There has to be a substantial number of mites in the bird's body for the clicking sound to be heard. The presence of air sac mites is verified by using a small shining focused light, above the windpipe, or behind and below the eyes. In case of air sac mite infestation, small pepper-sized grains can be observed, within the windpipe, and under the skin, behind and below the eyes. And if these grains are observed for a long time, they can be seen moving. Since the clicking sound is produced by various factors, Health Care depending on that alone is not enough to diagnose the mites. Take your pet to the vet, who will then completely examine your bird, and decide on the course of treatment. a) Isolate the bird; this is essential to prevent the spread of the mites. b) Put the cage in a warm, draft-free area. c) Increase the sleep time so that the bird gets adequate rest. d) Cleaning the cage everyday is important. In case of liquid droppings, the paper must be replaced twice, daily. e) Keep the bird well hydrated. f) What you feed your bird must be high calorie, easy to digest and nourishing. Air sac mites are supposed to be transmitted from one bird to another during feeding, or when one infected bird rubs the beak along a perch (and the other does it as well), and also from parents to the offsprings. 6 must-do things before you take your budgie to the vet Health Care 5 steps you must follow to clean and disinfect your budgie's cage a) Wash the cage and everything inside and outside the cage toys perches, food and water dishes, etc., with soap, (unscented, and non-toxic). Remove all the soiling, and rinse well with water. b) Next, clean everything with a bleach solution. You should apply the bleach solution or wipe the cage and everything else with it and leave it on, for about 10 min. This has to be followed by thorough rinsing, with clear water. (You can make a bleach solution, by using 1 part bleach and 4 parts water.) Ask your vet if you can use this. c) Let everything dry thoroughly in the sun or wipe clean and dry. You can also use a warm oven for this purpose. d) Items that cannot be washed, such as the cuttle bones and mineral blocks, must be replaced. e) All cloth used must be thrown away. Completely clean and disinfect your budgie's things, once a year. Health Care Lice are considered to be uncommon, among well-kept pets. If your budgie was treated for an infection or any disease, clean and disinfect (or throw) everything your pet came in contact with, as soon as possible. And if your bird was treated for parasite infestation, then do the cleaning, once at the start, and again at the end, of the treatment. |