Ostriches can suffer from various diseases, including problems with the digestive tract, musculoskeletal system, upper and lower respiratory tract. Also, birds can suffer from skin diseases and liver diseases. The poultry breeder is required to know the symptoms of the disease and methods of dealing with them. The article describes the most common diseases.
Upper and lower respiratory tract diseases
Ostriches can often have respiratory illnesses that are caused by pathogens. The reason for this is the general weakening of the animal's organism and adverse environmental conditions. There are several common diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract.
Bacterial respiratory disease
Usually, bacterial respiratory diseases develop due to unsatisfactory conditions of detention or weak immunity.
Treatment of bacterial diseases must be carried out with the right antibiotic. It is advisable that an experienced veterinarian appoint him. For preventive measures, avoid overcooling and getting wet birds, provide them with full-fledged feeding, including vitamins.
Bird flu
Avian influenza is a disease caused by a group A virus. In this case, the respiratory system and the digestive tract are affected. Birds suffer from swelling and depression. The disease can be transmitted by airborne droplets, through contaminated equipment and feed. The animal refuses food, it develops discharge from the eyes, air sacs become inflamed, urine acquires a greenish tint.
For preventive purposes, give ostriches vaccination against bird flu, avoid contact with sick birds, ensure that there are no drafts, a favorable temperature and good circulation in the house.
To combat the disease, use special, expensive antibiotics sold in the health surveillance services. In the acute course of the disease, get rid of ostriches so that they do not spread the infection.
Mycoplasma
This is an infectious disease that affects the air sacs, nasal mucosa and lungs. Carriers - sick and ill birds. The infection penetrates through the respiratory organs. Often diseases are exposed to ostriches under the age of 1 year. Animals can get sick due to high humidity, malnutrition, lack of normal conditions, poor ventilation, lack of vitamins.
With the disease, ostriches refuse to eat, they have difficulty breathing, sinuses swell, wheezing, coughing, general weakness occur. Temperature may increase, egg production may decrease.
For prophylaxis, it is recommended that vaccines be given to birds that protect against the onset of symptoms, increase egg production and reduce the risk of transmission of the pathogen. For treatment in the early stages, use preparations containing tilan.
Air pollution and respiratory diseases
Ostriches living in the house and leaving feces in it suffer from ammonia (poisonous gas) released from them. Due to the fact that the birds sleep with their heads bowed, the toxic and irritating smell of gas can cause diseases of the respiratory system of animals. Also, birds can suffer from dust.
To prevent and eliminate problems, it is recommended to regularly ventilate the room, provide good ventilation, keep animals on pallets. Be sure to use drugs to reduce ammonia emissions.
Aspergillosis
Disease caused by pathogenic fungi from the genus Aspergillus. With the disease, air sacs are affected, nodular or catarrhal pneumonia occurs, less commonly bronchitis and tracheitis. Ostriches can become infected with fungal spores through the respiratory system, occasionally through the gastrointestinal tract.
The disease proceeds in acute and chronic form. Sick birds refuse food, suffer from thirst, become lethargic, their eyes are closed. Adult birds suffer from diarrhea, nervous breakdowns and shortness of breath.
Treatment consists of taking Nizoral or Nystatin in a dosage of 10 mg per 1 kg of poultry weight. The procedure lasts seven days. Five days later, the bird is given Amoxicillin trihydrate in a dose of 250 mg per 1 kg of body weight with drinking water twice a day. Then birds are treated with 5% Oxetiter in a dose of 2 kg of the drug per 500 liters of drinking water for 3-5 days. The last stage is Oxytetracycline-Pharm in a dose of 50-125 mg / kg of body weight with feed or drinking water for 4-5 days.
Be sure to disinfect rooms and hatching devices, do not increase the temperature and humidity in the houses, provide good ventilation.
Foreign body in the airways
When eating crushed food from feeders can be sprayed and deposited in the respiratory organs of ostriches. A common cause of suffocation or death of birds is the ingress of foreign bodies into the respiratory organs. Large pieces of food can get stuck in the esophagus, which can be fatal.
As a preventative measure, it is advisable to give the birds food of medium or small size. It is also necessary to carefully ensure that there are no third-party objects in the pen.
Gastrointestinal diseases
Ostriches are often exposed to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract along with respiratory problems. Poultry farmers most often experience fungal infections of the stomach, indigestion, and helminthic invasions.
Viral enteritis
This is a viral disease that occurs when the intestines are damaged by the virus, due to the ability of the intestines to quickly absorb water. Usually this type of disease is accompanied by bacterial enteritis.
Treatment should be carried out exclusively after consulting a veterinarian, he will establish the cause of diarrhea and prescribe a special drug. For vaccination, give the birds vaccinations.
Bacterial enteritis
All kinds of pathogens, including salmonella, become the cause of this disease. Anthelmintic drugs, overeating raw alfalfa, various parasites and viral infections can also provoke bacterial enteritis. Animals become lethargic, their balance is disturbed, a general malaise appears. The main symptom of the disease is loose stools.
