Avitrol Plus Wormer

COMPOSITION: Levamisole hydrochloride 10 mg/mL, Praziquantel 2 mg/mL.

INDICATIONS: Threadworm (Capillaria sp.), Caecal worm (Heterakis sp.), Roundworm (Ascaridia sp.), gape worm (Syngamus sp.), gizzard worm (Acuaria sp.) and Tapeworm (Raillietina sp.) in ornamental cage birds.

CONTRAINDICATIONS: Administration to species or strains of birds known to be sensitive to the effects of levamisole. Not recommended for use in Gouldian finches.

PRECAUTIONS: Parrots appear to be less tolerant than pigeons to levamisole. Do not dose in extremely hot, dry weather or treat stressed birds, or birds that are feeding young.

WITHHOLDING PERIODS: Meat: 7 Days

ADVERSE REACTIONS: Side effects include regurgitation (which is not considered to be harmful), incoordination, leg and wing paresis; atropine has been used as an antidote. Deaths of birds up to 2 days after dosing have been attributed to obstruction from massive
roundworm infestation.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION:

Dose guide for crop administration: 

[Type of bird; Weight of Bird; Dose (drops of undiluted syrup)]

Finch 15g 1.5

Budgerigar 30g 3.0

Budgerigar 50g 5.0

Cockatiel 80g 8.0

Cockatoo 500g 50.0

Make up dose to 1 to 5 mL with water in a syringe.

Crop administration:. A crop needle or tube placed directly into the crop can be used to administer Avitrol Plus syrup by syringe. Do not administer any liquid into the crop unless you are confident that the crop needle or tube is correctly placed.

Diluted in drinking water: 0.5mL (12 drops) to 20mL of water or 25mL/L. Use this as the sole source of drinking water for 24 hours and feed only seed, then replace with fresh clean water. Solution should be freshly made up before dosing. Repeat in 14 days with fresh solution, or as directed by a veterinary surgeon. This provides a dose of 40mg/kg bodyweight based on an average bodyweight of 30g and consumption of 5mL/day. In summer the dose should be reduced to account for increased water consumption, which may be double or more.

For threadworm, caecal worm, gape worm and roundworm a dose of 0.025mg/g (25mg/kg) bodyweight has been found adequate. For gizzard worm a dose of 0.05mg/g (50mg/kg) is necessary.

Good husbandry practices: Zone control is important in the management of these worm parasites. To prevent re-infestation, practise good hygiene and sanitation, and eliminate dampness. Ideally the birds should be moved into a clean cage 48 hours after initial treatment, and the old cage thoroughly scrubbed and disinfected. To prevent infection from the outside, prevent birds access to intermediate hosts, e.g. grasshoppers, cockroaches and earthworms. Wild birds can infect the aviary with their droppings.