I.B. What Do You And Others Think

[Roland]

Karl wrote in reply to Charis Palmer on the Alberta Classic, after she posted ‘It is my understanding that Albendazole or Mebendazole may be harmful to pigeons. Quoting the http://www.birdmedicine.org/ she referred to. Which I’ve posted here.

 

I don't think that there is a drug without any toxic side effects. This is why I would not administer a drug on the basis of a suspicion that the bird(s) may harbour an infection.

 

The commonly used anthelminitic drugs Fenbendazole and Albendazole are toxic to pigeons.

 

410 pigeons of various species at San Diego Zoo and San Diego Wild Animal Park were examined alive or dead. All birds were healthy at the start point, and kept during a period of 45 days because of quarantine, relocation, or presale health cheque for observation. The symptoms looked for were weight change, leukopenia (too few white blood cells), bone marrow changes (less or more bone marrow than normal), small intestinal changes (injuries of the inner lining of the intestines, coursing diarrhoea and malabsorption) and survival.

 

The results looked as follows:

Treatment given Weight Leukopenia Bone Marrow Intestinal Survival

No treatment Up 4,6 % 12 % 33 % Better All normal 91,7 %

Albendazole Down 13,3 % 100 % 83 % worse 77,8 % injured 66,7 %

Fenbendazole low Down 8,3 % 83.3 % 78 % worse 91,7 % injured 75,4 %

Fenbendazole high Down 18,8 % 100 % 30 % worse 50 % injured 66,7 %

What seems obvious is that both the drugs are disadvantageous to the pigeons. In all cases the pigeons loos weight after a treatment. Also, most pigeons develop leucopoenia. The fewer white blood cells in the medicated pigeons cause them more susceptible to bacteria and other microbial intruders. This might explain why the survival rate of the treated pigeons is lower then the untreated (controls). Most pigeons that died suffered from an infection. The bone marrow in involved in the production of blood cells, and in the treated birds the bone marrow was suppressed. Furthermore, the majority of the birds get more or less injured intestines, probably from these drugs.

 

So, why should we give the pigeons one of these drugs? Actually, this report point very strongly that these drugs must never be used unless they are absolutely needed. If you think the birds have got worms, the droppings must be tested by a veterinarian or a parasitologist to confirm the diagnosis. The best would be to test the droppings from each single pigeon, and only treat the birds were worm eggs are found. If intestinal worm infection is diagnosed on the loft, cleaning is very important to get rid of worm eggs in the dung. If you want to give any medication, any remedy containing albendazole ( like "Valbazen") and fenbendazole (like "Panacur") should be avoided. Because chemical similarity, it is likely that also flubendazole (like "Flunebol"), is harmful to pigeons.

 

Ivermectine (IVOMEC) might be a better alternative for pigeons. I have used this type of anthelmintic in my veterinary practice for 17 years and never seen adverse effects. However in-depth investigations on possible negative effects on pigeons are lacking for ivermectine and related drugs. Treatment should therefore be avoided unless a diagnosis has been confirmed by the veterinarian. The study referred to concerns many species of wild pigeons, but it is very likely that fenbendazole and albendazole will also harm racing pigeons at least as much. Especially in periods of stress such drugs can be very harmfull. Actually, there are reasons to believe that such drugs can trig many diseases like trichomoniasis, coccidiosis, adenovirus and salmonellosis. More generally, the use of any drug should be limited. Many of the more successful lofts do not use drugs alt all, unless a serous contagious diseases is diagnosed by the veterinarian. Simply because drugs generally do more harm than good on healthy pigeons.

 

Submitted by

Nils Reither, DVM (veterinarian) NORWAY

 

 

 

The complete article: Howard, L.L. et al.: Fenbendazole and Albendazole toxic in Pigeons and Doves. Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, 16(3): 203 -210, 2002.

