How to Vaccinate an Ostrich

Because ostriches are so hearty it has long been debated by veterinarians whether the ostrich should be vaccinated or not. Some vets believe it is useful to vaccinate ostriches against a couple of horse diseases such as Eastern and Western Encephalomyelitis and Clostridium perfringens Types C and D are sometimes used in the same way that emus are vaccinated. Others feel that the ostrich should only be vaccinated when there are outbreaks of West Nile. If after consulting with your vet, you decide that you need to vaccinate your ostriches, follow these simple steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ostrich
• Helper
• Veterinary recommended vaccine
• Syringe
• Alcohol swab
• Sterile bandage

1. Keep the ostrich calm. This can be done with the aid of a helper. Have them gently hold the bird and speak to them in soothing tones throughout the vaccination.

2. Find a spot in the meatiest part of the upper thigh. Separate the feathers gently and inject the vaccine.

3. Inject the vaccine slowly and smoothly. Intramuscular injections can be quite painful so it's vital to the bird's comfort to be gentle here.

4. Clean the area around the injection are thoroughly with a sterile, alcohol swab. Be liberal with the alcohol to ensure no secondary infections.

5. Place a sterile bandage over the injection area, make sure that the bandage stays over the wound. Take your time, this can be tricky, as you want to be sure to stick the bandage to skin and not feathers. It is important to remember that intra muscular injections can be very painful, so the ostrich will be upset and probably want to get away from you.

Tips & Warnings

• Measure out the desired vaccine in the syringe before starting.
• Consult a vet before attempting to vaccinate an ostrich, as the amount and type of vaccine necessary will vary by bird and environment.