Content
- knowing the enemy
- Cnemidocoptes spp, responsible for scabies
- What does the treatment consist of?
- Dermanyssus spp or red mite
- Sternostoma tracheacolum or tracheal mite
- How is it diagnosed and what is its treatment?
so much canaries as a pet, as if he is a breeder of these birds, he may have come across some signs that made him suspect the presence of a parasite in the feathers and skin of his faithful alarm clock with the first rays of the sun. Mites are one of the most frequent parasites on these birds, and it is interesting as an owner to recognize them so that your veterinarian indicates the most appropriate treatment as soon as possible. At PeritoAnimal we will offer you this brief guide, which we hope will clarify some of your doubts about the Canary mites, their symptoms and treatment.
knowing the enemy
There is a wide variety of external parasites that can affect our canaries, but without a doubt, one of the most common are canaries. These ubiquitous arachnids can range from casual aloe to those responsible for more or less serious illnesses.
Passerines (singing birds such as canaries, diamonds,...) and also parakeets (parrots) suffer from the undesirable presence of mites, and although certain types of lesions alert us to their existence, in other cases they may go unnoticed for long periods of time, due to the particular cycle of some species.
To make the task of recognizing mites in canaries easier, we've divided them into three groups:
- Cnemidocoptes spp, the mite responsible for scabies.
- Dermanyssus spp, red mite
- Sternostoma tracheacolum, tracheal mite.
Cnemidocoptes spp, responsible for scabies
It is a type of mite in canaries that spends its entire life cycle on the bird (larva, nymph, adult), invading the epidermal follicles, the place where it feeds on the epithelial keratin and the site chosen for nesting. Females do not lay eggs, it is a viviparous species that has its larvae in the galleries they form after penetrating the skin barrier, and completes the cycle in about 21-27 days.
The canary becomes infected through direct contact by stepping on infected scales that another canary has left on the bars of the cage. The only good news is that the mite does not last long alive outside the host.
Once the mite is installed in the canary, its activity and the release of metabolites in the follicle cause chronic irritation and the production of solid exudate that will give rise to hyperkeratosis, that is, abnormal skin proliferation, on the paws, beak, wax, and sometimes on the face and eyelids. This translates into a crusty appearance on the affected areas. It is a slow process and owners often report the appearance of "scales on the feet" if you are at the beginning of the process, and in some more severe cases indicate that more fingers left your canary. It is not strange to find skin proliferation in the form of elongated and whitish masses around the animal's fingers, which can lead to confusion if not are familiar with the topic. As noted, these lesions are not usually accompanied by itching at first, something that can delay the visit to the vet. We can find canaries that live with this problem for months, only observed in the states end itching, lameness or pecking at the extremities (self-injury by annoyances).
The observation of these characteristic formations in the paws and/or beak, together with the clinical history and a good response to the treatment, usually lead to the diagnosis. Scraping the affected areas for further observation under the microscope does not always show the presence of very deep mites in canaries, as happens in more known mites such as Sarcopts in canids. Therefore, it is always necessary to carry out a complete exploration of the patient, since the appearance of parasitic diseases is often related to an immunosuppression (lowering of the defenses). Furthermore, it is essential to determine the precise weight for correct treatment.
What does the treatment consist of?
Treatment against this mite in canaries is based on avermectins (ivermectin, moxidectin...), in doses that vary depending on the weight, age and particular conditions of each individual, being necessary to repeat after 14-20 days (estimated time of the cycle of the mite). A third dose should not be discarded.
Sprays and sprays are not very effective when dealing with a scabies mite, their location is too deep to be effective. Sometimes, if the bird is too weak, the therapy can be applied directly to the affected areas, after removing the crusts.
As a complementary measure, a proper hygiene and disinfection from cages and bars, a quality diet and the application of tea tree oil or even olive oil on the paws can be of help. The oil is non-toxic, softens dermal lesions, and can penetrate as they go into the follicle, "drowning" the next generation. It's a help, never a one-time therapy.
Dermanyssus spp or red mite
This type of mite is known as the red mite because of its color. It is not very common to see them in the canaries that we keep as a companion bird in the interior, but rather in bird communities, such as aviaries, etc. It is particularly common in chicken coops, but parasitizes any bird. It mainly affects young birds and has night habits. During the night, he leaves the refuge to feed.
As symptoms of this mite in canaries, we can mention nervousness, dull feathers and even weakness if the degree of parasitization is extreme and too much blood is stolen. Sometimes we can detect the visible mite on light surfaces.
In this case, the sprays can be useful, applied with a certain frequency in the animal (depending on the activity it has), and in the environment (the place where the mite lives), although it can also serve the therapy with avermectins.
The life cycle of this type of mite in canaries is fast, as it can be completed in 7 days under suitable conditions. You should take this into account to apply the appropriate products every week on the affected animals and the environment, and not allow time for the start of a new cycle.
Fipronil in sprau or piperonil for birds is usually effective and safe, but we must remember that birds are much more sensitive than any other domestic animal to aerosols, sprays, etc, so correct advice on concentration, frequency of application, and environmental disinfection is essential to ensure that the process is carried out safely.
Sternostoma tracheacolum or tracheal mite
Following the order of most to least frequent, we have in last place in this guide on mites in canaries, the Sternostoma, known as the tracheal mite. In reality, affects the air sacs, lungs (where it reproduces), trachea and syrinx. It has a fast life cycle such as the Dermanysses, it is estimated that it is completed in about 7-9 days.
It is a parasitic disease that may be overdiagnosed by some breeders and hobbyists, as its symptoms are very similar to those of other conditions, such as mycoplasmosis, chlamydia (respiratory diseases that also usually affect several individuals in a community).
Aphonia (loss of singing) or changes in phonation (snoring singing), the presence of sneezing, dry cough and the appearance of breathing noises such as whistles, are the most frequent symptoms of this mite in canaries and therefore the signs that the owners can see. Unlike other diseases that have these same signs, the animal usually has a good body condition, maintains the appetite and standard of hygiene in the beginning, but it can evolve into something more serious. Some specimens scratch themselves in the area of the beak and nostrils, or rub against the bars due to the itchiness that these small invaders cause.
How is it diagnosed and what is its treatment?
To diagnose the presence of these mites in canaries, we can opt for direct observation if we have good views and lighting, but sometimes we must resort to samples with cotton swabs and observation under a microscope.
Once diagnosed, their elimination is relatively simple with avermectins every 14 days, a minimum of two times. Local instillation is another option, but the area is complicated to access with a drop of the product to apply.
Excessive proliferation of this parasite can cause death due to airway obstruction, although this type of extreme case usually only occurs in unsupervised animals, such as wild birds or very compromised animals. However, their presence cannot be completely ruled out despite the above, even though we are sure that the canary comes from a professional and methodical breeder, many of our friends receive a daily visit from free birds in the hours they spend on the terrace, and It is not always simple to detect this parasite in the first months of life, when we are used to taking the canaries home.
But it is necessary the direct contact between birds for its transmission (sneezing, coughing and, above all, the use of common drinking fountains), so a brief contact with other birds during their playtime does not usually mean a high risk in this case.
A proper disinfection of all elements of the cages is essential to end the problem, as well as the treatment of all affected canaries, and a great surveillance of those that do not yet show symptoms, but share habitat with the sick.
Remember that at PeritoAnimal we do everything to keep you informed, but the veterinarian will always indicate the best option to treat your canary, depending on its conditions.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.