Update on 3 PMV pigeons

This is the correct picture address, by the way, to see them: http://community.webshots.com/user/mrenya

Mocha, the least afflicted one, needs to be released soon. He's chasing the other 2 in the room around trying to attract a mate! He can fly, and hasn't ever really exhibited any real symptoms. But I'm not set up for this many different containments--sick birds away from healthier sick birds. My regular healthy pigeon who's my pet, Rochester, has to be kept away from Mr. Enya, the Ringneck dove or supervised at all times for the dove's safety. They are both males.

Phoenix, the 2nd least afflicted, tries to fly, but is more likely to hurt herself trying, so she can't go anywhere yet.

Percy, the one I've had since November is being negatively impacted by Mocha's constantly pestering her, chasing her away from her food, etc. So until I can get Mocha released back into the flock where I got him, I have to keep her more encased, which I don't like doing.

Lena, the white fancy pigeon who is the most afflicted is doing better! I've actually begun putting her into a small basket with towels and bolstering to hold her comfortably in place all night, and beside my bed. This made a tremendous difference in her eating habits during the day. Now she eats like a horse all day instead of sleeping all day, because she's actually sleeping all night. She became somewhat constipated though after the second night of this. She didn't go all night and late into the morning, I wrapped her in a towel and held her body in warm water for 5 minutes or so to relax her muscles and try to enduce a bowel movement. I don't know if it worked or would have just happened on it's own, but shortly after that, she did the hugest pigeon poop I've ever seen! When she was in her room trying to stand and sleep on her own, she'd poop and then drag her upside down head through it and all the rest. I'd have to give her a warm old toothbrush bath every morning.

Now, I let her out during the day quite a bit, since she's able to stay awake, and let her walk around and get it out of her sysmtem. She is now able to preen and scratch with either foot and stay upright! This is tremendous progress, believe me! She's almost standing correctly as often as upside down now! But she still really likes snuggling up to mommy's chest and being warm and cuddled. Okay, I enjoy this too.

The injured crow I added to the mix last week is doing well too. He's now at my friend's house who's been caring for him here and helping me keep all my situations managed in my understaffed hospital.

I wonder if the calcium that's been discussed as a treatment for PMV pigeons, would still be worth doing at this stage for Lena, especially. I've had her for a couple of weeks, and she's getting better, but better faster sure would be nice. I think I'll ask my vet this week about doing a calcium injection.

Thanks for the exchange,
Stacey

[Thunderbird]

Stacey,
You did good. If they had the crooked neck, it can stay for years. The birds will learn to deal with it. It won't pass on to young or any other birds, once you eliminated the virus.

[Trees Gray]

Also, the B Complex vitamins for the nervous system is also importan. It will also calm the bird as well as strengthen it. A food source, like Brewers yeast would be best.

Treesa

[TAWhatley]

Well done, Stacey! I'm glad the birds are all doing so well.

Terry

Thanks all!

Lena is preening for long periods of time with fairly good accuracy. She's able to stand on one foot, even to stand on one foot AND have her head upside down! I can't even do THAT!

I'm giving her a calcium supplement in her food that is actually that intended for reptiles, but I couldn't find one for birds. I asked my vet why calcium might be effective in treating these symptoms. He said that it is also a neurotransmitter in the nervous system. Well, when I watch Lena being perfectly normal eating or standing still and then something moves past her and she starts twisting her neck and walking in backward circles immediately I can see that it sure does look like a neurotransmitter malfunction. I recently got off an antidepressant called Effexor and as soon as I had not taken any, no matter how small a dose, for exactly 3 days, I would begin having these bizarre vision problems. When I moved my eyes across my vision field and they passed the mid-point there would be a jump in the vision stream. It resembled the stuttered tail you see behind your cursor on your computer when it's set to do that. The brighter the light the worse the symptom, the more details I was looking at, the faster the movement, etc. In the worst of it, I could experience a similar effect auditorily, for loud or sudden sounds. Sunglasses and earplugs helped.

And so, with Lena, I notice that the quieter I can make her area when she's eating, the dimmer the lights, no other animals coming in or flying over, the better. And she seems to do better in the mornings for some reason. She still sleeps better at night bundled up, but will sleep on one foot during the day for short periods.

I'd sure love to get ahold of some scientific research on this disorder!

More later,
Stacey

[TerriB]

Stacey,

Glad to know Lena is continuing to improve with your good care! One reason she may do better in the morning is simply because she is well rested. As the day wears on and she becomes more tired, her coping ability will decrease. I know it does for me!

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Terri B

[This message has been edited by TerriB (edited March 18, 2004).]