Scaly Leg or Scaly Face Mites
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Also refer to "Bumble Foot"
Bookmarks on this page:
- Scaly Leg Mites
- Scaly Face Mites
- Scaly Face and Scaly Leg Mite Infestations in Aviary Birds
- Common Treatments
Scaly feet / legs or scaly face are most commonly caused by borrowing mites. The mites causing this condition are diagnosed by direct visualization with a magnifying lens or in scrapings from affected tissues.
Clinical symptoms include pitting; scaly, crusty lesions; localized swelling of tissue; and the affected areas are the beak, face (scaly face), vent and legs / feet (scaly legs).
Untreated and at times even treated birds may develop permanent disfigurement.
Knemidokoptes, for example, causes a type of mange known as "scaly face" and "scaly leg". These microscopic mites burrow in the non-feathered areas around the cere, beak, eyes, vent and legs. Secondary bacterial infection and arthritis may occur.
Different species of mites affect different species of birds. Knemidokoptes is most frequently found in budgies; however, they have also been reported in other species of birds.
The lesions develop very slowly, so that an infected bird may appear normal for a long period of time. It is thought that these mites are acquired in the nest, with the infection remaining latent for a long period of time.
Beak & Cere: Tiny non-itching, wart-like lesions appear at the commissures of the beak or around the cere. Advanced infestation spreads to the unfeathered parts of the body.
The involved beak and skin develop a roughened honeycombed appearance consisting of tiny pits and tunnels. The beak becomes distorted as the mites affect the zone of growth. Many birds will require life-long beak trims and shaping.
Legs & Feet: Canaries and finches more commonly have their legs and feet affected by these mites. Their legs become scaly and crusty, and their claws become overgrown and cracked. Affected birds often become unable to perch.
Pigeons: In pigeons, a type of knemidokoptes causes severe itching and this is often referred to as "depluming scabies". These mites tunnel into feather follicles and feather shafts causing severe itching and feather loss.
Diagnosis is based upon the characteristic physical appearance they produce and skin scrapings. These mites may be affectively treated with ivermectin, an insecticide.
Other causes:
- These swellings can also be caused by strangulated fibers or insect bites.
- Age: Scaly legs in canaries can also be a sign of old age (please refer to information below)
- Nutritional Deficiency: Birds deficient in vitamin A are particularly susceptible to this condition. Seeds are typically low in vitamin A. This vitamin promotes appetite, digestion, and also increases resistance to infection and to some parasites.
The most obvious sign of a vitamin A deficiency is a feather stain above the cere. The staining of the feathers above the nostrils reflects a discharge from the nostrils. Subtle differences may be seen as far as the color intensity of the cere and feathers is concerned - and the overall condition of the plumage. A bird deficient in this vitamin may have pale, rough-looking feathers that lack luster. The cere may look rough instead of smooth, and you may see an accumulation of a yellow dry scale on the sides of the beak.
Vitamin A occurs naturally in dark leafy greens and orange-colored produce, such as apricots, cantaloupes, carrots, red peppers, pumpkins and sweet potatoes. To resolve Vitamin A deficiency, try adding foods like sweet potatoes (either cooked or steamed until soft), mashed up with other fruits will be both loved by your pet bird, as much as it is good for her or him. Many birds also enjoy fresh carrot juice - or try offering shredded carrots. Natural sources are preferable over synthetically produced nutrients, which may not be absorbable and could easily be overdosed).
Scaly leg mites bore under the scales on the legs of the bird. The scales enlarge, get rough and become infected, thus potentially causing lameness in the bird. These scaly legs are commonly referred to as "tasselfoot" in some species.
Heavy scaling of the feet / legs can result in reduced mobility and increased discomfort.
- Aging canaries: Scaly feet or legs in older canaries are often an indication of a build-up of calcium salt between the scales of a canary’s feet and legs. Dr. Rob Marshall states in book Canary Health, the “legs of young birds are cleaner than old birds and quite free of scale”. However, some canaries are susceptible to having the calcium salt problem their whole life.
