do my zebra finches have air sac mites?

[apachetear]

i put all 4 of my zebra finches into their brand new cage together the other day, they had been living in separate cages of pairs before. i've noticed today that i have some very clicky bird's today, they seem active enough, but they keep clicking- very quietly and opening their beaks like they're yawning (i don't think it's open beak breathing though ) it's possible my latest bird Zarkava bought them in if they have them. or could it have been the cage, it seemed used?

first of all does it sound like asm? (i'm sure i read somewhere zebra finches can't get them? )
and if it is where can i buy treatment from in the Uk? i've seen american websites for the medicines but can they ship to the Uk?
thanks in advance

[L in Ontario]

It does sounds like ASM (clicking and yawning) to me but someone else should confirm it. I don't know where in the UK you can get Scatt or S76. Others will be on soon I'm sure to fill in the blanks. Good luck!

[Sally]

In the UK, you have the Bird Care Co. Here is what they offer:
http://birdcareco.com/English/Product_i ... asite.html

[apachetear]

Thanks for the reply, at least i know it's asm. the last time i thought one of my zebra finches had asm i bought something from pets at home called anti parasite spot on for small bird's containing ivermectin. made by a company called beaphar. it was £3.00 which seemed well priced. it seemed to work on him last time, he was himself and well again in less than a week. i'm just wondering if anyone else has had experience with this as i'm considering buying it again does anyone have any opinions on this method of treatment?

it seems they are all at different stages of it, my hand tame male and new female are quite tired, the male seems really dehydrated i have to keep putting water on my finger till he drinks it, he perks up after a drink. whereas my other female seems ok with the odd click and my other male seems in perfect health.

i just want them to be all well again soon, they really brighten up a dull day indoors. i suffer from m.e so don't get out of the house often and they have really helped me cope since i was first diagnosed, they deserve to be well.

[Sally]

I'm not familiar with that product, but if it contains ivermectin, and you had success with it before, it should be OK. It is difficult to diagnose over the internet, so no one can say for sure that your birds have ASM, but it does sound like it. ASM is normally found mostly in canaries and Gouldians, but it can show up in other species. Check the directions on your product, but if you are treating for ASM, you would need more than a one-time treatment. Usually, it is a three-week treatment, as the life cycle of the mites is three weeks. If you just treat for one week, they will not be controlled.

[apachetear]

I just ordered the anti parasite spot on that i posted about earlier, it's due tomorrow however they're starting to look really ill, i'm putting a cover on them to encourage them to sleep every hour then giving them a couple of hours awake to eat.
i always remember people telling me when i was younger that putting some sugar in water would help a sick animal, giving them an energy boost which would help their body fight off whatever was making them sick. would this work the same for birds? they seem to need alot of energy. thanks for replying all so far.

[L in Ontario]

If you have any Pedialite - you can try giving them a bit of that for electrolytes. Others can suggest different items to use until you get some meds.

Also put a heatlamp right near one of a perch (so they can go to the heat if they need it and move away if they don't need it).

Good luck!

[apachetear]

no pedialite, i hadn't heard of it until now i'm afraid ! at the minute they have access to food, fresh water every few hours containing liquid vitamins, cuttlebone, millet spray and egg food. i've also been giving them blades of grass from my garden, they probably have no nutritional value but it's the only greens they will eat. is there anything else i can give them or do for them until the medicine arrives? i really appreciate everyone's responses, these birds mean so much to me.

[lovemyfinch]

If I am not mistaken Poohbear once told us that we could also use glucose, I do have some drops just in case I am ever in dire need.

[apachetear]

well my medicine should have arrived today and it hasn't, i'm very frustrated. i've been trying to find a natural way to get rid of them, i read on a website that neem leaf tea eradicate all mites and is often used to get rid of ticks and mites on dogs, i'm currently on the hunt for this but does anyone have any similar natural remedies that work?

[Zebra-mutations]

I personally wouldnt bother trying new things out on your birds.

It may even interfer with the other treatment you are planning to use.

I would wait for your treatment