Problem!!!! *all help urgently needed*

[GimpieLover]

I have just picked up the Helmet discussed in my previous thread, and he has a severe vent (i think thats what it is called) (anus opening) *sorry to be so vulgar* problem. his rear end was caked with poo and it looks as though it has been that way for a couple days. I soaked him in some warm water and got the majority off, to reveal what looks like a very unhappy bottom. I am looking up everywhere i can on things that might cause boul errupution, and cures for it. he seem very under weight. the woman I picked him up from (who we all thank for caring about our little piji friend) said that he had stayed in the open card board box for most the time which was not a good sign. Any immediate help would be greatly appreciated.

[MaryOfExeter]

Well one thing I know you can do to kind of help prevent it from...sticking...again is take some scissors and trim down the feathers surrounding the vent (yes, you were right about that ). Low weight...not moving around much....I'm guessing he appears to have diarrhea too? Like greenish-er than normal droppings? I think I read somewhere that vinegar can actually help with that, plus it is a natural antibiotic and helps clean out the system...and restores the essential acids pigeons need. I'm not entirely sure if it would help, but It's just a suggestion since most people normally have apple cider vinegar whether they have real meds for pidgies or not.

[Charis]

http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=11265

Please read the link I have provided. I think it will help you proceed with the emergency care this poor bird needs right now.

[TAWhatley]

Hi Gimpie,

Glad you have the pigeon .. please do read the thread Charis posted the link for. If you need some hands on help right now, I can try to reach Firstimer and/or Fallenweeble. They are both fairly close to you. Let me know.

It's good you got the vent area cleaned up. Now it's time for the bird to be warm, dry, and rehydrated. Is is drinking on its own or showing any interest in food?

Terry

[Pidgey]

Baytril and Metronidazole, if you've got them. 15 milligrams of pure medicine per kilogram of bird on the Baytril and 200 milligrams of pure medicine per kilogram of bird on the Metronidazole. I'd start with that and maybe switch to a Trimethoprim/Sulfa combo down the line. Gotta' start somewhere, though. Do you have any of those medications? Or a 3-in-1 or 4-in-1?

Pidgey

[GimpieLover]

I have given the pigeon a second bath and removed more of the massed poop. he seems to have perked up a bit. he was walking around and actually grooming him self a little. he ate some high premium parakeet seed i gave him. and i saw him poop once. it was chocolate brown and a little watery. he is not pooping as much as a pigeon should. could his messy back end possibly be caused by a poor diet? i read online that most cases like this are caused by internal problems and the poo comes out not in its normal consistancy causing it to stick to the feathers. Could ratted feathers have gotten in the way, and just piled up and then he just got some sort of infection? i have not been able to find an avian vet in my area so i want to see my other options first. i dont want it to be too late for him though. he was found on the ground and just picked up by by the lady. he still grunts and wing slaps me when i get near him so i know he is not human raised. So, for some one to just pick him up like that is no good sign. but he was eating and did poop once. i am very confused by this situation.

[GimpieLover]

I have not seen him drink anything yet. I have only had him a few hours now. He is warm inside a card board box in my room and no i do not have any medication but i am willing to buy them if i know where to get them. no problem in that. If local people could help i would be more than happy to have it. i was not the one who posted up the band number, but i am still hoping that we can find the owner and get this little guy home and well again.

[Pidgey]

It's called a "catarrhal discharge". That means there there's some mucus (snot) that's sticking to the feathers in the back. The difficult thing to determine is whether it's coming from the actual intestines or from the oviduct if the bird's actually a female. Sometimes you see it in birds with Coccidiosis and they need an anti-coccidial medication like a Sulfa- drug (like Sulmet or Trimethoprim/Sulfa), Amprolium (like Corid) or Clazuril (Appertex).

Pidgey

[Pidgey]

Of those drugs, Sulmet is fairly easy to get in a 16 ounce bottle from a feed store. Have anything like that around? That could help with a few of the possibilities, including Coccidiosis and possibly an Enteritis (inflammation in the intestines due to an infection).

