Injured Pigeon in Argentina

[arend57]

Hi, I live in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but I'm turning to you guys in the hope that you might help me with our new addition, Benji.

My girlfriend came home on Thursday with a pigeon she found straggling in the rain. It looked like his (or her) wing was broken and it can't walk either. His appearance was pretty messy, like he'd been on the street for a few days.

We dried him, and wrapped him in a towel for the night. Next day we took him to a vet on our block. He checked the wing - pretty brutishly if you ask me - and said it wasn't broken but dislocated. And then he prescribed a vitamin and anti-biotic called Cloralen. It contains something called Cloranfenicol as well as vitamin B1,2 and 6, Calcium and Nicotinamid (?). He also mixed in another anti-biotic, beginning with D. We've been giving him two drops every 12 hours.

In the meantime though, I've become more concerned about his legs than about the wing. He keeps his legs stretched behind his body. He has strength in the right leg, but can't seem to move his left leg. There's a swelling over his fibula and if I try and bend the leg he squirms as if in pain. With his other leg he can exert pressure if I touch his claw.

I checked out other threads in the forum (you guys are great!), and so I've done a little feeling along his limbs. I can't find a real break and when I turn him on his side (as in the video) his legs remain straight behind him. I'm still worried that perhaps the femur is broke.

Even so, to make him more comfortable and to insure he rests his wing, I've made him an poorly improvised sling based on a photo on the forum. You can see him trussed up in the pic. Sometimes he'll lie still, and other times he wriggles like crazy. I think it has to do with wanting to poop, because thats what he does when I free him.

I have a few questions. Any idea what the leg maybe. I'm thinking perhaps he sprained it in the accident in which his wing also got dislocated.

How thoroughly should I bathe him. I'm afraid if I get him too wet he may catch a cold, because I can't leave him in the sun to dry for fear of cats. He remains a bit dirty, with poop stuck to his tail.

Also he has a few insects crawling over him - like a cross between a fly and a tick (see photo). I killed three of them, but I think there are still a few hiding in his feathers. Is that something I should be worried about?

What else can I do for him to help Benji along? Any suggestions would be great because we don't feel like going back to that unsympathetic vet again.

[TAWhatley]

Hello and welcome to Pigeon-Talk. Many thanks to you and your girlfriend for assisting the injured young pigeon. It is definitely a young one judging by the lack of development and color of the nose wattle. Benji is definitely a very lucky pigeon!

Looks like you did a fine job with the sling. If it doesn't appear to be working (ie .. pigeon keeps getting out of it) you can try making a towel doughnut for the bird to sit in.

If the femur is broken, you should be able to feel where the break is as you are examining the leg. If it is broken and depending upon where in the femur, it may or may not be able to be splinted. I have had better luck with my last two birds that had broken femurs by keeping them in a towel doughnut and doing my best to see that they couldn't move around very much. Both of these healed far better than I was expecting and both birds can stand and walk well.

Having just written all this, I realized that you also mentioned the fibula .. is it the femur or the fibula that you think may be broken .. or perhaps both??

You can bathe the bird, towel dry him, and then finish drying him with a hair dryer set on low. At this point, the dirt is really the least of our problems unless there are feces caked around the vent to the point where the bird can't poop normally.

As to the flies, yes .. you need to get rid of them as they are blood suckers and will weaken this already injured bird.

A pet bird insect spray from a pet store will get them as would carefully dusting the bird with Sevin dust from a garden center.

If nothing is actually broken, then it is quite possible that trauma to the head/neck/spine of the bird is responsible for the leg problems. Should that be the case, it will take some time to see if things will improve.

Others will be along with their thoughts and advice.

Please do keep us posted as to how things are going and for sure, ask any questions you may have.

Terry

[arend57]

Thanks for the reply Terry,

The muscle around the fibula is all swollen and hot, but like I said, I can't feel a break along there. Perhaps there is some sort of paralysis as well. I'll recheck along the bones tomorrow to rule out a fracture, although I feel bad about him hurting when I do.

I'll be sure to buy a spray on Monday - shops closed here tomorrow. I guess, like you say, the best thing is just to give him lots of rest. I'm feeding him pigeon mix from the local pet store, which he seems to enjoy. So I figure as long as he's eating and drinking and looking generally cheerful, we're ok for now.

