Help! Pigeon won't eat or drink

[turkeyman]

Hello everyone,

Need some advice on a pigeon a friend found a few days ago. Seems to be breathing heavy and has a swelling on it's neck.

He's been giving him food and water by syringe but now he's just spits it out. Any help at all would be appreciated.

Might also be faster to just contact Andrew at: oltusek@ehumble.com

Thanks!

[Pidgey]

How big is the swelling and where is it? The first probability would be a "canker", a lump created by the immune response to Trichomonads. This disease is clinically called "Trichomoniasis". The medications used are Metronidazole, Secnidazole, Dimetridazole (careful with that one), Ronidazole and a few others. Trade names are different but you can look 'em up by those names.

This disease will proceed to the death of the pigeon if left to its own and is close to killing it now. It can also necrotize, or kill, the affected tissues which can mean the destruction of the esophagus. Repair can be very difficult but is possible. You need medications ASAP if this is it.

Pidgey

[Pidgey]

Woodside in Queens or south of Buffalo?

Pidgey

[turkeyman]

Thank for the reply Pigey.

Where do you get this medication? Would any holistic or homepathic meds help? Probotics? It's helped my birds.

We're in Woodside Queens, NY. Anyone we could contact here?

btw- you can conatct Andrew directly at oltusek@ehumble.com, might be faster.

[Pidgey]

Not for this. It's a flagellating protozoa and while it's the cause--it's not the exact problem. The worst part is a runaway immune response. Metronidazole, for example, works by eradicating the protozoa as well as moderating the immune response.

What you need to do in the worst way is find a local supplier of Flagyl or "FishZole" (Metronidazole; usually in a 250 milligram tablets often sold by stores that sell aquarium supplies). Maybe you could get it from a local vet as well.

Pidgey

[turkeyman]

I have some Baytryl in my frig from a few weeks back (not sure how long they last), but would that work?

[Pidgey]

Not likely. Trichomoniasis isn't the only thing that it could be but it's by far the most likely. Baytril is an antibiotic that works primarily against bacteria which is a different animal and mostly Gram-negative ones at that.

Anyhow, this is something that you really need to move very quickly on if you want the bird to live. Canker can sometimes be seen in the mouth and throat as cheesy growths which are composed of spent immune cells and inflammatory response material. It's similar to pus in humans but is a lot thicker. You may see strange cheesy little buttons in the mouth if you open it but that's not always the case--it may be down the throat, out of sight. That may require an otoscope (the thing doctors look into your ear with) to see.

You didn't say whether you lived in Queens or south of Buffalo--I was going to try to find a place near you that sold the stuff.

Pidgey

[TAWhatley]

He's in Woodside, Queens .. I believe there are a couple of pigeon supply stores in the area or perhaps they can get in touch with Al or another one of the NYC pigeon people and find out where to get the meds. There are also vets in NYC that will treat pigeons.

Terry

[turkeyman]

We're in Woodside Queens.

It's VERY rare that any vet around here even bothers with pigeons- believe me I've tried. Even the Animal Med center in manhattan turned away pigeons that I had found! They always tell me it's considerd wild and against the law.

[Pidgey]

In that case, here's a thread for a chick that had a similar case:

http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=14623

This one didn't make it because they put him to sleep but there are contacts there like Al Streit and Animal General. I'll see if I can give Al a call to get in touch with you.

Pidgey

[upcd]

Fishzole can be bought at Pet shops sold for fish. Other forms can be mailed to you from Jedds, Foys or global pigeon suppy houses.

[Pidgey]

I called Al Streit and left a message on his machine as well as emailing him with a link to this thread.

I will tell you this--if you can't get a tube down the throat anymore (provided you're actually using a long-enough tube to get past the obstruction), then it's not a pretty picture. It may become necessary to surgically insert a feeding tube through the crop down low on the chest. That isn't as bad as it sounds. Most folks cannot summon up the intestinal fortitude to do that and I understand that. But when you're dealing with not being able to get food, water and medications down, that often becomes the only way. In such a case, a vet will usually put the bird to sleep, even when they're pigeon-friendly, as a matter of triage procedures. Only you or the person with the bird can decide whether you want to try that hard.

Pidgey

[Al & Bobby]

Hi

I'm e-mailing Andrew. There's a rehabber vet in Forest Hills, and there are others in Queens. Don't force any food into this pij's beak, please.

Thanks, Pidgey, for telling me about this.

You could give my phone number to Andrew. I'll be able to call back about 5:30. 212-873-6030, and i'll e-mail anyway.

[turkeyman]

Thanks Al! I'll let Andrew know to get in touch with you.

[Camrron]

Originally Posted by Pidgey

It may become necessary to surgically insert a feeding tube through the crop down low on the chest. That isn't as bad as it sounds.
Pidgey

Hi Pidgey,

I realize you are very busy but can you briefly describe for me how to insert a tube in this way for my benefit should I ever run into this situation? Hope you won't mind me asking.

Cameron