So, it's a lost homer or other banded bird, huh? Fairly often, they don't do so well out on their own.

Pidgey

[TAWhatley]

Gimpie .. I just called Firstimer and she is PM'ing you .. please be sure to send her your phone # so she can try and help.

Thanks!

Terry

[TAWhatley]

Just FYI everyone, this bird is an NPA AHA banded Helmet ..

Terry

[GimpieLover]

Yes i have a feed store pretty close actually. so Sulmet is what i should try? he is actually eating more than i expected by the way he was acting. i filled a small lid to a butter tub with seed and he has eaten about 1/2 now. He is actually a banded Helmet pigeon. i had a post on here about a lost bird of myn and a lady was in my area saying she found a banded pigeon she had taken home. my bird wasn't banded but she didn't know the first thing about pigeons so i offered to take it. i didn't know it was sick at the time.the band number is posted on my other thread, but i want to get it out there more places, i am just not sure where. I haven't scrubbed his bottom in fear that i would damage him more. should i just keep with setting him in a bucket and making the currents of the warm water wash away what i can or should i start clipping feathers and really scrub it out? it looks pretty bad. i don't want to post pictures on here because they are quite disturbing, but im not sure what i am dealing with exactly. I can get the Sulmet tomorrow, but i want to do as much as i can for him tonight before i have to go to work in the morning.

[fallenweeble]

hey everyone,
i am close to pasadena and i do have baytril on hand but none of the other medications mentioned. the ONLY place i know that treats birds during after-hours is ASEC on sepulveda in west los angeles. their number is 310-473-1561. the desk staff their are horrible and will tell you they don't "treat pigeons" but make them ask the doctors on staff if they will see the bird and they almost always will (they fixed up a chicken for me on thanksgiving day - and when i say fixed up i mean they did surgery on it they didn't cook it!!!). it isn't cheap but they are quite good.
gimplielover you can email me at stustuzim@aol.com if you want to talk to me but i know that firstimer is also getting in contact with you too and we are in close contact.
f. weeble

[pdpbison]

Hi Gimpielover,



For washing his little Butt, use the Bathroom Sink...put the Stopper in, and let it fill up three or four inches deep, and let it continue to run lightly ata trickle...'warm' Water, like Body Temperature...


Support him so he is in the Water but not anxious about sinking, and, with your free hand, as the old stuck-on poops soften, massage them off with your finger tips from all surrounding Feathers, with his Butt definitely in the Water...so the water carries the particles away.

As the Water in the Sink gets ughy/dirty, pull the Stopper and let it drain, then put the Stopper back in and let it fill up again...and keep on it.


This can take a little whie sometimes, and it can be stinky, but works very well...

Make sure to get all of it off...then blot him dry as you can with some Paper Towells and set him into a "Warm Cage"...and drape the Cage to exclude any passing Air or drafts...


Canker can do this, so if you are seeing any 'yellow' Urates, consider to treat for it...

Mucous or other dribbly adhering poos can start to build up on their vent Feathers, finally accumulating to where there is a huge build-up and preventing further eliminations...and far as I know, this kind of presentation would signal an illness of some kind, rather than a diet problem.

Possibly, just good nutrition from here, warmth, and definitely good hydration, might see it clear up...but, probably it is a problem or illness in the Intestines, or, something effecting the Liver, or both, anyway.


Good luck..!

Phil
l v

[TAWhatley]

Gimpie,

Pictures would be very helpful even if they are not pleasant.

I wouldn't "scrub" the vent area but would continue to try and clean it up including clipping the dirty feathers as was suggested by MaryOfExeter. You do need to stop, though, at some point as this bird has been through a lot of stress and needs to get dry, warm, and calm down. If it is eating, then that is a good sign. Just make sure it is drinking also.

You're in good hands with Fallenweeble and Firstimer willing to help. Please keep us posted.

I've gotta run for a bit and take care of a couple of urgent care intakes myself but will check back in a bit.

Terry