Parrots are the most mysterious exotic birds that experts are still studying. The diseases that these little singers suffer from are so diverse that even an experienced veterinarian is not immediately able to make an accurate diagnosis. Even so, parrots are gaining more and more popularity among breeders. Therefore, each owner should know the main diseases that an exotic bird suffers from. One of them is the ticks of parrots, which are not visible to the eye, but bring huge damage to the health of feathered pets.
General information
A tick is a parasite that attacks not only birds, but also animals, as well as people. Speaking in a scientific language, a tick is a knemidocoptosis that has not yet been fully studied. This is an insect that reaches a size of 0.5 mm. The body of the parasite is round in shape with a gray-yellow color. Like all parasites, the main food source for these crumbs is the epidermis. On it, females lay eggs, making indentations in the skin.
The life cycle of parasites reaches one month. By the time of its death, the larvae reach maturity and continue to live on the skin, delivering a lot of inconvenience to their carrier. Therefore, if ticks were found in a parrot, then you need to immediately take action until the disease has reached disastrous consequences.
Reasons for the appearance
In order to cope with the disease in time, you need to know exactly why ticks appear in parrots. Infection factors can be a great many, therefore, having discovered the ailment, do not fall into despondency and engage in self-flagellation.
Factors such as:
- lack of vitamins;
- stress;
- poor conditions of detention;
- infection of birds from other birds;
- poor quality food;
- infected foliage and tree branches;
- raw cell and attributes.
To maintain the health of the pet, you need to pay attention even to the little things, any manifestation of symptoms should be stopped immediately after detection.
Symptoms
Parrot mites do not pose a big threat if they are discovered on time. The pet owner needs to carefully monitor the pet’s behavior.
It is thanks to the analysis of well-being and general appearance that parasites can be detected and timely treatment can be started. Common characteristic signs of the presence of parasites are:
- Itching - the parrot is constantly striving to scratch itself, sometimes it comes to the injuries that the bird inflicts on itself.
- Lack of appetite.
- Sluggish state.
- Peeling and dryness of the skin.
Also, do not forget that each type of tick carries special damage. There may be skin growths, loss of plumage, sneezing and coughing, redness of the eyes, ticks on the beak of the parrot can cause deformation and interfere with the feathered feeding.
Types of Ticks
- Feather mites. They are quite rare, but carry a serious danger. The parasite feeds on particles of the epidermis and feather down. This causes feathers to fall out, and the bird has every chance of balding. This tick is not easy to notice, but you can pay attention to the general condition of the surface of the feathers and, as mentioned above, the constant scratching by the birds of their body.
- Scabies mite. This parasite is localized on the skin of the feathery epidermis and, like the feathery one, actively feeds on skin particles and the blood of the parrot. Attacks occur at night, which prevents the pet from sleeping. The lesions are usually covered with growths and crust. In appearance, the bird is exhausted and depressed.
- The parrot mite is similar to the feather one. According to the symptoms, it is too difficult to determine its presence, so timely contact with specialists will help to understand the diagnosis and begin treatment.
- A tracheal tick in a parrot causes constant sneezing and coughing. A feathered pet constantly throws its head back and breathes heavily. Typically, a bird simply refuses food or spits up food.
Stages of scabies disease
At first glance it may seem that the most dangerous type of tick is a tracheal or feather tick in parrots, but this is not so. Scabies mite is the most insidious species of all representatives of parasites of this type.
The disease has several stages:
- 1st stage. To find parasites is almost impossible. The feathered lives a normal life, while parasites develop on a new habitat. Therefore, the owner can notice the strange behavior of the pet only in the second stage.
- 2 stage. Gradually, new symptoms appear. Outgrowths appear, the color of the feathered skin changes. The parrot is sometimes scratched, but leads an active lifestyle.
- 3 stage. There is a general deterioration in well-being, weakness and fatigue appear. The tick affects the limbs and beak of the feathered. The pet begins to itch before the appearance of abrasions and wounds. Feathers begin to fall out, and the paws crust over. At this stage, you need to immediately begin treatment and be sure to show the pet to the doctor.
- 4 stage. It's scary to look at a pet. He is balding, his beak is deformed, the parrot is very depleted. This stage most often ends with the lethal outcome of the feathered.
Treatment
The tick of the budgerigar, the treatment of which is best entrusted to specialists, lends itself well to modern drugs. Today, there are many ointments, such as: n overtin , and versive and vermectin . Also, the owner can try to smear the pet with vaseline ointment, but this is an extreme case, if nothing else is at hand.
The drugs are sold in specialized veterinary pharmacies. When using ointments, it is also recommended to give a vitamin complex to enhance immunity. We must not forget that everything the parrot touches is also subject to special treatment, up to the complete recovery of the pet. For this, special tools also purchased at the pharmacy are suitable. It is better to show the feathered veterinarian for a quality selection of drugs. Processing parrots lasts until all symptoms disappear.
Prevention
The tick of the budgerigar, a photo of the manifestation of the disease can be found in this article, it is quite insidious, but it can still be outwitted. Even if the bird has never been subjected to such an ailment, this is not a reason to let it go by itself, because no one is safe, even the cleanest and most well-groomed parrot can become a carrier of insidious parasites.
There are several rules that will help the owner to avoid trouble:
- Do not bring the bird “furniture” from the street. No sticks, twigs, pebbles and leaflets.
- Parrot food should be of high quality. Unverified brands may add unnecessary components to the feed.
- Be sure to carefully treat the well-being of the pet. If a tick is detected in the early stages, then the treatment will be short-lived and not so painful.
If you adhere to these recommendations, the pet will always please its owner with health and good mood.