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HELP!!! Injured/Sick Feral - Can't Fly

2305 Views 28 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  ceren, 
lwerden
Hi All.......Found this little guy wandering around my back yard thismorning. I realized he couldn't fly when I let the dogs out and he ran and hid behind a planter on the patio.

He was very easy to catch. I am glad I found him before the next door neighbor's two cats did. These cats are always lurking around looking to get a pigeon.

He is now in a soft lined pet carrier. I have supplied seed and water. He is eating and drinking.

I have examined him as best as my experience allows.

His eyes are clear and he is alert. His vent is clear. His poops appear normal. He appears well nourished. No prominent keel. His mouth, tongue and throat are pink and clear, no signs of canker. His body is clear and no signs of cuts or bleeding. There does not appear to be any broken bones.

His left wing droops below his tail. He lifts his right wing only. It seems like the left wing is paralized. I spread the wing and there are no apparent signs of injury nor are there any missing feathers.

Other than offering supportive care, I am lost as to what else to do. I DO NOT HAVE ANY MEDS WHATSOEVER. For the time being I am keeping him clam, warm and in a safe place just observing to see if there is any change in his condition.

Any ideas as to what can be wrong with him????? or any suggestions as to what else I can do???
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lwerden
Bumping up...............I need some suggestions/advice?????
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TAWhatley
Hi Louise,

I would tape that left wing up in the proper position. It really is droopy and might be dislocated rather than broken. After you extend the left wing can the bird pull the wing back in place or does is just sort of fall down?

Terry
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TAWhatley
Louise,

Give Phil a call if you like. He said he would be happy to help.

Terry
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P
I've had/have plenty like it. More often than not it's a break in the humerus or damage to an upper joint. I've got several that never were able to fly again and they live in the loft. You might try feeling the bones of both wings to compare and see if there's any especial looseness on that side. But, yeah, it needs to be taped up.

Pidgey
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lwerden
Thanks Terry & Pidgey...........When I extend the wing the bird is able to bring it back into place on it's own. I have felt the entire wing and compared it to the other. At the point of the wing where it connects to the body I can feel a swelling. Also there feels to be a slight bump on the wing along side of it.........it could be a possible break, I'm not sure.

The bird is safe and resting comfortable for the night. I will attempt to tape it in the morning as you both have suggested.

Does anyone have a picture or diagram for me to follow as to the proper way to tape the wing in place.??? Is there a link in the resource section on how to tape a wing????

Thanks again for your help.
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Reti
I was never successful in taping injured wings. Even the ones my vet taped didn't hold for more than a day.
I put those guys in a very small cage so they can't move around too much. Only one dove was never able to fly again, the rest did all fine in a couple of weeks, they were able to fly again.

Reti
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12788
lwerden said:
Thanks Terry & Pidgey...........When I extend the wing the bird is able to bring it back into place on it's own. I have felt the entire wing and compared it to the other. At the point of the wing where it connects to the body I can feel a swelling. Also there feels to be a slight bump on the wing along side of it.........it could be a possible break, I'm not sure.

The bird is safe and resting comfortable for the night. I will attempt to tape it in the morning as you both have suggested.

Does anyone have a picture or diagram for me to follow as to the proper way to tape the wing in place.??? Is there a link in the resource section on how to tape a wing????

Thanks again for your help.
Click to expand...
Any chance to get an x-ray done? Probably not. If it is the humerus (or even the scapula) which is fractured, then the only conservative treatment is to strap the injured wing against the body to produce some stability. Even then the pectoral muscles will move the fragment, therefore the bird should be kept in quit subdued lighting without any attempts to handle it for about seven days. There is a relatively high risk of incomplete healing (pseudarthrosis) or malalignment of the fracture, but it is always worth trying. Good luck!!!
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lwerden
The bird is eating and drinking well. Poops still look OK, however today the area that I noticed the swelling has now gotten much larger. It looks like a boil or a cyst. It is about the size of a pigeon egg. It starts at the point where the wing meets the body and goes upward on the back of the neck toward the head.

I'm really worried about this bird. I'm hoping to make contact with the Flamingo Animal Hospital tomorrow and see if they will give this bird a free exam.

I have not attempted to tape the wing as I am uncertain exactly what is wrong with this bird and don't want to cause it any additional harm or stress.

Bird is quite comfortable and safe. He is inside the house in a pet carrier.
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Whitefeather
Appreciate the update, Louise. :)

The fact he is eating, drinking and pooping (and they look OK) is a good sign.

Having him in a carrier is probably the best place for him at this point.

Please do let us know how things go.

Cindy
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lwerden
Hi All...........There is no change in the birds condition since last night.

I have contacted the Flamingo Pet Clinic here in Vegas. I have an appointment at 3:15 thisafternoon for this bird and also the baby that I found yesterday.

These people were so nice over the phone. There is absolutely no charge for the examinations. They have what is called a "Wild Wings Program". This clinic appears to be a great resource here in Las Vegas.

