End suffering. Humane way of putting down?

[Jules]

Yesterday I caught a pigeon in my yard that was unable to stand appearing drunk (which I know can be a symptom of west nile..but at this time of year I strongly doubt). Although I do not think it is New Castle..I could be wrong...could be poisoning. I gave him some water and put him in one of my cages that I have for injured/sick wildlife.
By last night he was doing the death roll, breaking my heart watching him feeling helpless. This morning he is still alive unable to stand and still rolling & thrashing about. He needs to be put out of his suffering but I am a wildlife lover and cannot kill a spider. I know if I do nothing..nature will ultimately take it's course but that is not fair for this bird.
It's New Year's Day and I know of no one that is close by or available.
Does anyone know what I can do to end his suffering but will not give me endless nightmares of having to put him down?

[TAWhatley]

Jules, in my opinion, there are no humane methods of euthanasia available to us at home. There will probably be some suggestions made to you as to what you could do, but I would be hesitant to try any of them.

If you truly suspect poisioning, you need to be putting lots and lots of fluids into this bird to help flush the toxin out of the system. I would also be keeping the bird very, very warm and try making it a doughnut shaped "container" out of a towel. Put the bird in the doughnut to try to lessen the thrashing about.

I'm very sorry you are faced with this situation today, but please keep us posted.

Terry Whatley

[Jules]

Terry, Thank you..for the great advice! I'd put him in my garage (lucky that I have a furnace in it and keep it at 50 degrees as I have two other injured/sick pigeons. But I will bring him inside where it's warmer and set up the towel & start with the fluids.
Thank you!
Julianne

[Feefo]

I am so glad that Terry advised you as she did. The pigeon could well recover with warmth and fluids.

Cynthia

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All beings are fond of themselves, they like pleasure, they hate pain, they shun destruction, they like life and want to live long. To all, life is dear; hence their life should be protected.

-Mahavira

[Jules]

Quick update...and more questions.
He's now inside in a donut of towels in a small cage. I've given him a fair amount of water, through a syringe as he has problems taking water from a dish.
I have done some more research on your site and it "might be PMV" with the difference being that he is hungry and quite anxious to eat and that his body is very warm. I have had a lot of injured/sick birds so I'm familiar with their body heat and he is warmer than most.
Holding him, I placed his head in a deep dish of corn, wheat & barley (what I feed the wild pigeons here) and once he was aware of what it was, he quickly started eating. He tired quickly (after four- six grains) then I'd spoon feed him. He seems happier and more comfortable..however he keeps his legs extended all the time..pushing/keeping him on his side. I've had to adjust him three times while keying in this post.
The questions I have are: Should I give him an antibiotic and if so what kind and where can I get it? I do have a broad spectrum antibiotic solution from the bird pet store but I don't know of birds vets right now.
I haven't given him any yet because I didn't want to start with one type then switch.
Should I use a heating pad I have on a low setting under the donut towel? I ask because I do turn the heat down to 45-50 during the night.
Is there anything else I can do/give him to help him to recover?
Cats, I have three indoor cats and although contact between the bird & cats will not happen, I do not want to expose my cats to something they could pick up.
I'm keeping the pigeon in my home office where my cats do come when I am in the office.
Thanks so much.

Julianne

[TAWhatley]

Hi Julianne,

You are doing a great job with the bird! There is little chance that you or your cats could catch anything from this bird. If it does have PMV the chances of recovery are very good as long as you continue to provide the supportive care .. warmth, fluids, and food.

Yes, I would use the heating pad set of low or a low wattage light bulb to provide some additional heat during the night.

For now, I would hold off on the antibiotic that you have. Tomorrow or the next day we may want to start the bird on antibiotics and will need to know what kind it is that you have. PMV is a virus, thus the antibiotics would have no effect on it. Antibiotics are, however, used to help stave off any secondary bacterial infections that might further weaken the bird.

If the bird does, indeed, have PMV (and that's a likely possibilitly)keep deep dishes of food and water full and available as the deeper dishes make it easier for the bird to "scoop" up food and water. Symptoms of PMV are more pronounced if the bird is stressed, hungry, or thirsty. So, as quiet as possible and assuring that the bird had food and water are essential to helping it recover.

Great work so far .. please keep us posted.

Terry Whatley

[AZWhitefeather]

Hello Julianne,
You are recieving advice from one of the best of the best.

Your efforts are proving to be quite positive. So glad to hear your little patient is showing signs of improvement.