As a preventative measure, follow a few recommendations: treat infectious diseases, avoid overpopulation of the house, maintain a high level of hygiene.
Parasitic enteritis
With this disease, a parasitic bacterium, the balantidium of coli, settles in the colon and appendix of the bird. She becomes the main threat to the ostrich. In the cesspool and small intestines, the cryptosporidium parasite is often found, affecting the pancreas and its ducts, kidneys and liver.
There is not a single effective treatment for this disease.
Fungal gastritis
Fungal gastritis is an infectious disease by which an ostrich can become infected by eating poor-quality food in large quantities or by injuring the stomach with a foreign body.
Methods for controlling the disease have not been developed. It is not possible to cure the bird yourself, so be sure to consult a veterinarian.
Worms
A common disease of birds is infection with worms, which can only be detected with regular laboratory tests of animal feces. In the presence of worms, animals eat poorly, slowly gain weight or begin to lose weight.
Deworming is carried out as necessary, due to the high cost of special medicines. Misuse of funds can lead to the development of parasite resistance to them.
Poisoning
Ostriches can be poisoned by nitrates, pesticides, salts of heavy metals, furazolidone and other toxic substances. Poisoning can occur due to eating the missing food. This causes in animals in the first place - a gastrointestinal tract lesion, and then neurological symptoms appear.
Diagnosis is possible only in a laboratory setting after careful analysis and research. According to accurate results, the veterinarian will prescribe treatment.
Pterophagia (feather bite)
With this disease, ostriches do not behave as usual. Ostriches often suffer from pterophagy. Occasionally, an unpleasant phenomenon occurs with the disease - cannibalism, accompanying nibbling of the skin before wounds, eating a pen. The cause of the disease is considered an unbalanced diet, malaise, stress. Ostriches are prone to copying the behavior of their relatives and after a while several chicks can peck each other.
Remove an animal prone to plucking feathers from the pack for a long period of time. Do the same with the chipped bird, return it after the wounds have completely healed. When the herd of ostriches is raised, remove the biting enthusiasts, and add two times the mineral feeding and table salt to the rest of the birds.
Constipation
The problem of constipation are young ostriches on the sand surface. With the disease, the birds are sleepy, they have no appetite. Some newborn ostriches tend to perceive sand as feed. When sand enters, large grains accumulate in the pancreas.
To prevent the ailment, use only fine river sand that does not contain clay impurities. Chop the green feed thoroughly and keep the birds away from the straw until they grow up and can distinguish the feed from the bedding. Be sure to feed the animals fresh food, do not give them alfalfa or sluggish grass.
Salmonellosis
This is an infectious disease accompanied by septicemia, fibrotic diphtheria of the intestine. The cause of the disease is Salmonella enteridis - short gram-negative movable sticks with rounded ends.
The main source of the pathogen are sick and ill ostriches. Birds weaken, they manifest general apathy, lethargy, and balance is disturbed. There is diarrhea and watery feces. There may also be cramps and paralysis.
Treatment should be comprehensive:
- For three days, administer Pharmaspectin subcutaneously or intramuscularly at the rate of 1 ml per 2.5 kg of weight.
- Within 3-5 days, give Norfolox in a dose of 1 kg per 4000 l of drinking water.
- Add to the feed or water Oxytetracycline-pharm in a dose of 50-125 mg per 1 kg of bird weight.
- Within 3-5 days, give a solution of Oxytetra 5% in a dose of 2 kg of the drug, diluted in 500 liters of drinking water.
- Within 5-7 days, add Nifulin to the feed at a dose of 2 kg per 1 ton of food.
Diseases affecting the central nervous system
We list common diseases that affect the central nervous system (CNS) of a bird.
Newcastle disease
This is a common viral disease transmitted by ostriches from chickens. The latter are less susceptible to disease. Ostriches under the age of 9 months often suffer from this disease. Usually the disease manifests itself in outbreaks. Animals weaken, begin to throw up the back of their head, their coordination of movements is disturbed. Often, the disease is fatal.
In order to combat the disease, sick bird must be destroyed and disposed of - this helps prevent the spread of the disease. Be sure to get vaccinated for prevention.
Encephalopathy
This is an acute disease that can affect the brain. It is reminiscent of Newcastle disease. The causative agent of the disease is a virus of unknown origin. In birds, the respiratory rhythm changes, the body temperature rises, the coordination of movements is disturbed, trembling appears in the limbs. Also, with encephalopathy, the birds begin to stagger, they have malaise and drowsiness.
Treatment of the disease is carried out by soldering birds with belladonna infusion. This measure gives a positive result.
Botulism
Clostridium botulinum toxin is a dangerous poisonous substance that causes damage to the central nervous system. Even a small amount of toxin intake when eating food can be fatal. In less severe cases, you can hope for a bird to recover after a few days or weeks. With botulism, the bird begins to lose plumage, it manifests slight paralysis.
