Bird - Parasites

General information

Unlike dogs and cats, parasites are not commonly diagnosed in pet birds. When present, however, they can cause generalised debilitation for the birds. Some parasites cause specific clinical conditions. Remember that parasites (both internal and external) are rare in those birds kept inside (unless recently purchased) as there is simply little way of catching the infection! These are all more common in outdoor aviary birds.

What exactly is a parasite?

Parasites are organisms that live in or on your bird without contributing any benefit to the bird. Internal parasites, which occur inside various organs of the body such as the stomach or intestines, can be 'worms' or protozoa. External parasites, infecting the skin or feathers, can be lice or mites (or even fleas and ticks).

Are certain species of birds prone to certain types of parasites?

Yes. For example, canaries often develop infections as a result of tracheal mites, which cause respiratory (breathing) problems. Cockatiels and lovebirds may develop Giardia (a protozoan) infections of the intestines which actually cause severely itchy skin lesions. Budgerigars and canaries most commonly develop scaly leg and face disease caused by the Cnemidocoptes pilae mite.

How are parasite infections diagnosed?

Sometimes diagnosis is easy, whereas other times different diagnostic tests must be performed. With Cnemidocoptic mange, the veterinary surgeon can often make a diagnosis based on the results of a physical examination and possibly a microscopic analysis of the skin lesions. Intestinal parasites are often seen when the faeces are examined microscopically; Blood parasites are often seen during a routine blood count.

Are parasitic infections harmful?

While not usually fatal when diagnosed early, parasites can cause discomfort (as in the case of skin parasites) or malnutrition (as in the case of intestinal parasites). Overwhelming parasitic infections in young or small birds can be serious and even fatal. At the very least, parasites irritate birds and make them unthrifty and prone to secondary infections. Ticks may cause a fatal reaction around the head of the bird.

Our veterinary surgeon recommends faecal tests all the time, yet they are always negative. Why are all these tests needed?

Keep in mind that a single negative test is often meaningless. Because not all parasites shed a large number of eggs on a regular basis, multiple faecal tests are often necessary to diagnose parasites. Because faecal examinations are inexpensive, having one or two tests performed each year won't cost much and yet will help ensure your bird's health.