An Air Sac Mite Question

[gina]

I have only 3 male gouldians presently (for 2+ months) all of which are in good color, nice feathers close to the body and are eating and drinking heartily. I just noticed this evening when putting them to bed for the night, what seemed like a very faint clicking noise (like a slow tick of a watch)coming from one of them. He is not fluffed or breathing hard - he actually looks fine. Could this be air sac mites with him looking so good, otherwise? I think I will Iverlux the water tomorrow, anyway. I guess it can't hurt. I am so grateful to have all these experienced finch fanciers at my fingertips! Thank you.

[L in Ontario]

When was the last time you treated them with Iverlux... or anything? Wouldn't want to give it too close to a previous dose of something.

[gina]

I've had them since the end of January and have never treated them with anything before.

[L in Ontario]

Then it should be safe to treat them but I have never used Iverlux. If you need specific information about that product - someone else will have to help out. I only use Scatt.

[gina]

I put Iverlux in the drinking water today, and tonight I noticed for the first time a few little sneezes from my gouldian finch who was "clicking" faintly last night. My veterinarian husband (not an avian specialist, but has treated minor problems in birds) says that when you start killing the mites there can be a reaction to them dying and make symptoms seem worse at first. Does anybody have any experience with this? He is still looking pretty good, as far as I can tell. His feathers are nice and tight and he is eating and flying to his favorite perches like usual. His breathing may be a touch harder than the other two finches, but you really have to look close and watch for a while to notice it. He was chirping today, but not singing like the other two. I hope I am not too late with treatment! He is such a sweetie. I call him "my handsome guy".
Does anybody have any experience with Iverlux in the water for treating air sac mites? How can I be sure he's drinking enough to get the right amount of medicine in? He doesn't seem to be dehydrated (not lethargic or sleepy). I am a nervous wreck over this.

[lstyles]

I don't have any experience with iverlux but have used S76 and noticed the same thing....that they seem to get worse before they get better. This actually makes sense physiologically as your husband can tell you. Even people often get sicker immediately after starting treatment. My new gouldians were in much worse shape than your bird and have made it through fine. They are tough little birds but I thought my worst one was gonna keel over any minute the way he was working to breathe. I am not sure how iverlux is used but generally you give them 2-3 days of treatment. By the symptoms you are describing, I think he will be fine. I would re-treat per the iverlux instructions as they can have a relapse due to where the mites are in their cycle...kind of like fleas on dogs. I am now treating every three weeks with S76 as my juveniles are coloring up and the adults seem to just be starting to moult. This apparently is a stressful time for them and I want to keep them covered.
Good luck,
Lori

[gina]

Thank you for the info and pep talk, Lori. I think S76 and Iverlux are the same thing by different manufacturers. I read the S76 instructions and they are identical to Iverlux. If the sneezing continues beyond treatment, the breeder I got him from recommended amoxicillin as it might be a cold. I don't hear any clicking anymore, but every now and then I hear a sneeze and he was shaking his head a little earlier this evening. I have not isolated him yet, as he is still peppy enough to be hard to catch and I don't want to stress him any more. I have directed a heat lamp onto him specifically, on the perch where he is sleeping tonight. He is the most submissive of my 3 finches and I feel bad because he is not well and still getting bullied a little by the other 2 birds.

[lstyles]

Glad to help. I found that the second go round of S76 three weeks later did the trick. They had started to occasionally click just before the second S76 was due but after the second treatment they have been fine since. I feel like the second treatment killed off any mites that were in a stage no susceptible to S76 the first treatment.
Hope your bird gets better!
Lori

[gina]

He seems alot better today! Don't hear clicking or sneezing. The only thing I noticed is that he is may be itchy. He is scratching himself and preening a lot. I'm thinking maybe he had some external mites as well that are acting up as they are dying. I purchased an avian bug spray from the internet for the cage and its contents. It is supposed to arrive on the 13th. I'm not sure when it's best to treat the environment, but it will have to wait until after the 2nd Iverlux treatment. Do you treat the entire premises monthly as well? Oy! That's a lot of work . Oh well. They surely are worth it!