I will update later thisafternoon on both birds after returning from the Clinic.
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Whitefeather
lwerden said:
Hi All...........There is no change in the birds condition since last night.

I have contacted the Flamingo Pet Clinic here in Vegas. I have an appointment at 3:15 thisafternoon for this bird and also the baby that I found yesterday.

These people were so nice over the phone. There is absolutely no charge for the examinations. They have what is called a "Wild Wings Program".

This clinic appears to be a great resource here in Las Vegas.

I will update later thisafternoon on both birds after returning from the Clinic.
Click to expand...
It sure does, Louise. It was a great find. :)
It looks like you'll be in good hands. :)

I found this link to their Clinic.
http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3718408023

I copied the following comments from the site (there are more) because they specifically mentioned birds.

Dr Hauck is the best
By John M.
I have been taking my birds to Dr. Hauck for 26 years. He has saved their lives more than once. I cannot say enough about him. Last week I found an abandoned bird in my backyard and Dr. Hauck looked at him the moment I brought him in and did not even charge me anything. He showed he how to feed and take care of him.
He really does care about taking care of animals. My had is off to him.


Need a vet?
By Jodi B. | Insider | Rank: 27,468
The staff at the Flamingo Pet Clinic is very caring and helpful. Both doctors treat all types of animals and specialize in birds. The clinic also provides boarding.
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Whitefeather
lwerden said:
Hi All...........There is no change in the birds condition since last night.

I have contacted the Flamingo Pet Clinic here in Vegas. I have an appointment at 3:15 thisafternoon for this bird and also the baby that I found yesterday.

These people were so nice over the phone.

There is absolutely no charge for the examinations.

They have what is called a "Wild Wings Program". This clinic appears to be a great resource here in Las Vegas.

I will update later thisafternoon on both birds after returning from the Clinic.
Click to expand...
I meant to comment on this in my previouis post, to say:
Can't get much better than that. :) :)

Cindy
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P
Occasionally they get inflammation in a joint from Paratyphoid and some other such things (like E. coli). There's not really a practical way to prove that, but courses of antibiotics sometimes help. I have found that Doxycycline often helps me with those cases far better than Baytril did. Can't say that's what you've got and certainly not without an X-Ray, but it's worth a shot.

Pidgey
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Charis
What did the vet say about this bird?
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lwerden
GREAT NEWS!!!.............Went to the Vet thisafternoon. The initial evaluation was that this was not a broken bone at all, but a serious infection. The swelling was about the size of a pigeon egg. The Vet first inserted a syringe and extracted some yellow fluid, then reexamined the area. There was very little difference in the size of the lump. The Vet explained to me that infection in pigeons is not like in humans.......it is not a liquid puss...infection in pigeons is more like a solid rubbery substance. The Vet was going to send me home with antiboitics and then see the bird again in 5 days, but he kept feeling the lump and thought that in this case, since this was so severe, he wanted to do surgery to remove the infection. After numbing the area, he made an incision approx. 3/4 inch long and probed inside until he came out with this yellow ball about the size of the top of my thumb, he continued to probe and came out with another piece of this substance about the size of a lima bean. He cleansed the wound, the bleeding stopped and the lump was now completely gone.

The vet has instructed me to cleanse the wound twice a day with peroxide and I was given liquid Cipro to be administered 3cc twice a day. Vet's opinion was that this infection was from a previous injury.......possibly a BB gun wound.

THE VET ASSURED ME THAT THE BIRD WILL BE ABLE TO FLY AGAIN ONCE THIS HEALS......THANK GOD!!!!

I cannot praise the FLAMINGO PET CLINIC enough. The entire staff, were the most caring, compassionate people I have ever come accross in my entire life of all my vetinary experiences.

The Vet - Dr. Patrick Hauck - who has over 30 years of avian experience is a hero to all in this community. Las Vegas is truly blessed to have a resource like this. THE EXAMINATION/EVALUATION WAS FREE.........THE SURGERY WAS FREE.......THE MEDICINE WAS FREE!!!!!!!!!!! The level of care, compassion, courtesy and professionalism was amazing. I wish all of you out there who love and care for the pigeons had someplace like this to turn to. I am so grateful to this Vet.......there would have been no way I would have been able to afford this treatment.

Two little lives were saved today.......this bird.......and the baby that is now recovering from starvation as well. I am so happy.......I think I will go give all of my 4 pigeons a kiss on the head.

God Bless All
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Charis
Good news on both counts. Those are two lucky Pigeons.:D
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Whitefeather
Great update, Louise!! :)

It's wonderful how Dr. Hauck took the time to explain in detail about the injury and exactly what he was going to be doing. :)

Thank YOU for caring for these two precious pijjies. ;)

Cindy
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Feefo
That is wonderful news! And a good resource in your area too.

Cynthia
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Reti
Great news. I am so glad the babies are going to be fine.

Yeah, we all need a clinic like that in our area.
I think I will move to LV.:cool:

Reti
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