Please! Need Help URGENTLY for a Sick Pigeon just found..

[Miami]

This is my first post. Was thirlled and was heartened to discover this site, re: gaining the awareness that there are indeed so many of you out there who appreciate and honor the specialness and wondrousness of our winged friends. And who are in-turn so dedicated to helping them whenever possible.

Am long a bird lover. Have parrots for years. Also currently have an injured pigeon that I rescued a year ago. She's lame, can't walk (nor fly) but drags her legs behind her to get around--which she does very well! (Was using her wings as 'crutches' when I first found her on the street.) Had taken her to a noted avian vet who said it was most probably a spinal injury. Lives w/ my wife and me in an apt in a specially constructed large screen enclosure. Watches the many pigeons who daily visit the terrace thru the glass terrace-door. Sleeps on a pillow and is a cuddler. Is sweet, gentle, lovable, and I sense/believe very,very happy as well.

But now to the urgent issue at hand. Two days ago saw a sick pigeon who had parked herself in a heavily trafficked pedestrian/bicycle area. Loaded w/ growths on her face/wings (see attached photos), and was unable to walk. (But she can 'stand,' unlike my 'house pigeon' pet, so I believe her immobility is due to great weakness and illness rather than to any lameness).

We immediately moved her to a nearby large patch of green, and then ran home to bring her seed and water. She gingerly did partake of both and seemed peaceful, but did not move around. We returned in the evening to bring her more food and water and to check on her. Flies (not 'pigeon flies') were landing on her, but she didn't seem to have the strength to deal with it in any way. But worst thing was our learning that she was in an area where many rats scurry at night.

We of course would NOT leave her victim to any such attacks and bites, so immediately took her home and put her in a large carton-box (that we modified to partially include mesh-screens sides)' so she could have air/light--and covered the bottom with a towel that we put on top of the cusion. Kept her on the terrace (a high floor condo), as we were concerned about exposing our 'house-pet pigeon' to any communicable illness she might have. Put water and seed (including the 'Harrison's' pellets we find our house-pet) in the box. She did consume a bit. Didn't think she would really make the night, but lo and behold she did. Main concern was to make her safe and as comfortable as possible.

Bottom line though is she's VERY, VERY SICK. Have her now for seventy-two hours, and she hardly moves. Changed the towel these last two days, AND have kept the food and water constant, AND, yesterday, gave her a bath (w/ a little Johnson's Baby Shampoo). She seemed to enjoy it but is virtually listless. Also put Neosporin on her many-too-many monstrous-sized hard 'bumps' (one had opened on her face, where she bled a little) And this morning when changing her towel/food/water, we also noticed some worms in her box (first time we saw this). But when we bathed her, were surprised to see that it seemed that she had no pigeon-lice (nor seemed to be host to any other insects).

Have attached a dozen photos--about half of her head (on which the mammoth sized bumps predominate), and the rest of her wings (where we discovered similar growths when we bathed her, and upon which we likewise applied Neosporin). Please do look at these photos; a picture's worth a thousand words in this instance (and, please be advised, these pictures are not too pretty).

The poor thing! I don't believe that she's suffering and do know that she's as comfortable as possible...and at least she's safe and clean in a nice airy locale w/ fresh ocean breezes, and is eating/drinking a little. But I can't say that she's improved in the past seventy-two hours in any way---although certainly the Neosporin, the constant fresh food and water, the bath, and the clean/safe parasite-free environment has certainly relaxed her a bit. Am really certain too that she understands we're trying to help her.

But the fact of the matter is that she literally virtually never moves, doesn't have the strength to stand (and hardly enough to eat and drink), is extremely covered w/ so many MASSIVE 'bumps,' and obviously does have worms, do collectively (I regret to say) give a truer picture of her condition than any expressions of mine can provide w/ regard to what we're trying to do (or how moderately successful we may be) re: maximizing her comfort.

I desperately seek your advice, my newfound friends and fellow birdlovers on this forum! And needless to say, would be most appreciative, on this poor little gentle and weet bird's behalf, of whatever speed can be provided re: your responses.

Thanks so much! (Twelve jpeg photos attached, numbered 1 thru 12--please especially look at #'s 3,4,5,& 6).

P.S. Is the first time i'm using this forum so am a little confused. A window tells me I can't upload more than three files (jpegs). I will therefore add three more posts to this one, and insert three of the remaining twelve photos in And please, forum administrator, do forgive me if I'm doing anything out of protocol re: such action. Am not familiar w/ the proper protocol and am not rtying to abuse in any way what is correct. I do believe though that these pix are important. Thank you again for your consideration.

[Miami]

First continuation of my post. (Picture #'s 4-6 of the 12). Thank you!

