|
Written by Pauhla Whitaker
|
 Mites are a real problem at this time of year for many animal carers, especially those with horses and dogs who have access to long grass.
Some breeds of horses such as those with feather (hairy heels) seem to be Mite-magnets, many domestic “Fancy” Rats are often troubled, and many dogs also seem to have regular bouts of ear mites.
Of course these are all different types of mites with differing life cycles and hosts but there may well be an immune system connection here, as many animals co-exist with mite burden that is a-symptomatic until the animal is under the weather.
I was recently asked if I could answer a question about Parakeets with mites for a professional journal and whether there is anything non-chemical based that can be used to clear them up and to use as a preventative? Much of the information here is as relevant to other species although you would not use an essential oil product inside the ear canal of any animal and I would use a VERY low dosage of oils when working with rats. Obviously the information here is simply to inform and any treatment should be carried out after veterinary consultation so, bearing that in mind, here’s my answer to the Parakeet question…
“If you haven't already done so it's important to get a diagnosis from your vet just to be sure that it is actually mites and to discuss using natural remedies before you do so.
Many domestic creatures co-exist with a low level of parasites but if they become stressed for whatever reason, the parasite gets the upper hand so it would be worth giving some thought to your Parakeets living situation in case you can pin point any issues such as bullying or perhaps a slight lack of space or interesting things to do in their cage which could be remedied by adding more perches, nest boxes e.t.c. Many birds seem to appreciate a sand bath when they have irritated skin so you could also consider putting a shallow dish of Chinchilla sand (available from pet shops) in their cage to mimic the dust bath they would naturally make for themselves in the wild. Mites can only live for a few days off the host bird but it is important to make sure you clean the area and throw away any nesting material when you treat and it is normal to treat all birds in a group.
Once you have looked at the practical things you can consider which oils to work with. Birds are quite fragile and so are more suited to hydrolats, also known as Aromatic waters, or essential oils in very low dose. The easiest way to offer these is to put them on a saucer in a part of the cage or aviary where the birds do not always spend a lot of time or in the room if you allow them to fly free each day. This way they have to make the effort to actually go and select the remedy. Add 3-5 drops of Hydrolat to a shallow dish of water or 1 drop of essential oil to 10 ml of base oil and then pour 3 or 4 drops onto a dish and make sure that the oils are offered in a well ventilated area and preferably only left in with the birds for a couple of hours at a time.
You can consider oils such as Juniper berry for it's anti-parasitic and skin cleansing action, Bergamot for its immune boosting properties and Blue Chamomile to soothe irritation and inflammation as a result of scratching and feather pecking. If there is skin damage then they may also show interest in either Rosehip or Calendula base oils, which can support skin regeneration and these can be offered in the same way. The birds may just stay close and inhale or they may actually peck at the saucer or drink the water or oil.
I have also had really excellent results with persistent mite infestations in chickens by using a clay-based powder. Put 1 tablespoon of white clay powder in a plastic bag and add 5 drops of Neem oil and 1 drop each of Cypress, Lavender and Geranium. Shake well, leave to infuse for an hour or so and then very gently apply a little of the powder under the wings, around the root of the tail, where the legs join the body and down the back of the neck and spine. About a teaspoon in total per bird is sufficient repeated once a week until all signs of mites and eggs have gone. It is important that you do this in a well-ventilated area so that the aroma can gradually dissipate and that if the bird shows any sign of distress when it inhales the aroma, do not continue with the application. If the problem keeps occurring then it would be worth seeking a consultation from a GEOTA recommended Therapist * who will be able to do a full assessment of your Parakeets and come up with the oils that are most appropriate for them as individuals."
*GEOTA is The Guild of Essential Oil Therapists for Animals who I trained with and am now a committee member for.
Picture below is of a typical cluster of mite eggs around a chicken feather shaft.
Quote this article on your siteTo create link towards this article on your website,
copy and paste the text below in your page.
Preview :
August 2008 condition...Mites
Friday, 15 August 2008 Mites are a real problem at this time of year for many animal carers, especially those with horses and dogs who have access to long grass. Some bree
|
Topics 
Carina, Thanks for this valuable info...
Hi Libby!! It's great to see you! Lov...
yeah i love that one too ruth!
I wrote a little story about "The...
OOOH LA LA! Today I got my bottle of ...
I just chose the Lemon balm purely on...
Lemon Balm is great! I finally have ...
Having children seems to put lines on...
And don't forget Lauren Bacall and th...