[cwebster]

Help! Phoebe our rescued post 2x surgery (xanthomatosis, wing injuries) post deslorelin implant (second one 2 wks ago) bird developed noisy breathing yesterday. Local vet put her on Baytril and meloxicam and her breathing is quiet but she seems lethargic, tired, looks puffed up and her appetite has fallen to zero. Vet expert is 5 hours away. She has runny poop. Ultrasound showed some tiny amount of fluid in her reproductive tract (maybe normal for her). She improved right away but now seems to be doing worse. Is there a "critical care" formula food for pigeons? Could the meds be killing her appetite? How can we know if it is a bacteria or fungus? Thanks very much!

 

[Charis]

Both of the meds she is on could be decreasing her appetite. I'm wondering if she needs to have fluids drained from her abdomen. Fluid can build up and it causes pressure...makes it difficult to breathe.

 

[cwebster]

Still no appetite

Charis,
Thanks for your prompt response. She just refused her third meal in a row (Zupreem cockatiel her favorite). Will stop the meds and call the vet this morning. She no longer has noisy breathing and her breathing is not open-mouthed but she looks "puffy" (is puffing up her feathers) in spite of her very warm room. Her poop has been very loose for several days (watery, sometimes white, sometimes green) with occasional regular well-formed ones. The vet said it was a tiny amount of fluid on the ultrasound that was in her reproductive tract, not her lungs. ?--Cindy

 

[cwebster]

rescue fluids or food for pigeons?

Is there a "critical care" food or drink for pigeons I can give Phoebe to help her recover? Thanks!

 

[Charis]

Charis,
Thanks for your prompt response. She just refused her third meal in a row (Zupreem cockatiel her favorite). Will stop the meds and call the vet this morning. She no longer has noisy breathing and her breathing is not open-mouthed but she looks "puffy" (is puffing up her feathers) in spite of her very warm room. Her poop has been very loose for several days (watery, sometimes white, sometimes green) with occasional regular well-formed ones. The vet said it was a tiny amount of fluid on the ultrasound that was in her reproductive tract, not her lungs. ?--Cindy

The fluid in the abdomen, or reproductive tract [ not the lungs], causes pressure, pushing the organs up, puts pressure on the air sacs and thus causing labored breathing. If your pigeon had a tiny amount when the ultra sound was done, it's possible that now there is more fluid. If that is the problem, removing the fluid will make her feel much better immediately.If that is the problem, adding food will make her feel worse by causing more pressure because she doesn't have room.
Feel the area right above her vent. If it feels poofy, there probably is fluid building.
This may not be the cause of your pigeon's symptoms, but I have one that every 6 weeks or so, we drain 50-70 ccs of liquid from her abdomen. It just sound so similar.

 

[cwebster]

Phoebe getting better again

OK, we stopped the Baytril and meloxicam and she's now eating like a little piggy again. She still puffs up like she's tired something but we are holding off on driving the 5 hours each way to the vet until we see how she does tonight. Thank you for your suggestions. I think the meds were making her sick. I felt her "vent" area (she looked insulted) but it doesn't feel swollen so am hoping for the best.--Cindy

 

[pigeon-lover0]

JUst a suggestion here, could it be a respatory infection? If so Tetracyclines Chlortetracycline (Auereomycin) Oxytetracycline (Terramycin) is good for respatory infections. Wish you luck!

Lucas

 

[Charis]

I'm glad she's eating....really good news. Keep us posted.

 

[cwebster]

Asthma? Allergies?

Help! Phoebe our rescued pigeon had respiratory symptoms a week ago and took meloxicam and antibiotics then quit eating. We stopped the meds and she was all better. Today she has noisy breathing again. The pollen (oak, goldenrod) here is off the charts. Do pigeons get asthma and allergies and how is this treated? Thanks!

 

[ETphonehome]

unfortunatelly there is no much documentation about allergies and astma as many other illnesess in pigeons. although many prefer to believe the known illnesess are the only ones that affect or threaten pigeons.

If you suspect a product, or specific situation, inviroment or season cause allergy to your pigeon try using the same mesures we use for ourselves.

Eliminate te possible product, avoid the possible situation, try to keep the pigeon inside the house in a quiet room, I do not know if you can find something to purify the hair in the house, just an idea.

 

[pigeon-lover0]

Here is another idea, it could also be a respatory infection.

 

[cwebster]

Thanks for your posts! Phoebe just received Baytril and meloxicam for possible respiratory infection last weekend. It went away. Now the noisy breathing and less energy are back (no open beak breathing though or fluffing up). Her poops are fine (were runny last weekend). We have no other birds but have been leaving the doors and windows open in the rest of the house due to heat. Her room is about 80-90 degrees (heated). I can run an aircleaner and see if that helps. Am afraid to put her back on meds because then she quits eating. ?

 

[Skyeking]

I have merged your two threads so everyone has history on the bird.

The heat probably isn't helping and too hot and dry, and that may be causing the problem. Also if she is exposed to any drafts of air that is definitely not good.

I also agree not to give her anymore medicine, but start giving her some vitamins and minerals and probiotics, fresh outdoor air and sunshine!

 

[Skyeking]

(Auereomycin) Oxytetracycline (Terramycin) is good for respatory infections. Wish you luck!
Lucas

This would be the choice of medicines if this is a respiratory infection.

 

[cwebster]

asthma?

Phoebe lives in a bedroom with an aircleaner and heater. She has gotten sick (noisy breathing) twice now after we left the doors and windows open in the rest of the house. Am running the aircleaner now and the room is about 90 degrees. Will give her fresh air too and see if that helps but think she may be allergic to pollens or something (past two days her two humans like many in the area have been sick with coughing, sneezing, eye pain, allergies from oak and goldenrod pollen)?? Don't know if birds have asthma or allergies and how this is treated. If she worsens will rush her to the local vet (avian vet is 5 hours away though).

 

[pigeon-lover0]

Just keep a good eye on her and watch to see if the symptoms get worse. I will do a search to see what this could possibly be.

 

[pigeon-lover0]

Is the bird breathing with it's mouth open?

 

[almondman]

Phoebe lives in a bedroom with an aircleaner and heater. She has gotten sick (noisy breathing) twice now after we left the doors and windows open in the rest of the house. Am running the aircleaner now and the room is about 90 degrees. Will give her fresh air too and see if that helps but think she may be allergic to pollens or something (past two days her two humans like many in the area have been sick with coughing, sneezing, eye pain, allergies from oak and goldenrod pollen)?? Don't know if birds have asthma or allergies and how this is treated. If she worsens will rush her to the local vet (avian vet is 5 hours away though).

Although the air cleaner may help by removing allergens from the air, it does provide moving air(drafts) in the room. Make sure it does not blow directly on your bird. Some cleaners may even cool the air which can cause problems with cool air hitting her in a warm air environment. (heater)(90 degrees)

 

[cwebster]

Noisy breathing, not open-mouthed

We just scrubbed out her cage including her wooden perches. She isn't sitting with open-mouthed breathing; just has noisy breathing especially when she moves around. Will make sure the air cleaner doesn't blow directly on her. The room is between 85 and 90 degrees according to a thermometer on the side of her cage (she seems to like it warm when she's not completely well). Thank you for your suggestions!

 

[cwebster]

Doing better

Phoebe still sounds a little raspy but is playful, bobs her head, plays "noogies" with my fingers, and has flown around a little. She seems a tiny bit more tired than usual but much improved compared with earlier today, after we cleaned her cage. Maybe husbandry was the problem? She had old food under her newspapers and a slight accumulation of "scuff." Thanks to all who commented; will observe her and keep you posted.