In younger canaries suffering from scaly legs or feet, one can assume that the problem is caused by a mite infection.
These mites are most common on budgerigars, where it is found on the cere, the skin around the beak, around the vent and on the legs. The mites burrows in the skin, causing a powdery appearance to the skin. The beak may look white, chalky and crusty and will have a honeycomb appearance. The crustiness can spread around the bird’s cere (the lump at the base of the beak) and eyes.
Scaly face mange mites may also cause lesions on the bottom surface of the feet of canaries and goldfinches, and sometimes lesions occur on the leg scales. Please refer to Scaly Leg.
Diagnosis is usually confirmed by skin scrapings which are then studied under a microscope.
Common Treatments:
"Cage protectors" commonly found in pet stores are ineffective and may be toxic.
SCATT: One of the most effective treatments for mites seems to be SCATT - a treatment produced by Dr. Marshall - a well-known and published avian vet in Australia. Another treatment is S76. Please visit this website for information on both treatments.
Scatt has a residual effect and one dose is effective for about 3 weeks. The other treatment, S76, is a good choice for treating mites that do not feed directly on the bird’s blood or living tissue, such as feather mites. . Some mites like to hide in the cracks and crevices of your bird’s cage. So environmental treatment is important.
Ivermectin: Vets may also prescribe Ivermectin.
Alternative medications are Avomectin or Moxydectin (may be obtained at your better pet / bird store without a Vet's prescription). One product that is frequently used is Scalex - and it is also effective in removing scales. Scalex is usually freely available at local stores.
Simple common household products, such as either Benzyl Benzoate, Paraffin or Petroleum Jelly, have been successfully used to treat birds with initial or minor infection. The bird's legs are soaked in an oil or cream to suffocate the mites. This procedure is repeated every 3 to 4 days for 2 weeks. The old scales will then fall off over time and be replaced with new scales. One breeder described coating seeds with vegetable oils and as his canaries walked over the seeds, their legs got coated with oil and the mites suffocated. He stated that his canaries were mite free within 2 weeks.
Tips for remove the scales on scaly feet (NOT scaly face - you could get water into the nostrils potentially aspirating your pet bird):
Wash your pet bird's feet CAREFULLY in warm water. Apply 2 tablespoons of vaseline (or you can try olive oil or baby oil) on your pet's feet and legs every day for 5 or 6 days.
For additional healing and effectiveness, brew yourself some nice chamomile tea for drinking, and take the warm and wet teabags and place them over your pet's feet for a couple of minutes. This will also help losen them while healing the wounds at the same time.
Some people also add GSE to the water - for its anti-parasitic properties.
After a week or sooner, the scales should start to come off and soon thereafter your pet should be scale-free.
If the scales are slow to come off, try rubbing the scales very gently. But don't be impatient and don't be tempted in forcing the issue. If you pull the scales off before they are ready, the wound will start bleeding.
I received the following e-mail that might be of interest to you:
"I wanted to share with you that I have a friend who's bird suffered terribly from the worst case of bird mites her vet had ever seen. He had a crusty substance covering his face and beak from the mites. I suggested to her that she get some GSE (Grapefruit Seed Extract), mix five to ten drops in one tablespoon of distilled water and dab onto the affected areas. Never use GSE full strength and be careful to avoid eyes. This treatment cured her bird. He is finally mite free after a horrific battle not unlike the one described in the article. It worked relatively quickly too. You can also add one drop of GSE to every four to eight ounces of drinking water and treat the bird from the inside. "
(Note: Any treatment protocol needs to be discussed with a qualified vet first. There is no guarantee that any of the listed treatment options are safe and/or effective.)
Scaly Face and Scaly Leg Mite Infestations in Aviary Birds
Dr Cam Day
Scaly Face is caused by a mite known as either the Scaly Face Mite or the Scaly Leg Mite. In canaries the same mite causes a condition commonly called 'Tassle Foot'. The mite’s scientific name is Cnemidocoptes. Being an arachnid, it is an eight-legged beastie and is the smaller cousin of the spider, the tick and the scorpion. It burrows under the scales of the legs and into the keratin of the bird’s beak. However, it can also be found around the vent of birds and on their wing tips.
