S-Spin is terrible pain. Help Please!

[vgri]

I don't know what to do. Since an hour ago, my bird is in terrible spasms. It cannot poop. His vent is opening and closing and nothing is coming out. His tail is going up and down full range. He must be in bad pain because he flutters his wings furiously. He threw up a little earlier and his crop is full still five hours after feeding. His whole body is contorting and his is pushing his feet back and clutching his toes. He's almost doing headstands trying to get it out. The little poop that comes out sometimes is more like a light brown mush and white, no worm like appearance as before. What can I give him for digestion? Should I take out the food that I put in his crop? I could try doing that using a syringe and a latex tube. I just cannot take looking at him struggling like that. He could not possibly last for long if he keeps like this. It is heart breaking. Please advice.
Violeta

[TAWhatley]

Violeta .. this is really sounding like egg binding. Can you get some calcium into the bird .. the drug store should have calcium gluconate that you can give. Even some smashed up and dissolved Tums might help. You can also apply a little vaseline or other similar lubricant in and around the vent. If this is egg binding, warmth is extremely important. Can you feel an egg in the lower body? Feel carefully .. if it is an egg, you don't want to break it.

Terry

[e0emouse]

Terry and Violeta,

I would be really surprised if this is egg binding, given the severity of the vomiting and other symptoms. It's possible, but usually if it is an egg bound hen, I would expect the behaviors to be a little different. If it is egg binding, then it is probably past the point where oral calcium will have much effect. If it is egg binding, she probably needs a shot of oxytocin to control the contractions, if she can deliver the egg vaginally. The egg may be too big to deliver.

Can you get her to an emergency clinic at all?

The other possibility is the PMV or other neuorlogical issue. Either way, it sounds like a shot of valium is in order to calm the bird down long enough to assess it and let it regain a little strength to deal with the problem. There is no doubt that this bird is suffering, and needs immediate medical attention. Is there a 24 hour vet nearby? They will often treat wildlife at no charge. Or, there might be a wildlife center that will admit it. Where do you live?

This bird is in extreme distress, and probably suffering a great deal. If you can find a vet, I would be happy to work with them over the phone. I am in Virginia.

Good luck to both of you!
Kimberly
Wildlife 911
critterhelp911@aol.com

[TAWhatley]

Thanks Kimberly. Violeta in is Northern California. Perhaps near to Wildcare of Marin County, but I'm not sure. Please check for an e-mail from me in a few minutes.

Terry

[vgri]

The wildlife center of the Silicon Valley is the nearest one. And that is where I volunteer I took in the bird yesterday so the wildlife coordinator would look at it. The only thing she gave me was the ibuprofen suspension, but it is true that the bird was exhibiting only seizures, and its poop was runny, white and green looking not too bad. The bird had a peaceful night. She didn't poop much today but it only started to spasm and flutter at about 4:00pm, 4 hours ago. I called the wildlife coordinator and left a message but have not heard back from her. I called two emergency animal clinics and one told me that there is no doctor in. the other one told me that they will euthanase it for free for me. I "milked" her crop and I am giving her plain water with a syringe in her mouth. Her poops are just a little bigger than pinhead. She calmed down for about 15 minutes but now she is twisting a fluttering again. I put some Neosporin into her vent and I asked someone to bring me some calcium or tums. Would I be able to get Valium from a pharmacy without a prescription? What painkiller could I get without a prescription?

[vgri]

The phone number of the Emergency Animal Clinic next to me is 408 371 6252. If any one could call them and get them to come up with another solution than euthanase it would be great.

Please call me at 408 261 2708,
Thank you,
Violeta

[TAWhatley]

Violeta .. though it's almost midnight for Kimberly, I'm hoping she will call you tonight and that she can speak to not only you but also to a vet to help them make a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. You won't be able to get Valium without a prescription, and I don't know of anything over the counter that would be nearly that potent. There is a product called Rescue Remedy available at many health food/vitamin stores that might help calm the bird at least a bit. It is one of the Bach Flower Essence products. I'm sure you're frazzled enough without trying to get Rescue Remedy tonight, but I don't know what else to suggest to you right now.

I'll try to check back here a couple more times tonight to see how you and Spinster are doing. I have a couple of critical care pigeon patients here myself that I need to tend to for the next little bit.

Terry

[vgri]

I will ask my boyfriend to go to Longs Drugs to get what you recommended. I will try anything. I have been holding this little one gor the past few hours and I cannot stand feeling the struggle and the fluttering in my hand. She is getting more and more desperate and for sure she is trying to eliminate something. There is almost nothing left in her crop or stomach so it must be an egg. The problem is that I could not feel any egg so it may be that it does not have a shell at all, or who knows what is in there. Right now her whole body is contracting very regularly, it must be that she got a break from the PMV seizures, but nothing is coming out. Should I give her the rescue remedy if I can find it? How could I help her eliminate whatever that is? The throwing up could be because I was handling her trying to restrain her from seizures. I will call the Emergency hospital again and mention nothing about the PMV, just tell them that it is a bird that needs help eliminating an egg. Please write back. I will probably be up as long as she is.
Violeta

[phyll]

Violeta.
I'm sorry I cannot help you. I just wanted to say that when you call the Emergency Hospital, it would be better if you use the word "pet." These places are too eager to kill pigeons in distress. She will have a better chance if she is classified as a pet.
Good luck to both of you.
God bless you.

Phyll

[vgri]

I called three emergency Animal Clinics and none would take a pigeon, or any bird for that matter. I told them that she has been contracting for six hours and they refused to at least give it a valium injection. Right now she does not display any PMV seizures but her body is making all eforts to eliminate. She has nothing in her stomach because I starved her, thinking she was sick to her stomac. I will try feding her some kaytee exact to which I will add some calcium powder. I will keep her close to me over night. Then I will start praying that she will make it untill tomorow when I will try to find a bird doctor.
Violeta

[vgri]

No I do not keep her on the heat pad directly. I just set her on it for contrast while I took the pic.

[phyll]

Yes, please try hard to get her to an avian vet on Monday. Do not delay ~ even if she seems improved.
I will pray for her.
Hope both of you will have a peaceful night.

Phyll

[TAWhatley]

If you can get the Rescue Remedy, give Spinster some and pray that it helps to at least calm her (or him). If you give Exact, make it really thin so it will pass through the crop more quickly and easily. Hopefully the calcium boost will help also.

I do so hope that Spinster will gain some ground tonight. Bless you for all you have and are doing.

Terry

[Swiphle]

I hope everything works out for the S-Spin. I will pray for it tonight as well

[Feefo]

I was so sorry to find out that Spinster was in so much distress .

I will be thinking of you both this morning.

Cynthia