[TAWhatley]

Yep, as long as the bird is eating, drinking, pooping we can expend a little time in really figuring out what is wrong. Unfortunately, if there is a break, that should be addressed as soon as possible.

Thanks again for saving this little one!

Terry

[Ivor]

Hi Arend57,

Thank you for taking care this pigeon, I had been in Buenos Aires and feeding ferals accross street from the Congress, they are so lovely and they are not afraid to people at all, they are so much friendly, and like Terry said as long as is eating, drinking and poop properly, it will be fine it takes time, and let us know what happen with the bugs.

We hope to see another picture when he gets better.

Ivette

[Pisciottano]

Bienvenido Arend,
I won't try to give you advice as you are already in touch with members much more experienced than I am but wish to send you my best wishes for your little patient's recovery. Buena suerte, Gladys

[Feefo]

Thank you for caring for this poor baby, he looks as if he is in very good hands

I took a pigeon with nerve damage (spine) to our local wildlife hospital because I just can't rig up an effective sling. They told me that they use a margarine tub to hold the body.

You might also want to give him a pain killer/anti inflammatory that can be given PO (orally)...this is a link to the dosages for aspirin, Ibuprofen,
and prednisolone. Prednisolone can cause damage to either the liver or the kidney (I can't remember which) , I was told that an effective and safe alternative is Devil's Claw...Garra del diablo?

Pigeons like to take two steps backward before pooping, that might account for his agitation.

Cynthia

[arend57]

Thanks for all your help.

I have homeophathic remedies and so I gave him some Arnica which eases the pain and helps against swelling. He seems to be pretty tranquil now, just resting in his sling.

However, I felt along his legs again couldn't find a break but it looks like his upper joint (I guess his knee) in his right leg took a blow from something. He's very sensitive about both joints in his right leg and squirms and blinks (pain!) when I try and bend legs at the joint. Could he have some sort of athritic condition? He's still young, right?

Tomorrow, monday, I'll make another attempt to find a proper vet, perhaps through a pigeon club.

Paul

[Pidgey]

They usually don't stick their legs straight back like that without there being some sort of disease process affecting the neurological system. We don't see that very often. Arthritis in pigeons is usually due to a bacterial infection as well.

Hippoboscidae on that fly, by the way.

Pidgey

[arend57]

Originally Posted by Ivor

Hi Arend57,

Thank you for taking care this pigeon, I had been in Buenos Aires and feeding ferals accross street from the Congress, they are so lovely and they are not afraid to people at all, they are so much friendly, and like Terry said as long as is eating, drinking and poop properly, it will be fine it takes time, and let us know what happen with the bugs.

We hope to see another picture when he gets better.

Ivette

Hi, Ivette,

I actually live very near the Congreso. So if you were here recently, Benji might just have been one on the ones you fed!

Thanks for the other tip about wanting to step backward before pooping. It explains his wriggling.

I'm giving him the anti-biotics in drops that the vet gave me. He said to place the drops on the edge of his beak and that he would swallow himself. But to do so I have to hold his beak with my other hand, which he definitely does not like. Is there another way I can persuade him to take the drops?

[taralotti]

All the best to your Benji and well done for your effort to save his life!
I have been an animal lover all my life and since 8/9/08 I have been caring for March, a pigeon we found after a car accident.
I think injuries take time to heal and lots of love and faith! I tried homeopathic remedies on March Arnica 200 for bruising and pain, Ruta Grav. 30 for ligaments, joints and Hypericum 1M (initially) 30 (later) for pain. Symphytum 200 is good for healing broken bones.It is an excellent pain killer without side effects.
I prefer probiotics and vitamins than convetional medication. The Avian Medicine Chest company has a web site with many useful suggestions.
Good Luck and all the best!!!
Maria, UK

[Ivor]

Hola Arend,

I think Benji will be in a good shape very soon, you are taking care of him already, I went last year around April it was very cold, I try to go every 2 years to Bs As, I have some good friends that live in Bs As, I'm from Centro America, but live in SF California, I love your country and the people there, my friends live in Caseros, Ramos Mejia, so I visit them, but I always stay in the capital, I stay once in the hotel 2 congresos between Rivadavia y callao I believe, now I rent an apartment from some argentinian friends that live here in SF but have an apartment there between Rioja and Rivadavia I believe not far from you, because I was feeding the pigeons almost every afternoon and was close, I can't believe Benji is part of that group, tell Benji that he has a good friend here in SF, and that I will go to visit him eventually, and hope to find him in the same place with the rest of his friends. =)

Ivette

[arend57]

We took Benji to a new vet yesterday and what a vet! Argentina's Pigeon Healer goes by the name of Hector Funes and is an avid amature racer an breeder.

