General
Intestinal parasites pose a triple threat to the budgie:
- Damage to the intestinal wall
- Emaciation and deficiency symptoms due to deprivation of nutrients
- Toxic metabolites
Coccidia
Coccidia are single-celled parasites that settle in small intestinal mucosa.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is not quite easy, because the oocystsEgg-like1permanent form of coccidia are excreted only in batches with the feces. For a fecal examination, this must be collected over at least 3 days in order to possibly be able to detect the oocysts in it.
Therapy
Treatment is carried out with sulfonamide preparations according to the following scheme:
- 3 days treatment
- 2 days break (vitamin administration)
- 3 days treatment
It is advisable to dissolve the medication in water and administer it directly into the crop throughout the day to ensure that the budgie absorbs enough of the active ingredient.
Prevent new infection
After the oocysts of the coccidia have been are very resistant , these can usually be not be killed with disinfectant. In order to prevent reinfection, the cage should be cleaned with boiling water or a steam jet .