Many people decide to opt for birds when it comes to welcoming an animal into their home, and there are numerous species of birds that we can adopt as pets and among the most charismatic and friendly we can highlight canaries.
These are cheerful animals that are easy to keep in optimal conditions, however, they are also exposed to various diseases and are especially susceptible to parasitic infections.
In this article we talk about the prevention and treatment of lice in canaries, so that you can offer the best attention to your pet.
The red lice in canaries
Canaries can be commonly affected by lice, being especially susceptible to the parasitic infection caused by the red louse, a parasite that spreads It feeds on the blood of mammals and other vertebrate foods and attacks the weakest birds first, starting with the young, if any.
This is a parasite whose presence can be difficult to detect since its habits are nocturnal and it only manifests itself at night. Continuous vigilance will be essential to be able to detect red lice in time, since the later treatment is started, the more difficult it will be to completely eradicate this parasite.
How do I know if my canary is suffering from red lice?
To detect the parasitic infection caused by the red louse it is essential to observe the cage and the canary's behavior at night, there are several methods that will allow us to confirm the presence of this parasite:
Inspect the cage at night by approaching it with a flashlight, we will observe in our canary restlessness and the desire to scratch repeatedly
Cover the cage with a white cloth overnight, the next morning we can see the white cloth with small red spots, and it may even be that some parasite has remained attached to it
During the night we can also leave a small bowl of water in which we will pour a few drops of vinegar, the next morning we can find some parasite drowned in it
Another sign that we can observe in our canary is a characteristic paleness of the skin that indicates infection by hematophagous parasites, which consume blood.
Treatment of lice in canaries
The red louse is very difficult to eliminate, especially if it has not been detected in time, so it is necessary to use a broad-spectrum antiparasitic, in this case ivermectin , an active ingredient that can be applied to internal and external parasitic infections.
However, an overdose of this antiparasitic can cause neurological symptoms in canaries and can even cause death in some cases.
Therefore it is of vital importance that you do not self-medicate your canary, your veterinarian will tell you how to administer the antiparasitic, what dose you should use and how often it needs to be applied.
Prevention of lice in canaries
To prevent your canaries from being affected by lice as well as by other external parasites, it is important to follow the following advice:
