Scaly Face Mites

[RamonaQL]

Hi,

I recently bought two new budgies after my 14 year old budgie Sweet Pea had to put to sleep. I went to the breeder that bred Sweet Pea, who has been in family pet shop (birds & fish) business 40 years.

I originally bought 1 budgie, but there was 1 left in the cage at the pet shop. I felt bad for leaving the only bird, and bought the other bird, named Barbie. Barbie appeared in good health, except one nostril appeared too big and the other really small. Since I've had Barbie home, she has recently developed swelling under both eyes. I immediately took her to my avian vet, and he ran tests. He suspected scaly face mites, and took scrapings from her cere and feet. Everything came back normal, no sign of mites. He was surprised, because they usually show up under the microscope.

He drained the fluid under her eyes, but it has returned. She is hyper, happy, eating, normal droppings, etc. Her breathing is normal, but sometimes her nostrils seem "clogged" or watery.

The vet still suspects scaly face mites, and suggests an injection of ivermectin. Can anyone tell me about this drug? I'm worried about Air Sac Mites, and that the injection could kill her.

Does anyone have any experience with scaly mites? I've had budgies for 17 years, and no experience will scaly face. Barbie doesn't look anything like the pictures. Her cere is clear, but the nostrils seem clogged. Under her eyes are swollen, but her eyes are bright and alert. Her feet may have some rough spots, but I don't notice a huge difference between my other birds.

Thanks and hope to hear from you all!
melaine

[Lora, Archer, & Kira]

I had a budgie with scaly face mites... The "middle" part of his cere just above his beak began to look "spongy" so I sent him off to the vet to said he definitely had mites. I don't remember his cere looking swollen, but this was about 7 years ago... Do you have pictures of the budgie?

[RamonaQL]

Hi,

Here are some photos of my bird Barbie. They might take a while to load. I am not very good at resizing pictures

http://www.geocities.com/businessmat...s/Im000088.jpg

She is the second bird from the front of the camera!

http://www.geocities.com/businessmat...s/Im000089.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/businessmat...s/Im000090.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/businessmat...s/Im000091.jpg

This last one shows the swelling under her eye, and the nostril hole that
appears too big. There is no growth under the eye, only swelling.

My avain vet is concerned I have another appointment with the avian vet, I'm worried about Scaley Mites.

Thank you!

melanie

[blueroseaviary]

I found some pictures of budgies with scaly face. www.birds2grow.com/art-scalyface.html It looks to involve the cere and beak.

I am wondering if your budgie has an infection?

[Monica]

I must agree that it might not be mites that are causing the problem. It may be some virus or illness that's not taken full affect on her, though nonetheless she has???

[RamonaQL]

Hi,

Thank you for the scaly face pictures. I hadn't seen ones like that before. The avian vet ran a slew of tests for psittacosis, bacteria infections, fungus, and everything came back normal. Barbie is very hyper, no signs of illness except the swelling under her eyes. She is upset to be separated from my flock. She has another appointment with the avian vet. He doesn't want to inject her with ivermectin if she doesn't have scaly face. He hasn't found any mites under the microscope. I'm taking in Barbie's best friend to see if any scrapings or swabs from her reveal Scaly Face. She shows no symptoms, but he will check around her beak.

Has anyone had a bird with a sinus infection only causing swelling? I have had budgies for 17 years (I'm 23!), and never seen anything like this. My oldest budgie lived to be 16!

thanks,
melanie

[RamonaQL]

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to post an update about my Budgie, Barbie, who had very swollen eyes 2 weeks after I bought her. She is doing very well! I took her to my normal avian vet twice. She received a shot of ivermectin about two weeks ago. Her eyes still remained swollen, so we took Barbie to an avian specialist doctor with thirty years experience and is a member of the American Association of Avian Veternarians. He was amazing. Barbie didn't have scaly face mites, but she had a cold that reached the sinus. The specialist was able to run more tests, and swab the back of her throat to isolate the exact "cold" bug she had. He prescribed an oral antibiotic to be given by mouth twice per day (.1 cc based on her weight) with a syringe without a needle. The avian specialist did the first dose, and my regular avain vet did the second dose while a regular vet held her! Giving an untame budgie oral medicine twice a day has been fun.

The change has been remarkable. By the second day, the swelling decreased considerably. We are now on day 6 of the medicine, and there is no swelling. Her droppings have returned to normal and she doesn't wheeze after exercise. She is SO MUCH happier and spends most of the day gussing up, and singing. I feel so thankful to live in a city with avian vets and avian specialists.

I'm posting some pictures.

Here is a picture from a few days after she started the medicine:

http://www.geocities.com/businessmat...s/Im000093.jpg

Yesterday's photo:

http://www.geocities.com/businessmat...s/Im000096.jpg

Today's photo (sorry, not a great photographer)

http://www.geocities.com/businessmat...s/Im000097.jpg

Anyway, thank you for all your ideas and taking the time to tell me it was an infection. You were right -- it took an avian specialist, and four vet trips later, but I have a happy and healthy bird!

ramona :-)

[Monica]

That's Great to hear!!! Glad she is doing better and you got the illness figured out! Can't wait to hear more on how she is doing!

[Lora, Archer, & Kira]

She looks SO much better! I'm glad you found someone who finally figured it out for you!

[RXK]

Hi Ramona,

i know this thread is from 2004, but i was wondering if you could re-post the pictures (the before and afters). i'm interested in seeing them.

Thanks :)