upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

Hello.
My blue and gold macaw, Lily, has gotten a couple of fleas from hanging out with her cats. I've treated the cats. Now, how can I safely kill the fleas on Lily, before they multiply? Thanks for your advice.

I suggest you take (or at least consult with, over the phone) your macaw to an avian vet for best treatments. I've heard of ways to treat mites, but not fleas, for parrots!

Birds cannot get fleas.....Or rather fleas don't thrive on birds. Best to consult with your avian vet to find out what's affecting your bird.

fleas are species specific and birds do not get fleas they might be on the bird but they will not thrive and will jump back on something they can eat. please consult you're avian vet.

It seems Petri is scratching at a flea but really she is picking at a pin feather.
Pin feathers can be very tender especially if the bird is not bathed regularly. Try a bath, then some quality time grooming the pin feathers. If the pin feathers are the ones by the ears, on Petri they are especially tender and I will usually get yelled at.
Lori and Petri

You can use the 5% Sevin dust that you find in the gardening department of most any home improvement store, like walmart. Dust your bird lightly and do not get any in her eyes, mouth or nostrils. You can use a little paint brush and brush it on.

All the above posts are correct. Birds don't get flea infestations. But.....as a wildlife rescuer I have had to deal with birds with severe mite infestations from time to time. I use a product called Ivermectin. It's also used for fleas and mange, (I use it for that on roos, koalas, and wombats) but works great on mites. Just one drop on the nape of the neck and the mites dissapear in no time. It also treats most intestinal parasites (excluding cocci and tape worms). Whenever I add a new bird to my flock I treat them before they go into the crate at where ever I purchase them. I've read the literature on this particular product and it has been extensively tested at doses much higher than the prescribed dose and has been proven to be safe. Using Sevin Dust would be a very dangerous choice.

Please be aware though, Ivermectin comes in different strengths. There is liquid ivermectin for cattle that is a differnt mg/kg than it is for horses. For example, the cattle dewormer may be a strength of 100mg/ml and the horse brand may be 50mg/ml. (Theses are guesstimate, its been awhile since I've used the liquid form and years since I've had to even look at a bottle of the cattle strenght). Some vets use the lower mg/ml and further dilute it out for dogs/cats with fleas, demodectic mange, etc. I would MOST DEFINATELY contact your avian vet before you put ANYTHING on your bird. I don't know if there are any studies out there on using this product on birds. Also, most pets get 'cat fleas' which aren't all that particular about what they eat off of and will even have a blood meal off a human if thats all that is available. Fleas aren't as species specific at are lice, certine mites, etc. Thats why if your dog or cat gets fleas, you need to treat all of them.

Ivermectin is the preferred product for wildlife rescuers here in Australia. Normally we use the sheep strength. I've done a lot of workshops with a wildlife specialist vet and she's the one who got me started using it. I've used it on everything from tiny little birds to treat mites to wombats to treat scarcoptic mange. I buy it directly from my vet because I use such small quantites, and can only get it by the litre at fodder shops. And a litre would last me a decade. The only thing it doesnt' work well on is sea birds because it doesn't treat tape worms which almost all sea birds have. I don't believe it's used for dogs any more because if the dog has heart worms it kills the dog along with the worms.

Sadah wrote: I would MOST DEFINATELY contact your avian vet before you put ANYTHING on your bird.

I saw this thread running for some time and have just sat here shaking my head and saying "Oh Brother!"

Sadah has the only correct answer here. Never give anything to your birds that you haven't cleared with your VET first!

I've read all the above posts and to tell you the truth it made me sad to think that we are asked to substitute competent Veterinarian advice on a CHAT board. Look, you have to see your Veterinarian when your bird is exposed to these types of insects and parasites. There is no substitute for your trusted and competent Veterinarian. Besides we are all over the globe here and there is no way outside of a medical exam that we can be anywhere in the ball park when it comes to this.

For anything else, you might as well consult a Witch Doctor. You are just fooling yourself. Just like the old saying that a person who acts as their own attorney has a fool for a client.

Dutch

I think there has to be a bit of common ground here.... I agree that an inexperienced bird keeper should not treat their birds by guess work. BUT.....there are some basic, commonly used products that have been proven to be safe and effective. I realise that attitudes are different here in Aus vs in the US. But, it doesn't make sense to me to trundle your bird off for a very expensive vet visit unless it is necessary. I think that the most salient point made in this entire thread was made by cathyt and greenwing. PARROTS DONT GET FLEAS. If earthmother had just run off to her vet first thing she would have spent a good deal of $ to be told exactly that. What a waste!!!!!

Patti In Oz wrote:... I think that the most salient point made in this entire thread was made by cathyt and greenwing. PARROTS DONT GET FLEAS...

Nodding agreement. I've been watching this thread in hope of follow-up on your comments about 5% Sevin dust. It's long been my understanding that the 5% strength is very commonly used, even in nest boxes with chicks. I use a qtr teaspoon of it on the floor across an ant trail whenever they venture into a bird room. I've never read any cautions about using it around birds, so I'd love to know more. I want to be safe

TIA to anyone who KNOWS if it's safe!

I can't advise about Sevin....but I was just thinking about something that might be rather effective.... It's called diatomaceous (sp?) earth. It's totally inert. I used to use it as a chemical free alternative for garden pests. It's been many years so I am having to dig deep into my grey matter for info, but it's made from skeletal remains of some microscopic sea creature and kills pests by damaging their digestive track...something like if a human were to eat glass. I am NOT recommending it......rather am suggesting that it might be worth investigating further.

Patti In Oz wrote:I think that the most salient point made in this entire thread was made by cathyt and greenwing. PARROTS DONT GET FLEAS. If earthmother had just run off to her vet first thing she would have spent a good deal of $ to be told exactly that. What a waste!!!!!

First of all, that was correct, but she did notice a parasite. The path to properly combat this parasite would be to gather a sample for a gram stain and have the bird examined by a competent veterinarian. A parasite can introduce a host of diseases and even toxins that can sweep through an aviary. Not to mention those diseases that are threats to human health and co-existence. I would think one who lives in the part of the world where this is of most concern would be frugal and error in the side of caution rather than offer up "witch doctery."

I am a member in the school of thought that if you can not properly have your bird examined when troubles arrive, then you have no business being their caregiver. The expense of a vet visit should never compromise the heath of the bird or other members (in the human species) that share their quarters.

This site (up at six) subscribes to the ethics and rules of the Avian Veterinarian Association. Anything less than a recommendation to have the bird examined by a Licensed Practicing Avian Veterinarian would be foolish if not light hearted.

Dutch

I believe if you carefully review this thread the one and only post that earthmother wrote made no mention of anything other than fleas due to contact with cats...... The thread then evolved into a general discussion about treatment of mites.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion PH, and so is everyone else. And there is no valid reason for you to target me in such a negative manner.

I personally believe that expense should never compromise the health of my birds. I would re-mortgage my house if it became necessary to pay for treatment of any of my birds. But I also believe that things like worming and treatment of mites are NOT valid reasons for a vet visit provided you are an experienced aviculturalist. Things like worming and treatment for mites IMHO should be no more of an event than treating Fido for fleas. A competent aviculturalist should have those sorts of products on hand and be knowlegable in their use.

I sometimes think that SOME bird people do the same thing that a lot of parents do with their human children. As in.....Look at me.....see how much money I spend on my kids..... so I must be a good parent!!!!

FYI: I foolishly and lightheartedly use Ivemectin on the advice of a couple of witch doctors who just happen to be two of the most respected wildlife vets in Aus....

Good on ya Purple Heart!