodine deficiency (thyroid enlargement) in canaries and finches
Other names: Goiter
Symptoms
- Wheezing and clicking with breathing because the gland presses on the syrinx
- Difficulty swallowing
How it spreads
Not contagious.
Diagnosis
Symptoms and dietary history.
Treatment
Per Merck: Lugol's solution (one drop per 250 ml of drinking water) until the bird improves and its diet changes. Merck mentions it mainly in budgerigars. (All under veterinary supervision.)
Prevention
A varied diet and an iodine/mineral block.
Season
Year-round
Treatment and doses are decided by an avian vet after an exam; Zajel does not publish doses.
Other diseases
- Vitamin A deficiency
- Calcium and vitamin D3 deficiency
- Vitamin E and selenium deficiency
- Obesity and fatty liver
- Riboflavin (B2) deficiency - curled toes
- Gout