Found bird-it's acting wierd!!!! Help!

[VOlivo]

I found a pigeon out in our warehouse this morning. They tell me that he flew in there and landed on a beam. It has slept most of the morning. I now have it in the office in a box, but it won't drink or eat anything. At first he was alert and looking around. He acts like he can't fly. Now he is fluttering around in the box alot and can't keep his eyes open. He keeps turning his head around backwards.

I am still trying to locate the owner, but I don't know what to do!! I don't know if he is dying or what.

Help
Vicki in Texas

[maryco]

Hello and thanks for helping the pigeon out..

Sounds like he has PMV (Paramyxovirus: A virus that attacks the nervour system and causes the pigeon to have these fits and nervous behaviour)
Symptoms are star gazing (head twisted to the side and looking up to the sky), walking in circles, backwards, twisting neck, droopy wings, large eye pupils, paralized legs/wings, twitching head/beak and not being able to target the seeds to eat them. Other symtpoms are watery droppings like clear puddles with a worm/string like green part in the middle. And pigeons with PMV are extra thursty and drink a lot of water which causes the droppings to be like that.

Here is a website about Paramyxovirus:
http://www.chevita.com/tauben/behand...amyxovirus.htm

Most birds don't have all the symptoms as described above but just a few. If you clap with your hands really hard the pigeon might go into a fit and it usually means PMV, I usually use this method to see which bird on the balcony has it.

I'm sorry to say that there isn't a cure for PMV but with some care he can recover as many pigeons have.. Cynthia one of our moderators should be along shortly as she has had great success with rehabbing PMV infected pigeons.

For now keep the bird warm, offer him some water and seeds (wild bird seed is good or a pigeon mix with larger seeds like whole corn)
Make sure you put the seeds in a deep dish so he can eat easily since he might have trouble picking up the seeds like normal pigeons.

Keep us posted..

[maryco]

http://www.oropharma.com/en/duiven/html/paramyxo.html
Another site about PMV with a picture..

Salmonellosis can cause similar symptoms in the pigeons though the droppings don't look so watery and will be more thick and darker green.

If the pigeon hit himself against something in the warehouse he could have injured his spine which could also result in him having some of these symtpoms due to spinal damage effecting the nervous system.

[VOlivo]

Well, I lost him about 30 minutes ago. I went out to take a break, and when I came in to check on him, he had passed. I don't understand why this always happens to me. I rescued some kittens once, and had to have them put to sleep because they became paralyzed. This is so unfair!! I did learn today, though, that pigeons are beautiful animals!!!!! Thanks for all of your help!

[maryco]

I'm so sorry to hear about what happened to the pij
Pigeons with PMV sometimes just die unexpectadly, I've seen it a few times with some ferals on my balcony.
Like I mentioned earlier, he could have had spinal damage or something else going on. We won't know for sure but thanks for caring!

Pigeons are wonderful animals and glad you discovered that today, I hope many other needy pigeons come your way..

Take care,

[VOlivo]

Is This Disease Dangerous To Me? I Mean, I'm Not Going To Get Sick, Am I?

[John_D]

Hi,

PMV is not passed to humans. Same goes for the other pigeon illness which could show these symptoms. (In fact, despite what may be said about pigeons by those with no real knowledge, and pest controllers, there are very few things pigeons can pass on to humans, and then usually in rather specific circumstances).

Like Mary suggests, he could have suffered an injury which affected him in this way.

Thank you, tho, for caring!

John

[AZWhitefeather]

Hello VOlivo,
I'm so sorry the little pij passed away. There are so many factors that could have contributed to his early demise.
On a positive note, thanks to you, this little sweetie was safe & secure at the time of his death rather than being out on the streets, alone. Many thanks for your kindness.

I did learn today, though, that pigeons are beautiful animals!!!!!
Yes, pigeons are wondrous birds.
It's very interesting the number of 'first timers' that visit our site & remark on how gentle pigeons are, once they have been 'up close & personal' with them.

Cindy

[Sweetie]

If you happen to meet up with a pigeon that needs your help, don't turn it away. You may have a friend for life. Yes, pigeons are beautiful, and sometimes need our help. Don't give up on helping pigeons or other animals that may cross your path. I have a pigeon I named Sweetie. She has to stay with me as a domestic pigeon because of her leg. I have had her for 43 days now and she will be around 3 months old around October 25. She can fly from my hand, she still has great difficulty trying to get a lift off from the ground to fly. I think she had a splay leg and when she tried to land on a SUV, she slipped and injured the splay leg. I can't seem to get it to go back into its natural position, so I worked on getting her strong areas stronger than her weak areas.
She did make progress last night when my husband and I stayed in a Hotel last night. I took her out of her box and placed her on one bed and I went to the other bed. She was flapping away for about 45 minutes when she did fly to the bed I was laying on. She is much stronger than she was. I guess she wanted to be by me.

I really am sorry about your pigeon, but don't give up and saving other pigeons because they are gentle, and very dedicated.

I will be praying for you,

Victoria Lutes (Sweetie)