Maria Allen
If birds suffer from a worm infestation, they should be treated as quickly as possible. It is important to recognize the infestation at an early stage in order to be able to initiate the right treatment steps.
Sintomi
The symptoms mainly depend on the severity of the worm infestation. This is mainly recognizable by the fact that the animals lose weight significantly. In addition, the animals are weakened and they usually eat less food. Diarrhea can also be a possible side effect. As a result of the worm infestation, the animal’s abdomen is usually swollen and significantly thicker. If the bird is infected with hookworms, it will also cause swallowing problems. If the infestation is very severe, neurological symptoms can also occur. Paralysis can develop and convulsions can occur. The animals often twist their heads or fall into lethargy. It can also lead to anemia and an increased need for sleep as well as a reduction in laying activity. Inflammation can continue to develop and tear the women’s walls. In particularly severe cases, intestinal obstruction occurs, usually with a fatal outcome.
Cause
Transmission is via food intake. If there are worm eggs in the food, they can easily get into the body when eating. The worms can then grow from this in the intestine and in turn, produce their own eggs. Birds also excrete some of the eggs in their feces, which can lead to infection of other birds. Young birds or animals in poor health are particularly at risk of infection. This usually leads to a more severe course of the disease.
Trattamento
The veterinarian can diagnose the worm infestation by examining the feces. For this purpose, fecal samples are taken and collected over several days in order to be able to detect the eggs there, which are not necessarily found in every bowel movement. Treatment is with certain drugs that work against endoparasites. All birds that have been in contact with the infected animal should be treated with this medication. The medication is administered via the beak.
Alternatively, the medication can also be given through drinking water. In addition, thorough cleaning of the surroundings should be carried out, during which all utensils are disinfected. Otherwise, there is a risk of reinfection. Vitamin supplements also help with healing. For diseases that occur in connection with the worm infestation, the birds can also be treated with an antibiotic. If the worm infestation is detected early, the prognosis of a cure looks very good. With a severe course of the disease and a strong weakening of the animal, the probability of healing decreases increasingly.