Whether you have canaries as a pet, or if you are a fan of breeding these birds, you may have come across some signs that made you suspect the presence of some parasite in the feathers and skin of your faithful alarm clock with the first rays of the Sun. Mites are one of the most frequent parasites in these birds, and it is interesting as an owner to recognize them so that your veterinarian institute the most appropriate treatment as soon as possible.
From our site we suggest you read this brief guide, which we hope will clarify some of your doubts about mites in canaries, 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 mites. These ubiquitous arachnids can be anything from a casual find to those responsible for more or less serious illnesses.
Passeriformes (songbirds such as canaries, diamonds…), and also parakeets (psittaciformes), often suffer from the undesirable presence of mites, and although certain types of lesions alert us to their existence, in other cases may go unnoticed for long periods of time, due to the particular cycle of some species.
To facilitate the task of recognizing mites in canaries, we will divide them into three groups:
- Cnemidocoptes spp, the mite responsible for cnemidocoptic mange.
- Dermanyssus spp, red mite.
- Sternostoma tracheacolum, trachea mite.
Cnemidocoptes spp, responsible for cnemidocoptic mange
This is a type of mite found in canaries that spends its entire life cycle on the bird (larva, nymph, adult), invading the epidermal follicles, a place where it feeds on the epithelial keratin and a chosen site for nesting. The females do not lay eggs, it is a viviparous species that gives birth to its larvae in the galleries that form after penetrating the skin barrier, and completes the cycle in about 21-27 days.
The canary is infected through direct contact by stepping on infected scales that another canary has left on the perches or bars of the cages. The only good news is that the mite does not live long outside the host.
Once the mite is established in the canary, its activity and the release of metabolites to the follicle causes chronic irritation and the production of solid exudate that will give rise to hyperkeratosis , that is, abnormal skin proliferation, on the legs, beak, cere and, sometimes, on the face and/or eyelids. This translates into a crusty appearance of the affected areas. It is a slow process and the owners usually refer to the appearance of " scales on legs", if we are at the beginning of the process, and in some more serious cases they indicate that his canary has grown "more fingers". It is not uncommon to find skin proliferations in the form of elongated, whitish masses around the animal's toes, which can lead to confusion if one is not familiar with the subject. As a fact to keep in mind, these lesions are not usually accompanied by itching at the beginning, a fact that can delay the visit to the veterinarian. We can find canaries that live with this problem for months, being observed only in the final stages itching, lameness, or itching in the extremities (self-injury due to discomfort).
The observation of these characteristic formations on the legs and/or beak, together with the clinical history and a good response to treatment, usually leads to the diagnosis. The scraping of the affected areas for later observation under the microscope does not always show the presence of mites in very deep canaries, as it can happen in more well-known mites, such as Sarcoptes in canids. For this reason, it is always necessary to carry out a complete examination of the patient, since on many occasions the appearance of parasitic diseases is related to immunosuppression (lowering of defenses). In addition, it is essential to determine the precise weight to establish a correct treatment.
What does the treatment consist of?
The treatment against this mite in canaries is based on systemic avermectins (ivermectin, moxidectin…), in doses that vary depending on the weight, age, and particular conditions of each individual, being necessary to repeat after about 14-20 days (estimated time of the mite cycle). A third dose should not be ruled out.
Sprays and sprays are not very effective as they are a arador mite, their location is too deep for them to have an effect. Sometimes, if the bird is too weak, the therapy can be applied directly on the affected areas, after removing the scabs.
As a complementary measure, adequate hygiene and disinfection of cages, perches and bars, quality food and application in the tea tree oil or even olive oil can be very helpful. The oil is non-toxic, softens skin lesions, and can penetrate when they subside inside the follicle, "drowning" the next generation. It is, however, a help, never a sole therapy.
Dermanyssus spp or red mite
This type of mite in canaries is known as red mite, due to its color. It is not very common to see them in the canaries that we keep as a pet bird indoors, but they are seen in bird communities, such as hatcheries, aviaries, etc. It is particularly common in chicken coops, but parasitizes any bird. It mainly affects young people and has night habits, so that during the day we can thoroughly check the animal and not find it. During the night, it leaves its shelter (cracks, corners…) to feed.
As symptoms of this mite in canaries, we can notice that our birds that we keep outdoors or in flight are nervous, with dull plumage and even weak if the degree of parasitization is extreme and they steal too much blood. Sometimes we can detect the visible mite on light surfaces.
In this case, sprays could be useful, applied every so often to the animal (depending on their residual activity), and in the environment (very important, it is the place where the mite lives), although therapy with systemic avermectins can also be useful.
The life cycle of this type of mite in canaries is fast, since it can be completed in 7 days under suitable conditions. This information must be taken into account in order 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 spray 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, fumes, etc., so correct advice on the concentration, frequency of application, and disinfection of the environment is essential to ensure that the process is carried out safely.
Sternostoma tracheacolum or trachea mite
In order from most to least frequent, we have the Sternostoma, known as the trachea mite, last in this brief guide on mites in canaries. Actually, affects the air sacs; lungs (place where it reproduces); trachea and syrinx It has a rapid life cycle like Dermanyssus, it is estimated that it is completed in about 7-9 days.
It is a parasitic disease that is perhaps over-diagnosed by some breeders and hobbyists, since its symptoms are very similar to those of other pathologies, such as mycoplasmosis, chlamydia (respiratory diseases that also tend to affect several specimens of a community). If you want to know more about the most common diseases in canaries, don't miss our article.
Aphonia (loss of singing) or changes in phonation (hoarse singing), the presence of sneezing, dry cough and the appearance of respiratory sounds such as whistles, are the most frequent symptoms of this mite in canaries and, therefore, the signs that owners can appreciate. Unlike other diseases that present these same signs, the animal usually has a good body condition, maintains its appetite and grooming pattern at first, but it can evolve into something more serious. Some specimens scratch their beak and nostrils, or rub against perches due to the itching caused by these small invaders.
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 eyesight and lighting, but sometimes we have to resort to taking samples with swabs and observing under a microscope.
Once diagnosed, elimination is relatively easy with systemic avermectins every 14 days, a minimum of twice. Local instillation is another option, but the area is difficult to access with a drop of the product to be applied.
Excessive proliferation of this parasite can cause death due to obstruction of the respiratory tract, although this type of extreme cases usually only occurs in unattended animals, such as wild birds or highly compromised animals. However, its presence can never be completely ruled out despite what has been said, since although we are sure that the canary comes from an expert and methodical breeder, many of our winged friends receive daily visits from free birds during the hours that They happen on the terrace, and it is not always easy to detect this parasite in the first months of life, when we usually bring canaries to our house.
Fortunately, direct contact between birds is necessary for its transmission (sneezing, coughing, and above all, the use of drinking fountains communal), so a brief contact with other birds in their moments of recreation does not usually carry a high risk in this case.
An adequate disinfection of all the elements of the cages is again essential to tackle the problem when it occurs, as well as the treatment of all affected canaries, and close surveillance of those that have not yet show symptoms but have shared habitat with the sick.
Remember that our site does everything possible to keep you informed, but it will be the veterinarian who determines the best option to treat your canary, according to the particular conditions of each case.