[OLDYELLOW]

not had worms for well over 10 years so very pleased with testing , also saves ££££'s on un needed magic potions

[Guest IB]

Hi Roland, I picked the same article up on a website around 2003, and I've commented on it many times on the forum since.

 

The bits that got me thinking were (1) how the control group in the experiment (the birds that were given no meds) managed to clear themselves of worms? Considered more than a few posiibilities since: I think you were on the forum at the time American members posted on diatomatious? earth, which contains remains of millions of tiny shellfish, and was known to keep birds free of worms naturally, possibly by 'shredding' adults in the gut? So maybe grit has the same effect?

 

Birds are also known to eat certain clays but no-one seems to know why for certain, so also wondered if there was a natural substance in the ground which kept them worm free? I think ivermectin is a mould found in soil?

 

Then of course there's the white blood cells (made by bone marrow) that are specially designed to attack and kill worms in the gut. I 'see' them working like mini-subs that attach limpet mines to the worm's body, these then explode and blow holes in worm's body causing its innards to leak out, killing it.

 

and (2) Giving a wormer to a bird that doesn't have worms 'may' damage the birds gut and lower white blood cell production in the bone marrow, leaving the bird open to bodily infection because pathogens can get through the damaged gut wall, and there's not enough white blood cells to fight them - thanks to 'blind treatment'.

 

The end result of all this thinking, apart from a headache is that for several years now, I get my birds tested in the close season. If they've got worms, they are treated for them. If they don't have them, then they are not. I would never treat blind.

[Guest stb-]

never had worms ever and mine forage in the feilds daily all year

 

i do ivomec for lice twice a year though

[OLDYELLOW]

Hi Roland, I picked the same article up on a website around 2003, and I've commented on it many times on the forum since.

 

The bits that got me thinking were (1) how the control group in the experiment (the birds that were given no meds) managed to clear themselves of worms? Considered more than a few posiibilities since: I think you were on the forum at the time American members posted on diatomatious? earth, which contains remains of millions of tiny shellfish, and was known to keep birds free of worms naturally, possibly by 'shredding' adults in the gut? So maybe grit has the same effect?

 

Birds are also known to eat certain clays but no-one seems to know why for certain, so also wondered if there was a natural substance in the ground which kept them worm free? I think ivermectin is a mould found in soil?

 

Then of course there's the white blood cells (made by bone marrow) that are specially designed to attack and kill worms in the gut. I 'see' them working like mini-subs that attach limpet mines to the worm's body, these then explode and blow holes in worm's body causing its innards to leak out, killing it.

 

and (2) Giving a wormer to a bird that doesn't have worms 'may' damage the birds gut and lower white blood cell production in the bone marrow, leaving the bird open to bodily infection because pathogens can get through the damaged gut wall, and there's not enough white blood cells to fight them - thanks to 'blind treatment'.

 

The end result of all this thinking, apart from a headache is that for several years now, I get my birds tested in the close season. If they've got worms, they are treated for them. If they don't have them, then they are not. I would never treat blind.

 

clay is a good cleanser for removing toxins from the body , i watched a wildlife film years ago and i think it was the amazon parrots probably macaws eat alot of soft fruits and most were very highly toxic , these parrots were eatting a damp like clay wall near a water fall to detoxify there systems pigeons in the wild eat alot of berrys and tree fruits quite alot of them can be used for pigeons my guess these act as there medicine cabinet

[Guest stb-]

clay is a good cleanser for removing toxins from the body , i watched a wildlife film years ago and i think it was the amazon parrots probably macaws eat alot of soft fruits and most were very highly toxic , these parrots were eatting a damp like clay wall near a water fall to detoxify there systems pigeons in the wild eat alot of berrys and tree fruits quite alot of them can be used for pigeons my guess these act as there medicine cabinet

The clay blocks you get for the pigeons is very good for keeping there digestive track in top condition

[OLDYELLOW]

The clay blocks you get for the pigeons is very good for keeping there digestive track in top condition

 

yup not much better if had a bird fielding cleans them through