Update on Bob my PMV rescue

[stella]

Hello all! I am happy to write that I believe Bob is on his way to beating PMV. There is no way on earth I would have known what to do without you all, and I am eternally grateful.

When I first joined here on June 13 Bob was very ill - it has now been over three weeks since he has exhibited any neck twisting, head banging, or walking backwards, although he does occasionally walk in circles. He can pick seeds up from the floor and can fly beautifully.

It seems he only had the worst of it for a short time - I really thought it would last around 12 weeks. The last two days of symptoms were absolutely horrible - the head banging was so violent I was certain he would die of blunt trauma, but I did make sure all along that everything in his area was soft - even his water was in a little Nerf cup (it was a beverage holder actually, I cut it down so he could access it).

This morning I dropped a full box of Q-tips on the floor and one bounced into his cage. He prompty picked it up and began "marching" around like a band leader while making funny noises. I felt bad to take it from him, but I didn't want him to have cotton.

Given his behavior with the Q-tip, I'm wondering if Bob would like some toys - does anyone have any suggestions as to what he might like???

[Reti]

My PMV pigeon-Sir B.- that passed away sadly, loved ribons and bows. He had a fine collection under the bed, in his room. He was in heaven at Chistmas time coming into the livingroom and spending endless hours going back and forth to collect as much as he could. He placed all his treasures neatly under the bed.
My Angel and Tiny love also ribbons, but recently I discovered that they prefer paper cut in strips. I cut index cards in strips and scatter them around, all my birds get so excited to collect them.

Reti

[John_D]

That is great news about Bob!

Is he a 'he' for sure? Wonder if the marching about was because he thought he had a twig to build a nest with. It might be unusual, but I know someone who has a pigeon who is apparently obsessed with building nests, all by hisself

Has he got a mirror he can parade in front of? Cynthia's dove loved to get up in the morning and coo at his reflection.

John

[stella]

Reti, I am sorry to hear of Sir B.'s passing. I lost an injured feral last night and I know how heartbreaking it is. I will include Sir B. in my bird prayers.

As for the paper strips, I will make some when I'm done posting here. Thank you!

As for John D.'s question, I'm really not sure if he's a he! I took in another bird last week (we call "her" Stella - "she" is in a cage about 25 feet way - the furthest away I could put her), and since her arrival Bob has been strutting and doing those rumbling coo's so I don't know.

I released Stella last week after some bad rain storms passed, but she wouldn't go, to the point she was banging into my screen door. For fear of injury I let her in, but she flew directly on top of Bob's cage. This sent me into a panic, as I certainly do not want her to get PMV (I don't know how to give an injection/vaccine, or even if I'd be able to obtain one). She is now in her cage again, and Bob coos and stands so straight he nearly doubles in height, and she answers with a less loud rumble. I should mention that Stella is the bird I wrote about in the "My pigeon is quacking" thread. She coos now.

About the mirror, I tried this because I raise finches and they love it, but Bob was a bit freaked out by it. He went to the opposite corner and stayed there until I removed it. I tried it again a bit later, and he resonded the same, so that was that.

[Feefo]

That is really good news. The more positive experiences that we have with PMV recoveries, the more likely other rescuers are to give them a chance of life!

Reading through your posts I found that you first posted about BOB 10 days after I had found my own most rcent PMV case. She is also well now, no sign of the disease. She is in the aviary at the moment and will soon be returned to her flock.

Cynthia

[Nanci]

Hi,

Cute story about Bob and the Q-Tip. (Which I don't think would harm him, BTW). I agree that it seems like a sign of nest building- other things he might like would be string, broom straws, pine needles, long soft dried grass, strips of paper- anything remotely straw-like. He will probably want to gather this all up in one area and sit in it.

Nanci

[stella]

Thank you Cynthia - that is wonderful news about your PMV bird too! To what do you attribute these short recovery times? I wish a medicine would be developed for PMV that could be put in the water supply - I would love to be able to give it to all of the ferals.

Nanci, thank you for the tips. I was afraid cotton would clog his insides if he swallowed some, but if it's okay I think Bob would like to have another Q-tip!

Bob really is a joy! I found out he was getting better when I opened my eyes one morning to find myself nose to beak with him. At some point he had flown up on my nightstand and decided to nap there! (He also emptied a box of tissues ) Until that point he hadn't flown and was in a makeshift padded pen; the screen I used for a lid upset him (he would jump against it over and over, but lay down when I removed it), but since he didn't fly it wasn't a problem. I put him in a cage after that morning and he seems to like it very much.