Timely prevention of Guanidine (30 mg kg) prevents infection. Also, sanitary prevention of drinking water, feeding with high-quality and fresh feed will help protect against botulism.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
Ostriches are heavy, so their lower limbs are under a lot of stress. Therefore, the skeletal system of this bird should be well developed. To do this, you need to fully feed the animals, otherwise there will be problems, which we will discuss later.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease that small ostriches often suffer from. Osteoporosis is the cause of soft bones in birds, which can cause them to deform. The causes of limb deformation during growth may be a lack of essential minerals and vitamins in the diet, and a tight fit in the house.
To treat deformation at an early stage, it is necessary to apply a tourniquet with a board or stick for 7 days to the diseased limb. To prevent deformation of the extremities, food will allow you to feed containing vitamins, amino acids, micro and macro elements.
Limb injuries
Ostriches often suffer from fractures and injuries, including bending of the toes. Fragility and brittle bones lead to adverse conditions and improper nutrition, accidental shock and walking in hazardous areas.
For quick healing of broken or damaged bones and wings, treat them and fix in a normal position until they are completely healed.
Myopathy
Myopathy is a disease that occurs when there is an excess or lack of nutrition of vitamin E and the trace element selenium.
To solve this problem, it is recommended to introduce selenium supplements in the diet. Otherwise, it should not be used, since selenium is a toxic substance.
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia can occur after a long ostrich hunger strike, as there is a decrease in the amount of sugar in the blood. In this disease, the coordination of movements is disturbed in birds, they become weak.
For a quick recovery, provide the animals with a balanced diet and the introduction of glucose into the body.
Skin diseases
Due to the fact that the feathers and skin of ostriches are valuable products in the markets, the poultry breeder needs to know about the most dangerous skin diseases. This will help to prevent the development of diseases in a timely manner.
Smallpox
In ostriches, birdpox occurs due to infection with the virus of the Avipoxvirus family, it is very dangerous and can kill about half of the total population. The most susceptible to the virus are small ostriches under the age of 4 months. Smallpox occurs in three forms:
- Cutaneous. With a disease on the skin, eyelids, in the area of the beak, tubercles of different sizes appear that are similar in appearance to warts. Over time, the tubercles themselves open, after which dry crusts form.
- Dipteroid. This form is characterized by the appearance of nodules on the mucous membranes of the oral and nasal cavity, larynx, less often the trachea and bronchi. Occasionally, such phenomena are visible on the intestinal mucosa.
This leads to the appearance of dipteroid overlays of a yellow or white hue.With this form, ostriches can suffer from conjunctivitis, accompanied by mucous and purulent secretions - they glue the eyelids of the animal. Severe lesions of the larynx lead to the fact that the birds can not eat, which is why they weaken and are exhausted. - Mixed. The skin and mucous membranes are affected.
Diagnosis is possible by taking into account the clinical picture and epizootological data. The diagnosis must be confirmed by laboratory.
Prevention is carried out by vaccinating birds, as well as strict adherence to quarantine measures of imported animals. Treatment consists of preventing the development of secondary infections that can penetrate damaged skin or mucous membranes. The veterinarian prescribes the introduction of effective antibiotics and symptomatic treatment, designed to alleviate the condition of a diseased ostrich.
Infectious Dermatopathies
Infectious dermatopathies usually occur in ostriches prone to overeating. Rashes appear on the skin near the eyes, on the feet and fingers, which thicken and become covered with dry crusts. The cause of such rashes is an unbalanced diet.
Only a veterinarian can determine the disease. The treatment is carried out with local antifungal drugs.
Skin parasites
On farms, ectoparasites are often found, eating ostrich feathers, skin flakes, and blood protruding from the wounds. These include feather ticks, which greatly damage the valuable feathers of animals. It is extremely rare to detect lice in ostriches.
For prevention, you will need to systematically check the feather cover for lice and ticks, treat buildings and territory with disinfectants, and destroy rodents. To combat parasites, it is best to use purified feed sulfur: treat feathers with it.
Liver disease
Ostriches slopes to get sick with an unpleasant disease - hepatitis. The cause of the disease can be tuberculosis, salmonellosis, streptococcosis and other infections. Often the bird suffers from liver disease due to improper administration of medications, for example, if toxic substances were used to eliminate endoparasites.
With hepatitis, the urine turns green in birds, which indicates the inability of the liver to cope with the excretion of bile pigments, their ingress into the kidneys. Also, in birds, the stomach increases, the size of the liver changes, the litter acquires a brown hue.
Acute hepatitis occurs without noticeable signs, but often leads to the rapid death of ostriches. Treatment consists of taking antibiotics, glucose, B and C vitamins, antiparasitic drugs.
Only with knowledge of the various symptoms observed in ostriches will a poultry breeder be able to establish the disease and save the animals from death in a timely manner. There are various control measures and preventive methods that prevent the development of the disease. If you know about them, the birds will be healthy.
Posted by
3
Ukraine. City: Kryvyi Rih
Publications: 110 Comments: 0