Treating Finch Eye Disease

Treating finch eye disease takes patience and consistency in applying treatment. It becomes more pronounced and obvious during spring migration.

Migration spreads finch eye disease from one location to another rapidly.

The North American Wildlife Health Care Center's network of rehabilitators have used the following treatment successfully.

The eye lesions have ranged from slightly swollen eyelids with a clear ocular drainage to severe swelling with loss of sight.

When there is loss of sight, there has been nasal exudate simultaneously. In other words, the bird had a runny nose.

The disease outbreak has been investigated by SCWDS, the National Wildlife Health Center, wildlife agencies in various states, and veterinary diagnostic labs in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia.

The disease is a conjunctivitis that has been identified as a bacterium usually associated with chronic respiratory disease in domestic chickens and infectious sinusitis in turkeys.

One recommended treatment is 14 days of oral tetracycline (Panmycin Aquadrops, by Upjohn, at 250 mg/kg, PO, BID approximately .0.05 cc per finch, BID) and 21 days of Tylson.

(Tylan 10, powder for addition to drinking water, Elanco-a division of Eli Lily) at 1/4 teaspoon powder per quart of water. After 21 days of Tylson, continue to use every other day until the bird is released. Make the Tylson the only source of water. Do not offer bathing water during treatment time.

Initially gently clean and open the sore eyes with a sterile saline solution and a Q-tip. Put oxytetracycline eye ointment which is Terramycin by Pfizer in both eyes BID until all swelling and redness is gone. Do this twice daily at least an hour apart from using the drops.

Be patient. It may take close to a month to successfully treat finch eye disease using this treatment.

There are other treatments being tried. As soon as we learn of their success, we will let you know.

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P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education