Page 686 - Hand rearing birds second

North American Swallows 687

­ Common­Medical­Problems

Parasites
Ectoparasites, such as mites and lice, are common among swallows and easily treated with a pyre-
thrin spray such as Ultracare Mite and Lice Spray (8 in 1). Mist the spray onto a cottonball or gauze
pad and gently swab the mite‐affected areas of the bird. Avoid the eyes, nares and mouth, and
never spray directly onto the bird. Change the bedding and housing frequently until parasites are
no longer present. Quarantine infested birds until all parasites are gone. Administer an oral dose
of ivermectin at 0.2 mg/kg once (Hawkins et al. 2018).
Other ectoparasites such as blowfly larvae are also common, especially among Cliff Swallows.
Birds infested with blowfly should be treated with an oral dose of ivermectin and an antibiotic.
Remove larvae and eggs from the bird’s body and feathers, and flush the affected area with warm
saline, if needed. See www.birdblowfly.com for fascinating information about this parasite.
Swallows can present with internal parasites, so it is good practice to conduct a fecal smear or
float, and sometimes a direct smear of the mouth and throat as well. In 2006, the author experi-
enced an outbreak of oral trichomoniasis among several dozen young swallows and found that a
course of ronidazole was an effective treatment; carnidazole was ineffective on that occasion.
Consult your avian veterinarian for medications to treat internal parasite infection.

Stress

Stress in captivity can be detrimental to any wild bird, swallows are especially susceptible to stress.
When hand‐raising these species, they are best cared for under the supervision of one caregiver
and must be provided a quiet and calm environment dedicated to the unique needs of the
species.

Caught­by­Cat
Cat‐caught birds should immediately be started on an antibiotic such as Clavamox (Hawkins et al.
2018). Small wounds should be cleaned with warm water or sterile saline. A tiny amount of sulfa
silvadene, or other water‐soluble antibiotic cream can be applied if necessary. Administer pain
medication, such as meloxicam. See Chapter 1 for more information on wound care.

Fractures
Wing fractures must be carefully evaluated. Swallows are migratory aerial feeding birds and there-
fore must have 100% recovery from a wing fracture. A fractured humerus typically has a poor
prognosis. Keel fractures are not uncommon, especially for nestlings that fell from the nest or were
victims of nest destruction. Less than perfect recovery from a keel fracture will impact ability for
perfect flight. Confirmation of full recovery from any fracture affecting a bird’s ability to fly should
be evaluated post‐healing when the bird is at the age it should be flying. The assessment should be
conducted in an aviary no less than 24 ft. (7.3 m) in length and 12 ft. (3.7 m) in width. Anything less
than those dimensions will not provide adequate space for evaluation, as the bird will not be able
to gain reasonable speed nor bank and turn in flight.
Leg fractures are common in nestlings and have a higher success rate for recovery due to the
feeding behavior and perching preferences of swallows. However, full functionality of legs and feet