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I do not have a lot of experience with treating canary illnesses. I do converse with many canary breeders and have listed below some of the treatments I have heard are effective, however I cannot guarantee that these treatments will work. Nor can I guarantee that these treatments will not harm your bird. If your bird is sick, I recommend taking it to an avian veterinarian and not treating at home at your own risk. Click here to familiarize yourself with avian diseases.
| Illness | Symptoms | Treatment |
| Atoxoplasmosis
(aka "Black Spot") see also "Circovirus" |
Diarrhea, anorexia, depression, ruffled feathers, ataxia, and hepatic enlargement that may be grossly visible through the living bird’s skin known as "black spot." Adult birds often show no signs of illness. | Clean cages frequently, switch to water bottles instead of open cups to prevent fecal contamination. Sulfachlorpyrazine, Diclazuril or Baycox may help but will probably not completely eliminate the protozoa. |
| Circovirus* (aka "Black Spot") see also "Atoxoplasmosis" |
Visible black spot on abdomen/anorexia/mortality. Adult birds often show no signs of illness. | Some breeders report dosing their birds with Sulphadimidine for three days each month prior to the breeding season. Breeders who have experienced black spot in one breeding season report this treatment prevented it from occurring the next breeding season. Circovirus depresses a bird's immune system and, if black spot is indeed caused by a virus, this antibiotic may help prevent secondary opportunistic infections while the bird recovers. |
| Unknown/Coccidiosis/Canker (Trichomoniasis)/worms/respiratory illness | All-in-One - Dose according to instructions. Canaries will drink less and get the proper dose for their body weight. | |
| Scaly Leg Mite | Large scales on legs | Scatt or Ivermectin |
| E. Coli* (Colibacillosis) |
Interior of nests are yellow stained by diarrhea of the nestlings, sticky feathers, youngsters stunted, increased mortality between 1 and 3 days of age. General malaise in adults, some have diarrhea, some have conjunctivitis and rhinitis. Some may die. | Antibiotic |
| Skin Mites* | Very pale membranes inside mouth, young weak when stretching necks, hens found dead sitting on eggs. | Scatt or Ivermectin |
| Canary Pox* (a virus that can be transmitted by mosquitoes) |
Lesions - especially on eyelids, lesions can also be found in the mouth and larynx, dyspnoea, debilitation, mortality can be as high as 100%. | Breeders report success treating lesions with hydrogen peroxide. |
| Air Sac Mite (Sternostoma tracheacolum) |
Loss of voice, decline of physical condition, respiratory distress, wheezing, squeaking, coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, head shaking, gasping. Low mortality rate.* | Research shows the most effective and least toxic treatment was a 2% solution of trichlorfon (Neguvon) in propylene glycol at a dose rate of 0.3-0.6 ml/bird (according to age) followed by a 2nd and 3rd treatment 5 and 9 days, respectively, after initial application. Alugan [bromocyclen] was also used, but was less suitable. Scatt or Ivermectin have been used with success. |
| Trichomoniasis* (a protozoa parasite) |
Apathy, respiratory symptoms, regurgitation, blowing bubbles, emaciation, occasionally diarrhea. | Antiprotozoal medications such as All-in-One - Dose according to instructions. Canaries will drink less and get the proper dose for their body weight. |
| Enterococcus Faecalis* | Chronic tracheitis, pneumonia, air sac infections. Clinical signs are the same as pox virus infection and air sac mite infestation | Antibiotic |
| Coccidiosis* (a protozoa parasite) |
General decline of the physical condition, huddling, ruffling of feathers, debilitation, diarrhea, emaciation. Mortality is low. | Antiprotozoal medications such as All-in-One - Dose according to instructions. Canaries will drink less and get the proper dose for their body weight. |
| Gout | Red, swollen legs. Legs appear painful | Decrease protein, give vitamin A and electrolytes. Allopurinol or Colchicine are sometimes prescribed. If birds are not treated for life, the gout will often reappear. |
* From the book Avian Medicine by Thomas N. Tully, Gerry M. Dorrestein & Martin C. Lawton. Published by Elsevier Health Sciences in July 2000.
For more information on canary diseases,
visit the following website:
http://birdhealth.fifecanary.org/