Dog fleaing and birds

[leelee]

I need help and advice. I need to flea and worm the dog as a usual preventative measure. But am concerned about the spot on stuff I usually use. I know that some types contain something that can be fatal to cats. And I'm guessing because there's so much that can harm birds that it may not be safe for them either.
I'm in the UK if that makes any difference. Can anyone recommend a brand that will be safe around a conure?
Thanks.

 

[weco]

Actually, there are quite a few threads, on the forums, about controlling fleas, if you use the forums search option, you'll find a raft of them.....

Here's something I recently posted to a similar thread, though I don't know about dog worming medications.....

Everyone on the forums do not agree about the safety of using some products, such as 5% Sevin dust, around companion birds, however, there have been various medical and veterinary types who have published information about its safety, but those of us charged with the care of our companion animals must make our own decisions, based on the information we have at our disposal:

"In one of her 2006 postings to her Exotic Pet Vet Net, Margaret Wissman, DVM, specifically says that 5% Sevin dust, along with several other products “are usually safe to use around birds” though she does say that you should also discuss its use with your veterinarian. Sarcocystosis

In Canada, Dominion Veterinary Laboratories has a posted paper for Canadian veterinarians, that discusses the Sevin dust product: Dusting Powder (Canada) for Animal Use - Drugs.com

To be fair, there are several activist sites around that would have you not use anything that is not a natural insecticide, but like anything today, we must, based on the information we have at hand, we must make our own informed decisions, that affect us, our families and the animals we have chosen to be responsible for.....

The current issue (1978 Univ. of Minnesota Press, Henry Joseph Griffiths) of A Handbook of Veterinary Parasitology: Domestic Animals of North America, states, in its discussion of control of mites in foul (chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, etc.), specifically the red mite and northern feather mite that: “Control: Involves management of both the birds and their surroundings. Among older compounds, nicotine sulfate is recommended as a roost paint. A wettable powder spray of coumaphos may be used directly on the birds at the rate of of 1 gallon per 100 birds. Malathion dust or spray may be used on roosts, droppings, nests, and litter. Effective and safe control has been accomplished with Sevin dust.”

For those who follow/followed holisticbird.org and their newsletter, their article at HolisticBird and HolisticBirds discusses Sevin dust usage and their experienced success in using it.

Then, in a May 14, 2014, blog Canary Tales: Friends In The Fancy - Dr. Jim Sillers DVM - Air Sac Mites there is an article Air Sac Mites 101 by Dr. Jim Sillers DVM, who starts off the article with “I am not an avian veterinarian but I have owned,bred and treated birds my entire professional life.”then further recommends “If I saw air sac mites in my aviary today I would mix Sevin into a sprayer and spray the cages.”

The various links are posted for everyone’s edification (and to verify/qualify what I have posted, from the scientific/education community to breeders, to veterinarians), from the followers of holistic/alternative medicine to followers of accepted veterinary medicine.....enjoy your reading....."

Leelee, the 5% Sevin dust is available in the UK.....good luck.....

 

[NiRD]

I feed food grade diatomaceous earth. It's a natural dewormer, flea, tick, and mosquito repellant. In even feed it to my birds. I also have peppermint spray that I use on my dogs outside. It's 100% natural.

 

[strudel]

I use a spot-on on my dogs, and have had no issues with any of my cats or the birds (or me). If you accidentally put the dog version on a cat, that can hurt the cat, but putting it on the animal it's intended for hasn't done anything to any of the "brothers and sisters" in my household.

I'd be cautious about any powders or sprays, but I don't worry at all about the spot-on. As far as I know, it just is absorbed through the skin and doesn't have any environmental impact. The package warns not to touch the stuff but there's nothing on there about isolating anybody after they've got it on.

I'm not a chemist, or a vet, so I can't actively recommend anything, but you could make some enquiries at the vet's where you buy your products. They should have a bit of an idea about active ingredients. Or, ask the manufacturers.

 

[weco]

I feed food grade diatomaceous earth. It's a natural dewormer, flea, tick, and mosquito repellant. In even feed it to my birds. I also have peppermint spray that I use on my dogs outside. It's 100% natural.

Hey NiRD, I know there are a number of vendors/manufacturers promoting DE (diatomaceous earth) as the it solution for a number of things, but I have not been able to find any published studies verifying these claims.....was wondering, since you use it, if you have copies of or know where I might be able to find information on any potential validating studies I might be able to read & update my database ? ? ?

Thanks a lot.....

 

[NiRD]

I found published studies on a human health forum. There was a link. It was a few months ago,I'll see if I can dig it up. I would be more than happy to tell you my own personal accounts, though.

I am actually a recent user of this. I had never heard of it until one of my bird's breeders recommended it. He says he uses it in all of his birds and has never had an issue. Sure, why not. I'll try it on my birds. What's the harm?

Now a little background on me- I'm a professional animal behaviorist. I train animals for other people as well as my own, anywhere from birds to dogs, cats, horses (trick train only), and even more exotic animals such as hedgehogs, monkeys, and even have experience with dolphins. Some of what I do brings me into kennels. Some of what I do means I need to bring an animal with me, for education, to demonstrate behaviors, or even to help socialize other animals. I also work with a lot of freshly imported animals.

Now, this is not something I like to admit readily, but no matter how many procautions I've put in place, my dogs kept getting worms, especially because I often work in a board and train kennel. Now, before you tell me I was not doing enough to prevent it, I have a mud room in my home that the animals are not allowed in. I wash thoroughly in there, take my clothes off and put them in a separate washer and dryer that is for work clothes only, set my shoes down in a pan of bleach water, and hop straight in the shower before interacting with my animals. Even still, worms. I started my dogs on a monthly deworming schedule, but they still get them because the y come with me.

Now, ever since I've been giving them diatomaceous earth, I have not been deworming them with harsh chemicals monthly. They check out free and clear every time, and this has not been passed to my birds who have been on it for longer. I still do the same procautions when I get home. That will never stop.

 

[NiRD]

Oh, and about fleas... They aren't very common in this area, but ticks and mosquitoes are. I have a ton of mosquitoes on my property. They only bite the dog I'm boarding who is not on the DE. Also, I haven't found a tick on them since.

 

[Colorguarder08]

The spot on treatment your using on your dog should have no effect on your bird as long as your not using it on the bird.