He told us Benji was about 40 days old and explained to us all about the different feathers, pointing out the traces of bird stress.

He then worked with Benji for over two hours. First giving him a complete once over and then taking samples from his crop, his gut and from his poop and examining them under a microscope.

According to him there are no bones broken. He reckons Benji took a blow to the spine and his paralysis may be permanent. He said to postpone taking a costly X-ray until two weeks, to see if there are any signs of improvement in his legs.

Meanwhile he diagnosed Benji with a certain fungi in his crop called Levaduriformes (in spanish) and Trichomoniasis. He also has a digestive disorder. All of these relatively common in feral pigeons in Argentina, the vet said, but had been aggravated due to Benji's weak condition.

His poop was clean, which is positive.

He prescribed a neurological formula which he mixed himself. It contains several homeopathic remedies including Arnica (I didnt write them all down). He also mixed us something to get rid of the fungi ( and his own brand of Tricomonicida. Plus he gave us a jar of vitamin and calcium powder to be mixed with Benji's water.

Hector also referred us to somebody who sells quality pigeon mix (pretty rare in this country - apparantly) and added we should try feeding him a certain brand of baby food.

My girlfriend and I were very pleased to see someone so dedicated analysing our Benji. We were just a bit concerned that what with the time and the medication the bill would be pretty steep. In the end though he charged us 130 pesos (about 40 dollars) for the whole check up and drugs, which is pretty reasonable.

All in all, we are very happy to know what's ailing Benji and how best we can help him. Now it's a question of getting him back to health and keeping our fingers crossed. Perhaps mother nature will see fit to give him another chance at flying!

(if you're ever in Argentina in need of a avian vet, you can reach Hector Funes at 11-45042566. I think he speaks some English)

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by arend57

We took Benji to a new vet yesterday and what a vet! Argentina's Pigeon Healer goes by the name of Hector Funes and is an avid amature racer an breeder.

He told us Benji was about 40 days old and explained to us all about the different feathers, pointing out the traces of bird stress.

He then worked with Benji for over two hours. First giving him a complete once over and then taking samples from his crop, his gut and from his poop and examining them under a microscope.

According to him there are no bones broken. He reckons Benji took a blow to the spine and his paralysis may be permanent. He said to postpone taking a costly X-ray until two weeks, to see if there are any signs of improvement in his legs.

Meanwhile he diagnosed Benji with a certain fungi in his crop called Levaduriformes (in spanish) and Trichomoniasis. He also has a digestive disorder. All of these relatively common in feral pigeons in Argentina, the vet said, but had been aggravated due to Benji's weak condition.

His poop was clean, which is positive.

He prescribed a neurological formula which he mixed himself. It contains several homeopathic remedies including Arnica (I didnt write them all down). He also mixed us something to get rid of the fungi ( and his own brand of Tricomonicida. Plus he gave us a jar of vitamin and calcium powder to be mixed with Benji's water.

Hector also referred us to somebody who sells quality pigeon mix (pretty rare in this country - apparantly) and added we should try feeding him a certain brand of baby food.

My girlfriend and I were very pleased to see someone so dedicated analysing our Benji. We were just a bit concerned that what with the time and the medication the bill would be pretty steep. In the end though he charged us 130 pesos (about 40 dollars) for the whole check up and drugs, which is pretty reasonable.

All in all, we are very happy to know what's ailing Benji and how best we can help him. Now it's a question of getting him back to health and keeping our fingers crossed. Perhaps mother nature will see fit to give him another chance at flying!

(if you're ever in Argentina in need of a avian vet, you can reach Hector Funes at 11-45042566. I think he speaks some English)

Wow. $40. Me and my pigeons are moving to Argentina!!

[TAWhatley]

I'm so glad you found such a good vet for Benji! Please do keep us posted on how little Benji is doing, and thank you so much for all your efforts to help Benji!

Terry