Giardia in parrots
Other names: Giardia
Symptoms
- Plucking feathers under the wing and thigh with screaming (relationship not proven)
- Large bloated droppings with bubbles ("popcorn appearance")
- Malabsorption and weight loss
How it spreads
Ingestion of cysts from droppings/contaminated water; adults are carriers.
Diagnosis
Flotation with zinc sulfate, wet mount of fresh droppings, ELISA or PCR; repeated tests are needed.
Treatment
Metronidazole or carnidazole under veterinary supervision + environmental disinfection.
Prevention
Clean water daily, drying and disinfecting cages, testing new birds.
Treatment and doses are decided by an avian vet after an exam; Zajel does not publish doses.
Other diseases
- Trichomonas
- Roundworms (ascarids)
- Capillaria worms (hairworms)
- Tapeworms
- Scaly face and leg mite (Knemidocoptes)
- Air sac mites
- Red mite (bird mite)
- Coccidia and Cryptosporidium