light red dots on my parakeets head?

Question
I was playing with my parakeet when suddenly he flew off. I found him on my desk next to my mirror with little red dots on his forehead. He didn't have them before and I don't know if they're mites or not because my keet doesn't let me touch him on his head or anywhere on his body so I can't check. Usually if something's on his head (a feather, food) he tried to rub it off but I don't know if he knows that the dots are there or that he just doesn't want to rub it off (it hurts?) Please help!
P.S. When I got my keet, I never really established going to a vet, should I start doing that? Because before when he didn't get the dots, he seems so healthy


Answer
It sounds like mites to me.  You can get a very effective treatment from a vet that will clear it up right away.  That will relieve the painful itching that he's having, and he'll let you touch him again.  These things spread very quickly to other parts of the birds' body or other birds, so get it treated ASAP.  This can cause more severe sores if untreated.  And it's pretty common for a bird to seem just fine before an infestation.

Preventative measures are always a good idea.  A check up is usually about $100 where I go, but it keeps them healthy and the vet can check up on things before they get severe.