Birds and Parasites

Parasites and birds don’t get along, so it’s important to keep these pesky critters away from our feathered friends.

Parasite treatments (parasiticides) for birds are not as straightforward as those for other species. We’ve created a chart to help identify which treatments can be used in different situations. Please note that some treatments are not formally registered for use in birds; however, this does not mean they cannot be used. Veterinarians may prescribe them when appropriate, often relying on well-known and effective options that simply haven’t undergone formal regulatory approval.

Exzolt is a great example. Red poultry mites have become resistant to many standard parasite treatments. For some time, vets and bird owners relied on Bravecto, originally a cat/dog parasite treatment, which was found to be effective. Exzolt, containing the same active medication, has since been released as a poultry-specific treatment.

Moxidectin is another excellent product used across many species. It’s one of the active ingredients in Advocate, a topical parasite treatment for cats and dogs. It is also used in cattle, sheep, and even in humans.

Although moxidectin has not received formal regulatory approval for use in birds in Australia, it is widely used in pigeon and finch communities as a preventative parasite treatment, and is commonly used across a variety of avian species.