Please keep us posted.
Cindy

[Jules]

I would surely rather do this and fail than watch him die without mercy.
Terry, right now there is no point in putting food or water in the cage with him. He is lying on his side all the time, cannot hold his head up & his next is twisted.
I have just finished another feeding, and although his crop is not "full" there is enough in there to make him feel good (1/3-1/2ounce). I've given him more water, again through a syringe, however I don't really know what the definition of "lots of fluids" is, as he cannot take water from a dish (even while holding him .
The antibiotic I have is just a generic brand antibiotic drinking solution "Marvel Aid" through the pet store and contains ...where's my glasses.. ah... active ingredient: sulfadimethoxine 15 mg. per fluid ounce.
I am on my way to a family New Years' Day dinner (late of course..but my family knows me & my love of wildlife) and will feed & water him when I return in three hours"ish".
I have also set up & turned on the heating pad (on low). His body temperature (and feet) are really warm and that does concern me. Thoughts on that would be appreciated.
And thank you.

Julianne

[katiedidittwo2]

Julieanne:
First pigeons do not get WNV. The American Racing Pigeon had pigeons tested and they do not get it, does not shed WNV nor are pigeons good vectors for the disease. In order for WNV to passed on it has to have a veremic level of .8 in the blood for it to passed on. Pigeons veremic level is .5 at the hghest. Most are .3 and lower. They believe it to be because a pigeons body temp is higher than most and pigeons are of the old world species, unlike the Crows which are of the new world species and do not have the genetic makeup to have an immunity to WNV.
If the pigeon has PMV Baytril is the only cure for PMV. It should be given for 21 days to be sure it has been cured and will not shed it.
Sounds like you have it under control.
Katie

[Jules]

Katie,
Baytril... sounds great but I presume I'd have to get that from a vet, and there aren't any vets that will treat pigeons.
The only wildlife rehab puts down all pigeons siting New Castle..even if it's brought in with string in his claw.
I would sure appreciate some suggestions.
If you can tell me the strength & dosage I might have a little luck.

[TAWhatley]

Hi Julianne,

You are correct in that you would need to get Baytril from a vet or order on-line. I do believe that Katie meant to say that the Baytril would be for paratyphoid rather then PMV. PMV is a virus and the Baytril would be useless in attacking it, though would be effective against other bacterial problems that might be going on.

I did a quick look up on the Marvel Aid that you have, and that actually might be pretty good stuff. Go ahead and start the bird on the Marvel Aid, and let's try to hang in there until morning.

If you can find Baytril or Ciprofloxacin (which is the human equivalent), the dosage is 15 mg per kg twice per day. Often people will have a "left over" capsule of Cipro that can be dissolved in water and used just as effectively as Baytril .. in fact, my vet prefers Cipro over Baytril.

Please keep us posted.

Terry Whatley

[Jules]

Well he's made it through another night and I started him on the Marvel antibiotic liquid.
He is, however very dificult to feed. I tried him with the liquid baby bird mixture without too much success. I cannot tube feed him so I am back to trying to spoon feed him some grains. With his neck being so twisted and him really fighting me holding his mouth open I am lucky to get in a couple grains at a time.

[TAWhatley]

You can try soaking some puppy chow until it is soft and puffy and feed him small pieces of that. Might be easier for all concerned.

Terry Whatley

[Jules]

Thanks Terry, but I have the small chow/round pellets for baby pigeons. The problem is holding/getting his mouth open to put the food in. He really fights and I don't know with his neck twisting the way it does whether it is hurting him.
I just finished feeding him his lunch and he got more than I had expected but not enough to fill his crop. He was tired so I'll try again in a couple of hours.

[Jules]

I thought I'd give you an update.
Today, for the first time he's sitting with his head upright in the donut towel (Thank you so much for that suggestion..it's been marvelous!!!). His head does't stay up all the time but he couldn't do it at all before now. While in the donut towel he is no longer laying on his side. Makes me smile. He also took water from the dish!!
I have left a full dish of grain for him right at his face so he doesn't have to get up for it. Although he has reached for the seed a couple times, he really hasn't wanted to pursue eating.
He is quite alert, aware and content... and only seems stressed when I have to feed him. Kaaryn gave be a great suggestion of wrapping him in a towel, then placing him in a large coffee can. That way I have two hands to concentrate on feeding him. He still fights like mad and I am lucky to get 50 grains of wheat & barley into him at each feeding (four feedings/day). I then give him 3ccs (1cc at a time) of baby bird formula...that's about all he can handle before he squirms out of the can. I'm continuing with the liquid antibiotic and his droppings are a dark green and white (not runny).