Found young pigeon. Need help!

[Vesna]

Hi everyone,

I need advice please. I found what I believe to be an adolescent pigeon yesterday in my yard. I believe it had a bit of a run in with my dog but I have checked it for wounds and other than a few minor feathers lost it doesn't seem to have any major injuries. I have noticed the bird to be making a sort of throat clearing motion can you tell me if this is of concern?
I put her in a cage overnight with water and seed. She drank water and ate some seed. Her poops are a sort of muddy colour with white and I weighed her and she weighs 228 grams. I am worried about the throat clearing as she does it often, could this be a sign of stress or anxiety?
Is this a normal action, I am now letting her wander around a spare room. I would appreciate your help. thanks Vesna

[Trees Gray]

Hi Vesna,

Could you open the beak and look down the throat and see if you can see any yellow or light yellow growths/lesions inside?

Have you checked for any injuries around any ruffled feathers around the throat?

It could be injury, parasites, disease, until we investigate this further.

[Vesna]

I will go and check down the birds throat and the neck feathers and I will let you know. Thanks

[Vesna]

Just checked the bird and I found no signs of injury or any cheesy growths in the throat. The bird stays put most of the time with its feathers puffed up. Walks around the room when I approach. Thinking of adding some unflavored pedialyte to the water. Do you think I should try and put it back in the cage outside so it can enjoy some sun or just leave it indoors? Does that weight seem very light for a young bird?

[cyro51]

The throat clearing, feather fluffing and the low weight would give me some cause for concern. Whatever is affecting her could have made her vulnerable to the cat.

I would keep her indoors but either under a heat lamp or on a heat pad, and try to strengthen her up.

As she was mouthed by a cat she should be put on a course of synulox just to avoid the possibility of pasteurella septicemia.

Despite the fact that there are no cheesy lesions visible I would give her a tablet of spartrix. I have a baby woodie now that only has a cheesy growth on her top "palate", but she does that throat stretch and clear thing.

Cynthia

[Vesna]

Thank you for the advice, the only medication I have is baytril. It was given to me by my Vet for my pigeon who is a pmv pigeon. I ended up not using it on her. I have had her now for almost a year and give her lots of extra tlc, she is a very special bird. I hope to take this bird to the Vet but today being Sunday there is no where to go.
It is very hard to find good medical care for pigeons. Any advice in the meantime?

[Trees Gray]

Hi Vesna,

Thank you for helping this bird.

Please follow the advice already given and keep the bird warm.

Do you have any garlic caps, or apple cider vinegar? These things help until you can seek an avian vet.

Where do you live? Perhaps we can find some help.

[Lady Tarheel]

Hi Vesna, when we get in a pigeon that seems a litttle "off" we do the following:

1. Make a small bed with shavings, covered with paper towels. We use the cases that canned drinks come in, cut in half, slide the halves together and put the shavings and towels in it. Then we put that in a regular cage.

2. Set up a heating pad with a towel laid on top and place cage on top of that.
Allow enough room for the bird to move off to a cooler spot if bottom gets too hot. Cover the cage with towels, leaving one side open.

3. Use Pedialyte as the sole source of drinking water - in a small container in the cage. If the bird can't drink we will use a syringe and give it small amounts of Pedialyte several times a day.

4. Place a small container of seed in the cage also. If a bird can't eat on its own we use Exact formula to hand feed them.

5. Put the cage and everything in a room that is quiet.

About the weight - This may be a fledgling, just out of the nest and learning to fly. If it is an adult then the weight is real cause for concern.

If you are taking it to the vet tomorrow then I would hold off on the Baytril until then. Just keep it as comfortable as possible in the meantime.

I am not that familiar with how a dog's saliva might affect a bird. Hopefully, another member may know more than I about dog bites and can advise you. I know that a catbite can be deadly if not treated promptly. Be sure to go over the bird carefully, moving the feathers and check for any punctures. If you have any Betadene (it looks like iodine and flows like that too), swab some on any areas that look like punctures.

Thank you for rescuing this little fellow.

[Vesna]

I live in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. I do have gel garlic capsules in the powder form. I add that to my other pigeons water occasionally. I do not have apple cider vinegar but can go get some. I would not know how much to give.

[Trees Gray]

ACV is 2 tablespoons per gallon of water.

[Vesna]

I will go out and buy a heating pad. Will any apple cider vinegar do or should I look for a certain kind. I will also give the bird straight pedialyte instead of diluting it with water. Should I give it the garlic in a seperate dish of water? The bird does look like it was born this year, it has a pinkish brown nose and some slight brown in its feathers. I believe something to be wrong or how else would the dog be able to catch the pigeon. I appreciate all your help and look forward to further advice. Thanks

[Trees Gray]

Will any apple cider vinegar do or should I look for a certain kind.

If you can find a health food store, they should sell the raw apple cider vinegar which is potent.

I will also give the bird straight pedialyte instead of diluting it with water.
Should I give it the garlic in a seperate dish of water?

Do not give the ACV at the same time. First get the bird rehydrated.

The garlic can go over the seed, once the bird is rehydrated

I believe something to be wrong or how else would the dog be able to catch the pigeon.

Exactly...that is what Cynthia had mentioned earlier.

[Vesna]

I have returned from the grocery store and found an apple cider vinegar called Braggs (raw and unfiltered apple cider vinegar). Would this be o.k?
Her poops are mostly a muddy colour but every so often the colour is a light yellow any thoughts on this? Thanks

[Trees Gray]

I have returned from the grocery store and found an apple cider vinegar called Braggs (raw and unfiltered apple cider vinegar). Would this be o.k?

That is an excellent brand, I use it as do other members here.

Here is a very good link all about pigeon poop:


http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=11637

[Vesna]

Thank you for the information about the poops and the ACV. Should I add it to the pedialyte or a seperate water dish? The bird is pecking at seed but still fluffs up and does little head shakes (left to right). Would it be a good time to add the garlic powder to the food?