Air Sac Mites in Pet Birds 2025 🐦 | Vet Guide by Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

Air sac mites (Sternostoma tracheacolum) are tiny but dangerous parasites that burrow into a bird's respiratory tract—from the trachea and syrinx into the lungs and air sacs. Birds like canaries, finches, and budgies are especially vulnerable. Early detection and veterinary treatment are vital to prevent serious illness or fatal outcomes.

1. 🧬 What Are Air Sac Mites?

These mites infest respiratory tissues—trachea, syrinx, lungs, and air sacs—and can complete their life cycle entirely inside the bird :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}. They physically block airways, causing damage, mucus build-up, and labored breathing.

2. 🚩 Signs & Symptoms

• Abnormal breathing: whistling, clicking, open-mouth breathing, gasping :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
• Tail-bobbing (rise and fall of tail) and wing pumping when breathing :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
• Excessive salivation; reduced preening leads to ruffled, dull feathers :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
• Wheezing, sneezing, voice changes, exercise intolerance, and sudden worsening after stress or handling :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
• In severe cases, sudden death can occur if untreated :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

3. 🧪 Diagnosis: Confirming the Infection

• Veterinary exam and respiratory auscultation.
• Transillumination: shining light through throat may reveal mites against dark tissue :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.
• Endoscopy or tracheal swabs under anesthesia for direct identification.
• Rule out similar respiratory issues like airsacculitis, aspergillosis, or gapeworms :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.

4. 🧪 Treatment: Targeted Veterinary Medication

Treatment must be prescribed and guided by an avian vet:

• Ivermectin: oral, injectable or spot-on application for 5–7 days; often repeated in 7–10 days to interrupt the lifecycle :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.
• Moxidectin (e.g., Scatt®): gentle weekly dosing for 2–3 weeks—effective for air sac mites :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.
• Topical drops (e.g., Avimec®) applied to neck skin; injectable ivermectin may be used for larger species :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}.

5. 🏠 Treat the Entire Flock & Environment

1. Isolate infected birds to protect others :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}.
2. Treat all birds in contact—even asymptomatic—simultaneously :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}.
3. Clean & disinfect cages, perches, toys, and aviary spaces with safe insecticides like permethrin or permectrin II :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}.
4. Repeat environmental treatment weekly for 3–4 weeks to eliminate mites and eggs :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}.
5. Cotton, wood, or porous materials may need replacement.

6. 🛡️ Supportive Care During Treatment

• Keep birds warm, stress-free, and in clean environments.
• Ensure high-quality nutrition and easy access to water.
• Monitor breathing effort, coughing, tail-bobbing, appetite, and energy.
• Repeat check-up and diagnostics 2–4 weeks post-treatment to confirm resolution.

7. 🔄 Preventing Recurrence

• Quarantine new birds for 4–6 weeks; inspect and treat before joining flock.
• Maintain strict hygiene: weekly cage cleaning and disinfection.
• Avoid overcrowding; minimize stress with environmental enrichment and space.
• Regular vet wellness checks—especially for finches, canaries, and budgies.

8. 📉 Prognosis & Potential Complications

• With early and proper treatment, prognosis is good.
• Untreated or misdiagnosed cases can lead to secondary respiratory infections or airsacculitis :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}.
• Mite clearance may take weeks or months—repeat treatment and monitoring is often necessary :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}.
• In heavy infestations, mite die-off may temporarily worsen symptoms—close veterinary supervision is key :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}.

9. ✅ Quick Checklist

10. 🧡 Final Thoughts

Air sac mites pose a serious threat to your bird’s respiratory health—but with vigilant detection, veterinary-led treatment, and environmental management, most birds recover fully. Don’t delay—labored breathing isn’t normal. Early action safeguards your feathered flock and fosters lasting health. 🐥✨

— Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

👉 Visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app for prompt parasite checks, flock health assessments, and step-by-step mite treatment support. 📱🐦