What will I see if my bird is affected with Scaly Face and Scaly Leg?
When the mite infects budgerigars, the beak will look white, chalky and crusty and will have a honeycomb appearance. The crustiness can spread around the bird’s cere (the lump at the base of the beak) and eyes. The crusty, scaley appearance also appears on the legs and sometimes around the vent. If the problem is left untreated, the infection in the growing portion of the beak can cause the beak to become permanently deformed. Canaries generally show a different appearance. Their legs develop thickened areas that look more like corns.
What will my vet do to treat the disease?
Your veterinarian will probably confirm the infection by doing a scraping of the affected areas. This is easily done and if the mites are present, they are quite visible under a microscope. Ask your vet for a peek down the microscope as the mites are fascinating critters. They look much like a cross between ET on a bad hair day and a miniature mud crab with attitude! The most effective treatments for Scaly Face or Leg mite infestations are Avomectin, Ivermectin or Moxidectin which can only be prescribed by your veterinary surgeon. In the past many other treatments have ben used but are less effective. Most of these preparations are a mixture of benzyl benzoate and paraffin oil. One recommendation is to use such a product daily for three days, and repeat this three times with two weeks between each treatment. Bird fanciers often treat the condition by rubbing petroleum jelly or paraffin oil on the beak, the cere, and the legs of the budgerigars on a daily basis. While this does not directly kill the mite, it is thought that it causes them to suffocate. Paraffin oil will also help to soften the crusts and to remove them from a bird’s face and legs. In addition, the preparations should be placed around the vent and on the wing tips of each bird as the mites sometimes hide in these areas. While this is a time-honoured technique, it is falling into disfavour because it is easy to get the oil onto a bird’s feathers.
The oil is very difficult to remove, and sometime the only method is to wait until new feathers replace the oiled ones.
If you are putting any oily preparation onto the beak be careful that your bird does not swallow or inhale any of it. Use a cotton bud to ensure the oil is placed accurately.
Should a bird’s beak be growing abnormally from damage the mites have caused to the cere, trimming of the beak regularly may be needed. This needs to be done carefully as any incorrect trimming could be disastrous. Play it safe and let your veterinarian do this.
Controlling Scaly Face and Leg Mite
The big problem with Scaly Face is not how to treat an individual bird. The concern is how to stop the problem from affecting other ‘in contact’ birds. Scaly Face is quite contagious and if left untreated, other birds will succumb to the disease. In addition, because the infection only becomes obvious after six to twelve months, it can have quite a toe-hold on a flock of birds before the problem becomes obvious. The mite spends its whole life cycle on the bird thus it appears to be transmitted between birds by direct contact. It is also likely that some birds are genetically more susceptible to the mite than others. It also seems able to burrow into wooden perches in the cage. Therefore, you should replace perches in an infected cage weekly, using branches from native trees. Ivermectin can also be used to control Scaly Face in an aviary of birds. Your veterinarian will advise you further on its use and on other procedures to control the problem. Be sure to be on the lookout for Scale Face or your beleaguered budgie may never want to show it beak in public again! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr Cam Day BVSc BSc MACVSc is a veterinary surgeon, an animal behaviour consultant and media presenter. In 1995 he qualified as a Member of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in the discipline of Animal Behaviour and is one of only 15 veterinarians with this qualification in Australia. He works full time in animal behaviour management in Queensland, consulting with dog, cat and bird owners on a daily basis as well as appearing on air as Brisbane’s radio Pet Vet, and writing for various magazines.
Related Resources: Scaly Face by Dr. Colin Davis BVSc ... Fact Sheet
MITES & LICE / Related Websites: Best of Finchlovers Mailing List: Mite Photos (Department of Medical Entomology) ... Iowa Insect Information Notes ... Bird & Mammal Mites
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