[Miami]

Second continuation of my original post (Photos 7 thru 9...of the 12). Thank you!

[Miami]

Last continuationof my original post; contains photo #s 10, 11, and 12 (of the 12). Thank you!

[Pidgey]

First off, Miami, welcome to Pigeons.com! I wish your circumstances weren't so serious, but we take what comes.

Second, this is a very young bird, looking at the ceres (the place where most pigeons would have the white place on the base of their upper beak).

Third, gonna' have to look in the book on this one. Those look kinda' bad. Can you get an appointment with your avian vet el pronto?

Pidgey

[Skyeking]

Hello and welcome to Pigeons.com

I'm so thankful you picked up this very needy bird. You have done a great job so far.

I'm at a loss for words here after seing this poor baby's pictures.

Keep the bird warm, preferably on a heating pad set on low for 20 minutes. You can put a towel between the bird and the heating pad. Make sure the bird is out of any air drafts and is in a quiet location, kind of like an intensive care area, without noise, and subdued light and move the bird as little as possible . Have you tried giving the bird any Pedialyte? Hydration would be a first priority.

You are right to let it just rest for now, and see how it responds.

Lets see what others have to say about the sores, and growths, Pox, Canker?. Are there any live maggots on it that you can see?

This bird has been thru a lot but & we take one step at a time...


Treesa

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Treesa,

I was thinking Pox myself too. I'm not sure why there would be growths where the feathers attach to the skin though. But the growths around the head are pretty consistant with the pox virus.

[Pidgey]

I can tell you this--the yellowness of many of the bumps are essentially the inflammatory process in birds, similar to "pus" in us. Therefore, what you're looking at are sites of infection. Now, the question is going to be whether you need to supply an antibiotic to ward off a massive bacterial attack or if this is viral. Considering the amount of the infection, you probably need to get him on an antibiotic for supportive reasons anyway. That's why I'm suggesting an avian vet.

There are also mites, I think, that can cause damage like this although I've never encountered them. That might require a Pyrethrin variety pesticide. Have you got any there that you can spray on your hands and carefully spread on the feathers lightly?

Pidgey

[Miami]

For replying so quickly! Ane re: the vet, nah, it's Fri late afternoon. First shot at best would be early next week. But you folks out there are wonderful, and I can't thank you enough for so quickly willing to check out the books. (And am of course interested to know WHAT the growths are). I don't believe though that she's suffering at the moment, woulud you agree!

Thanks again!

[Miami]

Re; what you wrote: "That might require a Pyrethrin variety pesticide. Have you got any there that you can spray on your hands and carefully spread on the feathers lightly..."

...do forgive me, my friend, I have no ideas what that is nor where to get it. Though I may be an ardent bird lover, my experience w/ and knowledge of pigeons is really minimal and I must admit ignorance re: ascertaining or treating their health matters. So all your help is greatly appreciated....

[Lin Hansen]

Hi Miami,

Welcome and thank you for trying to help this poor bird. I'm sorry I can't be of more help to you. But, I am providing a link from our Resource section with a list of rescue, rehabbers and vets from all over the country. Click on it and scroll till you get to the state of Florida...there are a few contacts in the Miami area who may be able to help you sooner...at the far right of the page are the phone numbers.

http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=8817

Good luck,

Linda

[Miami]

And for your extention of heart re: this poor thing. Your advice was of course helpful...and re: your question of maggots, no, not at all. As I said, not even lice after the bath (but the worms I noticed this morning). She's resting comfortably now, and has moved a little.

PIDGEON PAL 2002 on the forum seems to believe it's pox too. That's viral, no? Any chance for a cure?

Thanks again all for you interest and support....

[TAWhatley]

I think it's avian pox also and a really horrific case. Assuming it is avian pox, it is caused by a virus so about all that can be done is good supportive care (warmth, fluids, easily digested food), a course of antibiotics in case something bacterial is also going on, and swabbing the lesions with Betadine or Tea Tree Oil to try to dry up and shrink the lesions. If there are worms to boot, then this little one has got to be so terribly debilitated.

Terry

[Skyeking]

My friend who lives in Miami, has a great avian vet there, I'm going to contact her on your behalf.

Right now, the bird is very unstable and I cannot recommend anything without knowing having a daignoses. At this point it needs a vet.

Speaking of health, do you have any (Sovereign brand) colloidal silver? It would be the only thing I would use right now, in case of an infection, you can put a few drops down the throat and one in each eye and it is a start that won't harm it.

Treesa

[TAWhatley]

Perhaps Reti or Yong could get some of the urgently needed meds to Miami for his little one over the weekend.

Terry