Coccidiosis in Domestic Pigeons
Bird · Columba livia domestica · typical adult weight 0.30–0.50 kg
4 cited drugs treat Coccidiosis in domestic pigeons: Amprolium, Clazuril, Ponazuril, Toltrazuril.
Protozoal infection of the intestinal tract caused by Eimeria, Isospora, and related coccidian organisms. Significant cause of diarrhoea, weight loss, and mortality in young livestock, poultry, and reptiles in particular.
The overview above describes Coccidiosis across species; the citations below are the ExoticRx dose rules scoped to domestic pigeons — a reference list, not new species-specific clinical guidance.
Amprolium(Corid, Amprol)
Antiparasitic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO (drinking water) | 200 mg/L drinking water | continuous in water; no interval printed | Not printed on the pigeon row. The adjacent amprolium water rows in the same block do print 'x 5-7 days' (5-100 mg/L and 50-100 mg/L, Most species). | Coccidiosis — flock treatment | Moderate | 379. Harlin RW. Practical pigeon medicine. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Avian Vet; 2006:249-262. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.430 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.4 (Antiparasitic Agents Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Clazuril
Uncategorized| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 5 mg/kg | once | — | Coccidiosis | Moderate | 159. Formulary. In: Chitty J, Lierz M, Chitty J, Lierz M, eds. BSAVA Manual of Raptors, Pigeons and Passerine Birds; British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Gloucester, UK; 2008:384-390. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.432 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.4 (Antiparasitic Agents Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — VOLUME CORRECTED 2026-08-07: this citation named BSAVA Part A (Canine & Feline), which does not contain Clazuril. BSAVA ships as two separate volumes and the drug is in BSAVA Part B (Exotic Pets); the reference is to that volume. Verified by searching the held copy of each. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712; BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part A — Canine and Feline — ISBN 9781910443705, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443705; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
| PO | 2.5 mg/bird (total dose, NOT mg/kg) | once; can repeat monthly | Single dose, repeatable monthly. Printed comment, verbatim: 'oocyst shedding commences 20 days post treatment.' | Coccidiosis | Moderate | 964. Vercruysse J. Efficacy of toltrazuril and clazuril against experimental infections with Eimeria labbeana and E. columbarum in racing pigeons. Avian Dis. 1990;34:73-79. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.432 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.4 (Antiparasitic Agents Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Ponazuril(Marquis)
Antiparasitic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 10–20 mg/kg | once; repeat in 10-14 days | Coccidiosis | Weak | 143. Carpenter JW, Hawkins MG, Barron H. Appendix 1: Table of common drugs and approximate doses. In: Speer B, eds. Current Therapy in Avian Medicine and Surgery; Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2016:795-824. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.439 — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Current Therapy in Avian Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9781455746712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781455746712 - Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.4 (Antiparasitic Agents Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table - not the page - is the citable location. |
Toltrazuril(Baycox)
Antiparasitic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 20–35 mg/kg | once | — | Coccidiosis (oocyst shedding suppression) | Moderate | 964. Vercruysse J. Efficacy of toltrazuril and clazuril against experimental infections with Eimeria labbeana and E. columbarum in racing pigeons. Avian Dis. 1990;34:73-79. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.445 doi:10.2307/1591336 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.4 (Antiparasitic Agents Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
| PO (drinking water) | 75 mg/L drinking water | in drinking water x5 days | × 5 days, as printed — a bounded course, not continuous. | Coccidiosis (flock/loft treatment) | Moderate | 381. Harper FD.W. Poor performance and weight loss. In: Beynon PH, Forbes NA, Harcourt-Brown NH, eds. BSAVA Manual of Raptors, Pigeons and Waterfowl; Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA; 1996:272-278. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.445 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.4 (Antiparasitic Agents Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part A — Canine and Feline — ISBN 9781910443705, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443705; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Other conditions in Domestic Pigeons
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice. Verify against current literature before clinical use.