Post by forestfalcon on Feb 20, 2008 21:21:31 GMT -5
From what I understand, oral itraconazole is the drug of choice for treating asper, although, it's a difficult drug to use because it, like other triazoles, can cause anorexia in birds.
"We promised the world we'd tame it, what were we hoping for?" -Bloc Party
I've talked to my vet about it, and he won't prescribe anything without first doing blood work to check liver functions because the drugs are metabolized through the liver and if it's not functioning properly it could kill the bird.
Post by forestfalcon on Feb 21, 2008 7:27:33 GMT -5
I highly agree on the bloodwork thing. I would not recommend treating for asper if you aren't sure your bird has it...the drugs don't come with good side effects.
"We promised the world we'd tame it, what were we hoping for?" -Bloc Party
The guys who go out and trap eagle give them sporonox. I'm not sure if this is the most modern one but I heard a discussion about it about a week ago. I guess passage goldies are REALLY susceptible to asper, so they have to give preventive medicines. I guess that it is the same medication for all birds with different doses.
Post by forestfalcon on Feb 21, 2008 18:32:13 GMT -5
Sporonox is itraconazole. I personally would not give it to one of my birds without having it vet checked for asper. It is too stressful on a bird to give it a foul tasting drug that may make them anorexic, vs. just getting it checked out by a qualified raptor vet in the first place. Again, this is just of personal preference, but I would not recommend giving any of these drugs just as a precaution, the side effects are too great for me.
"We promised the world we'd tame it, what were we hoping for?" -Bloc Party
When my eagle got Asper, he was put into a nebulizer chamber 2 times a day for 15 minutes with amphaterican B. We also gave him amphaterican B directly into his lungs with a long tube on a syringe. He also was given DFEND tablets 2 times a day. In addition to that they did surgery on him and put another drug directly on his airsacks. I don't remember the name of that drug. When the guys trap new eagles, they do put them on asper preventive medication prescribed by a vet. I think its intraconazol or something like that.
Post by forestfalcon on Feb 21, 2008 21:03:50 GMT -5
I think my experience with micro raptors has influenced me to not give drugs like itraconazole preventatively. Tiny birds that are anorexic=no good. But I can see how it may be beneficial to a Golden, who may be able to withstand a day or two or three without eating. And since goldens are more prone to asper, it's probably easier to weigh your odds, and treat appropriately.
"We promised the world we'd tame it, what were we hoping for?" -Bloc Party
IMO, there is NO place in raptor management for guess work on diagnosis, medications, or dosages. When any bird is ill, it's imperative that a good avian vet do a work up (radiographs, blood, fecal, etc.) to determine the cause so the right meds can be given, and administered in the right form.
