Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    Hi! My little darling had scaly face mite last year. I, like you,
    tried something from the pet store, no luck. I brought her to the vet
    and am glad that I didnt wait any longer. In my case, it took two
    shots over a month period - and it cleared up fine. She is now happy
    as can be. By the way, mine was on the feet and her face. I only
    wished I'd took her sooner - I dont want to think of the suffering she
    went through until I did. Only my opinion. You do what's best for both
    of you. 
    Carol Kernich
    

    Hi ,
    
    I had parakeets with Scaly mites before and also took them to the Vet,
    but if you catch it in time I don't think the vet is necessary. I am
    not sure what the medication you got was, but the one that works for me
    is a pyretherine based spray that they sell at a lot of chain stores.
    The nice thing about the spray is it is non-toxic and will only hurt
    the birds if you spray it direct in their eyes. I understand it is
    derived from Crythanthemum flowers. you have to make sure you get it on
    them all over with particular care to the legs, cere and the skin
    around the beak. I have found the spray in Kmart before, and it is
    called mite spray for birds, or something like that.
    
    there is more on this problem in note # 203 and 204.
    
    Doug

    I'm wondering if someone can tell me if my cockatiel has mites or not.
    I've looked through all of the notes but haven't found an answer.
    
    Yesterday I took Mosi out and noticed that one nostril was completely
    blocked.  It's dry and looks hard.    His nose isn't running.  He
    appears to be healthy.  The area around his nostril is a greyish color
    (the dry stuff blocking his one nostril is also grey, but dark).  He
    has no scales or anything built up anywhere.  The other nostril looks
    normal and the color is good.  His feet look fine as well.  Feathers
    are nice.  
    
    Does anyone know what this is?  What it is caused by?  How to treat it?
    
    Thanks, Pam
    

	Seriously, there are several good avian vets in the area.  If you are
	close to the "greater Maynard" area, I suggest either the Countryside
	Vet in Chelmsford, or check thru the NOTESfile for Vet references.

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    How about in the Nashua, NH area?
    
    Has anyone seen this?
    
    Thanks, Pam

    Pam, the trip is worth it!! Try to the avian vet the Dick mentioned in 
    Chelmsford or I would add a suggestion to try Dr. Kilgore at Littleton
    Animal Clinic (Dr. Holub at Countryside also has many 'fans').  These
    two are a few miles down the road from one another, so either will
    cause you to drive about the same distance, but both are specialists
    in avian medicine.  I live in Merrimack and drive to Littleton, and
    I know many others in Southern New Hampshire that drive down to
    Chelmsford or Littleton.  If driving is out of the question, Merrimack
    Vet Clinic does treat birds.  They just moved their practice into a 
    spiffy new clinic building on Old Route 3 (Daniel Webster Highway).
    It's easy to find.  Don't delay, whatever you do.  When birds are
    obviously suffering, they need attention now. Good luck! /Linda

    I dropped Mosi off at the Littleton Animal Clinic this morning.  It
    looks like the raised area around his nostril is swollen and cracked.
    Poor baby.  He seems in good spirits though.  He talked to me all the
    way in the car.  Didn't even seem to be scared.
    
    I'll let you know what they say.
    
    Thanks, Pam

    Well, Mosi looked 10 times worse after taking him home from Dr.
    Kilgore.   She tried to flush out his beak but it started to bleed 
    badly.  She thinks he injured his beak (I don't doubt it with my two
    cats, he does occassionally hit the wall if they scare him).  She
    thinks that he has a cut inside his nostril which opened up when she
    flushed it.   
    
    The crack in his nostril is much bigger now and is separated because
    of the dried blood.  She gave me some antibiotic cream for his nostril
    and some antibiotics for his water.  It does seem to be healing,
    slowly.
    
    I have a feeling he would have been better off not going to the vet and
    letting it heal on its own.  At least I know that it's not a parasite.
    
    If it doesn't heal in a couple of weeks he will be going back.  Still
    may need it flushed once it is healed.
    
    Pam
                                        

	I certainly hope that Mosi is doing better.  I realize that this
	is only two days after your VET visit...

	With small birds, who often don't get out of the house much, the
	car ride and the visit to strnagers is often enough to make the
	symptoms appear far worse then before the trip.

	Birds are excellent at hiding problems, so that between the car
	ride, and the VET trying to treat the problem, often brings everything
	to the forefront at once.

	With my Macaw, I have a small animal leash, and we often go for
	walks in the neighborhood, and car rides, so a trip to the VET
	just means some time outside, which he loves.  I am not sure that
	there is a leash small enough for Cockatiels or Parrakeets.

	Again, best of luck...see you on the slopes...

	-dick

    Thanks Dick.   (is it snowing yet????)
    
    Mosi's nostril is healing.  The dried blood is dissappearing.  
    His nostril seems to be completely clear now. The only
    problem is the crack (in the raised area surrounding the nostril).  
    Before I brought him to the vet, it was very tiny, barely visable.  
    After she flushed it, the crack got so large that it is now separated
    from his beak.  I don't see how it is going to heal.  It is healing,
    but it is separated from his beak (kind of hard to explain). 
    
    Anyone ever had this problem?  What is the reason for this raised 
    circular area around his nostrils?  Can he live without it?  He seems
    fine otherwise.  Dr. Kilgore did say that he was very healthy.
    
    Thanks, Pam
    

    Pam,
    
    A year or so ago I bought a budgie with a large build up on her cere.
    At first I thought it was scaly mites and treated it with a pyretheryn
    spray.  Later I was not sure it was scaly mites, and in addition to the
    pyretheryn I dabbed vegatable oil on her cere(careful not to block the
    nostrils) and misted her frequently. I was told build-up in mature
    female budgies is common and after this treatment the build-up flaked 
    off and she hasn't had any problem since. I mention this only so that
    you might consider the vegetable oil.
    
    Dick,  Do you use a leg chain with the leash ?
    
    I am interested as 2 pidgeons, who have wings that were previously
    broken, have come to live with me. I am wondering how I can take
    them out of their cage for exercise.
    
    Doug

	Doug...

	I was up at Fins & Feathers in Chelmsford, and saw a Ferret Leash,
	it is just a cloth leash with a plastic slide.  I put the loup over
	one leg, and he chews on it until I get him outside, then he is so
	excited about being outside that he forgets all about he leash.

	Actually when he is outside he is holding onto my shoulder with a
	death grip.  I think he likes to be outside, but he wants his safety
	also...

	Pam...

	I am glad things are working out for Mosi.  I know I would be
	absolutely shattered if anything happend to Av (well most of the 
	time anyway)

	-dick_who_is_ready_for_the_season_to_begin

    Hi Doug.
    
    I don't think oil will help.  I guess I'm not explaining myself well.
    
    Picture this.  Your nose is cut half way off your face (ok, so a little
    gruesome).  You decide not to go to a doctor and let it just hang
    there.  It heals separated from your face.  Once completely healed, 
    it always just remains there flopping around.  Now if you had seen
    a doctor, he would have attached it back to your face and it would
    have healed in place.
    
    Is that any easier to understand?  A piece of the raised area that 
    surrounds one of his nostrils, was cracked.  After the vet flushed
    his beak, it bled a lot.  The crack became much larger and now it has
    healed, but away from his beak.  He has this piece kind of just 
    dangling there.  
    
    Pam