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Medical Information Center
There are no antibiotics that are available today that have been tested sufficiently on
ostrich. As a result, the use of specific antibiotics should be the decision of your veterinarian
and should be based on a complete understanding of the problem, bacterial isolation attempts
and antibiotic sensitivity testing.
The following are a listing of some commonly used antibiotics that have been reported to be effective in some instances.
The following are a listing of some commonly used antibiotics that have been reported to be effective in some instances.
Amoxicillin (Smith Kline Beecham) 5mg/lb
Amikacin Sulfate (Aveco) 5 mg/lb.
Batryl (Miles, Inc) 1.13mg/lb
Gentamicin (Schering-Plough) 2 mg/lb.
Sulfadimethoxine (Burns Vet Supply) 12.5 to 25 mg/lb.
Tetracycline 7.5 mg/lb.
Tribrissen (Cooper Animal Health Inc) 2ml/kg
Trimethoprim/Sulfadiazine 48% (Pittman Moore) 20 mg/lb.
Anthelmintics A complete parasite evaluation should be performed on all birds on a routine basis. Anthelminthic treatment should only be conducted when specific parasites are identified and not used on a prophylactic basis.
Complete examination for ectoparasites should include visual and microscopic evaluation for lice, mites, and ticks while both simple smears and concentration procedures (flotation) should be performed on feces for intestinal helminths.
As was the case with antibiotics, there are no anthelminthics that are approved for ostrich. Several have been evaluated in trials and shown to be effective.
These include:
Amikacin Sulfate (Aveco) 5 mg/lb.
Batryl (Miles, Inc) 1.13mg/lb
Gentamicin (Schering-Plough) 2 mg/lb.
Sulfadimethoxine (Burns Vet Supply) 12.5 to 25 mg/lb.
Tetracycline 7.5 mg/lb.
Tribrissen (Cooper Animal Health Inc) 2ml/kg
Trimethoprim/Sulfadiazine 48% (Pittman Moore) 20 mg/lb.
Anthelmintics A complete parasite evaluation should be performed on all birds on a routine basis. Anthelminthic treatment should only be conducted when specific parasites are identified and not used on a prophylactic basis.
Complete examination for ectoparasites should include visual and microscopic evaluation for lice, mites, and ticks while both simple smears and concentration procedures (flotation) should be performed on feces for intestinal helminths.
As was the case with antibiotics, there are no anthelminthics that are approved for ostrich. Several have been evaluated in trials and shown to be effective.
These include:
Fenbebdazole (Panacur 2.5%, Hoechst) 15 mg/kg
Efficacy against nematodes and perhaps cestodes.
Ivermectin (Ivomec, MSD/Agvet) 200 mgl/kg
Efficacy against nematodes and some ectoparasites.
Carbaryl dust (5%) (Security %% Garden Dust, Security Products Co.)
Efficacy against lice.
Clinical Pathology The use of hematology in determining the health status of birds is becoming a more routine practice as data is becoming available. Many insurance companies are requiring some type of testing prior to insuring birds and many veterinarians are using a series of tests to identify both clinical and sub clinically ill animals.
There are two groups of tests that are routinely used:
Table 1, below, provides normal complete blood values for adult ostrich, while Table 2 lists normal serum chemistry values.
Although the interpretation of the information provided by these tests should be conducted by your veterinarian, several general rules should be noted.
White blood cell counts (WBC) over 14,000 are a general indication of ongoing acute or chronic infection. Counts over 20,000 may be the result of excitement during the handling process.
The packed cell volume (PCV) for adult ostrich ( 30-40 %) is generally lower than that seen in most other birds. Juvenile birds will have a lower PCV than adults.
Total Red Blood Cell Counts (RBC) for ostrich are slightly below the average for other birds.
Hemoglobin and hematocrit values for adult Ostrich are higher than that seen in juvenile birds.
Clinical Chemistry Juvenile ostrich have lower calcium and magnesium values than that seen in adult birds.
Immature birds have higher total protein, uric acid, and potassium levels than do adult birds.
Immature Ostrich have higher uric acid levels than do adults.
Obese birds have triglicerides values in excess of 400.
Calcium levels in laying hens should be greater than 14.
Table 1. Hematologic values (Complete blood counts) for clinically normal adult Ostrich.
Table 2. Mean Serum Chemistry Values For Clinically Normal Adult Ostrich
Efficacy against nematodes and perhaps cestodes.
Ivermectin (Ivomec, MSD/Agvet) 200 mgl/kg
Efficacy against nematodes and some ectoparasites.
Carbaryl dust (5%) (Security %% Garden Dust, Security Products Co.)
Efficacy against lice.
Clinical Pathology The use of hematology in determining the health status of birds is becoming a more routine practice as data is becoming available. Many insurance companies are requiring some type of testing prior to insuring birds and many veterinarians are using a series of tests to identify both clinical and sub clinically ill animals.
There are two groups of tests that are routinely used:
- Complete blood counts (total white blood cell, total red blood cell, hematocrit or packed
cell volume, hemoglobin, and differential white blood cell counts)
- Clinical chemistries (glucose, blood urea nitrogen, cholesterol, triglicerides, etc.); Complete blood cell counts are often useful in identifying ongoing infections, problems related to anemia and dehydration while serum chemistries are useful determining problems with specific organ functions, electrolyte imbalances, and to evaluate treatment effects.
Table 1, below, provides normal complete blood values for adult ostrich, while Table 2 lists normal serum chemistry values.
Although the interpretation of the information provided by these tests should be conducted by your veterinarian, several general rules should be noted.
White blood cell counts (WBC) over 14,000 are a general indication of ongoing acute or chronic infection. Counts over 20,000 may be the result of excitement during the handling process.
The packed cell volume (PCV) for adult ostrich ( 30-40 %) is generally lower than that seen in most other birds. Juvenile birds will have a lower PCV than adults.
Total Red Blood Cell Counts (RBC) for ostrich are slightly below the average for other birds.
Hemoglobin and hematocrit values for adult Ostrich are higher than that seen in juvenile birds.
Clinical Chemistry Juvenile ostrich have lower calcium and magnesium values than that seen in adult birds.
Immature birds have higher total protein, uric acid, and potassium levels than do adult birds.
Immature Ostrich have higher uric acid levels than do adults.
Obese birds have triglicerides values in excess of 400.
Calcium levels in laying hens should be greater than 14.
Table 1. Hematologic values (Complete blood counts) for clinically normal adult Ostrich.
| PARAMETER MEAN VALUE | |
|---|---|
| White blood cells (103/ul) | 5.5 |
| Total red blood cell (106/ul) | 1.5 |
| Hematocrit (%) | 30-40 |
| Hemoglobin (mg/dl) | 12-15 |
| Triglicerides (106/ul) | 1.7 |
Table 2. Mean Serum Chemistry Values For Clinically Normal Adult Ostrich
| PARAMETER MEAN VALUE | |
|---|---|
| Albumin (g/dl) | 1.3 - 2.5 |
| Billirubin (umol/L) | 6.0 |
| BUN (mg/dl) | 1.2-1.8 |
| Cholesterol (mg/dl) | 82-97 |
| Glucose (mg/dl) | 215-245 |
| Phosphorus (mg/dl) | 4.4-5.2 |
| Calcium (mg/dl) | 9.5-13 |
| Total Protein (g/dl) | 3.7-4.7 |
| Triglycerides (mg/dl) | 90-130 |
| Urea (umol/L) | 0.4 |
| Uric acid (umol/L) | 460-490 |