Another Sick Feral Pigeon Needs Help

[ante bozanich]

I just took in another pigeon. She or he can barely fly. I think I have seen him many times before come to my terrace to eat. He is definitely not a young pigeon. The only thing I can find wrong by examining his body is that his breast bone is very sharp and there is a surface wound that looks like a scrape about two inches long along the middle of his sharp breast bone. I've looked inside of his throat and everything seems fine. Otherwise, he is not very alert and it does look like something is definitely wrong with him. I have put him inside of a large container with pigeon feed at the bottom. He ate a little but right now he is just standing in there rounded up.

[maryjane]

If you have a heating pad, put that under him on low with a towel over it. Or, you can put some rice in a sock and heat that in the microwave to keep him warm. Warmth is essential at this point. Try offering warm water with a pinch of salt and sugar in it. Are there any yellow hairs on his head? Does he squeak at all? He may be a youngster who got out of the nest early and therefor can't fly or feed himself yet. Others will be along with advice about the scrape, but for now you can put an antibiotic cream in it, such as Neosporin. You may need to hand feed him if he's not eating. Keep checking back. Good luck!

[Pidgey]

The sore on his keel is a minor issue--he didn't have the strength to keep from hitting hard in at least one landing. He may be suffering from Coccidiosis, a bacterial infection or just plain starvation. It's really good to get them under a real heat lamp under these circumstances. What medications do you have at the moment?

Pidgey

[ante bozanich]

Besides some eye antibiotic solution which was given to me for pigeon pox virus, all I have is 2.27% Baytril Solution and only several drops of it left in the bottle.

[Pidgey]

Well, can you get more? How many drops do you think you have? Do you have a syringe to dispense that with or a dropper with graduated marks?

Pidgey

[ante bozanich]

Yes, the bottle I have has a robber top and I have a syringe sticking through it. Right now I have 0.3 ml inside the syringe and there is about that much left inside the bottle. Can I get more? Perhaps. How soon? I am not sure. Perhaps tomorrow.

[Pidgey]

That'd probably be enough for two days @ 0.15 mls, twice daily. Do you mean that you can order more tomorrow or that you think you could actually get your hands on more tomorrow?

Pidgey

[ante bozanich]

Well, I've just called one of Animal General's rehabbers where I've been taking my rescues. I am taking this new rescue and maybe the PPMV victim there tomorrow. I am sure that they can give me some more Baytril if needed. I can also get some Baytril from my vet.

Animal General rehabber has just told me something I did not want to hear regarding the PPMV victim. She said that these symptoms rarely get better and most of the times that they get worst which is what seems to be happening. I've been tube feeding this pigeon since she does not seem to be able to pluck on seeds any more.

[Charis]

Originally Posted by ante bozanich

Well, I've just called one of Animal General's rehabbers where I've been taking my rescues. I am taking this new rescue and maybe the PPVM victim there tomorrow. I am sure that they can give me some more Baytril if needed. I can also get some Baytril from my vet.

Animal General rehabber has just told me something I did not want to hear regarding the PPVM victim. She said that these symptoms rarely get better and most of the times that they get worst which is what seems to be happening. I've been tube feeding this pigeon since she does not seem to be able to pluck on seeds any more.

Let me say this about what the rehabber told you, the symptoms do get better if given time, I suspect that some rehabbers don't give the time needed and put the bird down. Therefore, they would say the birds just get worse because they have given up too soon to see improvement. It really depends on how much you are willing to extend yourself toward the bird's recovery. Only you can say.

[ante bozanich]

Thanks Charis. That makes me feel better. I hope you're right. I am willing to do all that I can, even if that means hand feeding her for the rest of my or her life, although I hope it does not come to that for her or my sake.

[Pidgey]

I had one last spring/summer that took several months before she finally got over the worst of it. It started with a coated and ulcerated GI tract (visible down her throat, kinda' like canker but it wasn't) and I had to tube feed her a fairly dilute formula. She put out a lot of liquid urine during that phase. Eventually, that part cleared up and then the neurological symptoms started. I think the portion of that during which she couldn't feed herself lasted at least two months. Then, she could feed herself but couldn't manage to stand upright for very long. I'd slump in a chair with her on my chest, using my hands to hold her upright as she learned to stand again and then finally to walk. I almost despaired that she ever would again but I kept up hope. She lives out in the loft now, managing her own life. She still has a lot of seizures but she seems fine otherwise.

By and large, only the most stubborn rehabbers get through cases like that.

Pidgey

[Pidgey]

I'd start the other one on the Baytril but it's not going to be of much help if it's Coccidiosis--gonna' need a test for that or just give another medication. And if it were worms, of course, you need yet another drug.

Pidgey

[Charis]

Originally Posted by ante bozanich

Thanks Charis. That makes me feel better. I hope you're right. I am willing to do all that I can, even if that means hand feeding her for the rest of my or her life, although I hope it does not come to that for her or my sake.

I've had birds that were so sick, I couldn't imagine them getting any better but with TLC and time, they did get better. It's always so rewarding. If by chance this bird is not going to improve, you will eventually know...I think you will feel it.

[ante bozanich]

Both of you are great and very kind people and are giving us hope.

I think I am only going to take the new pigeon to Animal General rehabbers tomorrow. I don't think my PPMV one needs any unnecessary stress. However, if I were to start the new rescue on Baytril before I take her there, how much exactly and how should I give her the staff?

[Pidgey]

0.15 milliliters, twice daily, assuming that she's about 250 grams (an emaciated bird). If you think you need to stretch your supply out to three days, then you'd give 0.1 milliliters, twice daily.

Pidgey