Birds are occasionally infected with a burrowing mite called Knemidokoptes (if you want to make an effort at pronouncing this word the K is silent). Most people just call it Scaly Face Mites. We usually encounter this problem in parakeets (Budgies) at our hospital, although any bird can get it. This parasite causes extensive crusting and hair loss on the face and vent.  Fortunately, it is readily treatable.

Face of a budgie with severe mange

Birds with cases as severe as this are miserable

Feet of a budgie with severe mange

He cannot even walk as evidenced by his overgrown nails. This is sometimes known as “tassel foot”.

Cause

Scaly face disease is caused by a mite called Knemidokoptes that is spread from bird to bird by contact. An example is the nest box during feeding, and contact with parents. Some birds acquire this parasite while young and do not develop symptoms until they are young adults.

Since these mites live only on the bird it is not necessarily to treat the cage area with a disinfectant or any product that kills mites. These products can be dangerous to a bird due to their sensitive respiratory system and can risk toxicity.

Diagnosis

This disease is diagnosed by the character of the lesions and the fact that it has occurred in a Budgie. Microscopic examination by a skin scraping will reveal the mite.

It sometimes starts as plaques on the edges of the beak, then processing to the full beak and the rest of the body sometimes. When it progresses the problem is painful and leads to serious disease and even death.

Head of a bird distorted by this mite

This bird has the telltale lesions of scaly face mites. There is crusting on the neck and face, and a honeycombed appearance to the beak. This is a severe case. In addition, this bird has a growth on its beak.

Cloaca of a bird with scaley face mite

Lesions also occur in other areas, most noticeably in the vent and on the feet

Don’t assume any bird with lesions on its beak is from the scaly face mites.

Cockatiel with a traumatized beak that is not scaly face mites.

This birds has beak trauma from being bitten by another bird. The discharge is from food.

Budgie (parakeet) with exuberant beak tissue at the nose (cere) called hyperkeratosis

This budgie has hyperkeratosis of the cere, and not scaly face mites. We would remove it only if it causes any problems. 

Male budgie (parakeet) with minor nasal discharge that is not scaly face mites

The brownish tinge to the feathers above the blue cere (nostrils) in this male budgie is due to respiratory disease and not scaly face mites

Treatment

Years ago the only treatment we had was an ointment that was used to treat pubic lice in people. It was messy and had to be applied daily, but it usually worked. Now we use the drug Ivermectin, given every week or two until the problem is gone, usually within 3-4 weeks.

Improved face of bird after only one treatment

This is a bird 10 days after its first Ivermectin treatment. We removed the growth on its head a few days before this using the laser. This is the only way to do this type of surgery in our hospital due to its tremendous ability to control bleeding, a critical point in an animal this small that only has a few drops of blood in its cardiovascular system. 

Substantially improved face of bird after several treatments

Here he is 2 weeks after his second treatment. He is almost completely healed and feeling a million times better. Hard to believe it’s the same bird.

Budgie (parakeet) being gently held by one of our nurses

It is not unusual for them to look this good by the 3rd treatment

Budgie (parakeet) playfully biting the glasses of one of our nurses.

Looks like he is feeling better!

He was brought into our clinic and dropped off as part of our wildlife program since he was a stray and was found by one of our clients. He has a great personality, and once we got him looking like this we had no problem finding him a home (with a girlfriend).

Peregrine falcon with scabs at the nose (cere) due to trauma

Speaking of our Wildlife Program, here is a Peregrine Falcon brought to us from the high rise buildings in downtown Long Beach. It traumatized its cere from hunting pigeons. This shows that there are many problems to the beak besides scaly face mites.

Other animals get mange mites. The more common ones are Demodex and Sarcoptes (scabies).

Cat with scabies on legs, face, and ears

This poor cat has Scabies on its legs, face, and ears

You can learn more about this disease from the Merck Veterinary Manual.

Most birds with scaly face mites are not presented as an emergency, although it is quite possible due to the terrible appearance of these birds when they have been infected for a long period of time. If your budgie shows any sign of illness, no matter how minor, it is considered an emergency in veterinary medicine.

The Long Beach Animal Hospital staffed with emergency vets is available until the evenings 7 days per week to help if you see this in your pet, so please do not wait or attempt to take care of this problem on your own. If you have an emergency always call us first(562-434-9966) before coming in so that our veterinarians can advise you on what to do at home and so that we can prepare. To learn more please read our Emergency Services page.

Return to Avian Diseases page.