Is he producing droppings? Can you post photos? Sounds as if he might have aspirated some formula when he vomited. Can you get meds from a pharmacy in your country? Nystatin can be used for sour crop. That is a yeast infection. If the crop is not emptying, you can feed warmed up diluted baby applesauce and gently massage until he produces droppings.
Sick Baby Pigeon, heavy breathing and twitching head
I found a baby pigeon a few weeks ago that i’ve been slowly taking care of and there were no issues in its behaviour until recently. I used to feed it kaythe exact formulae 3 times a day when its crop was near empty.
recently, the bird became sick and is showing signs of weak legs and laboured breathing. It also occasionally twitches its head too which only started recently. it also started regurgitating food but never vomits it out fully. it regurgitates and then swallows it back??
im not sure if this is sour crop and im getting really worried. is there anything i can do for it?
recently, the bird became sick and is showing signs of weak legs and laboured breathing. It also occasionally twitches its head too which only started recently. it also started regurgitating food but never vomits it out fully. it regurgitates and then swallows it back??
im not sure if this is sour crop and im getting really worried. is there anything i can do for it?
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yeah he produces droppings and his crop empties just fine. he also eats enthusiastically but he’s still very weak with laboured breathing. ive tried giving him more water thinking its heat exhaustion but it didnt seem to work. i’ve been thinking about seeing an avian specialist but am scared that the lil guy wont make it till then. i’ll try to attach an image of him here
He is not looking good. Can you check inside his beak and back of the throat for yellow growths that will indicate canker? Also don't put water inside his beak, he can aspirate especially if he has laboured breathing.
His legs looks a bit splayed. They get splayed legs when the surface they are kept on is too slippery. Rather try keeping him on a soft blanket that is not too slippery. That issue can be sorted out later.
Poor baby. If he aspirated some formula, then he will need antibiotics to prevent aspiration pneumonia. Rather take him to an avian vet asap. Please keep us updated.
His legs looks a bit splayed. They get splayed legs when the surface they are kept on is too slippery. Rather try keeping him on a soft blanket that is not too slippery. That issue can be sorted out later.
Poor baby. If he aspirated some formula, then he will need antibiotics to prevent aspiration pneumonia. Rather take him to an avian vet asap. Please keep us updated.
Keeping him in a steamy environment (like the bathroom) might help with the breathing. Is he making a raspy sound when breathing? When you check for the canker growths, also check if the breathing hole is open and not covered by growths.
there is very minor yellow growth inside his beak but his breathing holes are clear for now. there is no sound when he's breathing, no wheezing and nothing raspy. if he does have canker, do i still keep him in a steamy environment?
also thank you for telling me about the splayed legs, i will see what i can do about it after he gets through the current situation :c
also thank you for telling me about the splayed legs, i will see what i can do about it after he gets through the current situation :c
Will you be able to get hold of metronidazole from a pharmacy? Human meds can be used for pigeons. How much does he weigh? The dosage will be 10 mg per 100 gram birdweight. So you will need to crush the tablet and split the powder into the correct dosage. Give once a day for 10 days or until all the yellow growths are gone. Best way to give: Take a small piece of wet bread, soak up all the powder and put deep inside the beak over the tongue for him to swallow. Also try to get Nystatin (for yeast prevention).
The steamy environment won't help for canker, but will help with the breathing.
The steamy environment won't help for canker, but will help with the breathing.
i looked it up online and i don't think i can get metronidazole or flagyl (not entirely sure though) here without a proper prescription but i can try to visit the pharmacy tmr in case they do sell them but haven't updated their online store. when i looked up canker treatments some sources said to try ronidazole, so do i keep a look out for that too?
also, on the event that I can't get the flagyl and nystatin here without a prescription, is there any way i can use a home remedy of sorts? i also found sources saying i could use apple cider vinegar to decrease the yellow growth but they all had varying ratio's of water to apple cider vinegar and i'm not entirely sure how well this works... have u heard of this method before and is it recommended?
thank u for all the help so far ;-;
also, on the event that I can't get the flagyl and nystatin here without a prescription, is there any way i can use a home remedy of sorts? i also found sources saying i could use apple cider vinegar to decrease the yellow growth but they all had varying ratio's of water to apple cider vinegar and i'm not entirely sure how well this works... have u heard of this method before and is it recommended?
thank u for all the help so far ;-;
Ronidazole can also be used. This one needs to add to the drinking water, so you have no control over the dosage he will get. Metro will be a better option. Do you have a petshop nearby that sells fish and aquarium goods? They might have fishzole, this is the same as metro.
The apple cider vinegar won't cure canker, but is used to prevent canker. Won't hurt to use acv water as a base for mixing his formula. The normal ratio is 5 ml acv to 1 litre of water. Do yours 7.5 ml to 1 litre.
Only a pleasure helping, I hope he will hang in there until you can start treating him. An avian vet can do a cropsmear and will be able to give the meds.
The apple cider vinegar won't cure canker, but is used to prevent canker. Won't hurt to use acv water as a base for mixing his formula. The normal ratio is 5 ml acv to 1 litre of water. Do yours 7.5 ml to 1 litre.
Only a pleasure helping, I hope he will hang in there until you can start treating him. An avian vet can do a cropsmear and will be able to give the meds.
i'll look out for everything u mentioned and see what i can get on short notice. and thanks again for all your help, i was so lost and worried about what to do. i really hope he'll hang in there and be able to get better soon 
i'll keep you updated on any changes that occur too!!
i'll keep you updated on any changes that occur too!!
I found a baby pigeon a few weeks ago that i’ve been slowly taking care of and there were no issues in its behaviour until recently. I used to feed it kaythe exact formulae 3 times a day when its crop was near empty.
recently, the bird became sick and is showing signs of weak legs and laboured breathing. It also occasionally twitches its head too which only started recently. it also started regurgitating food but never vomits it out fully. it regurgitates and then swallows it back??
im not sure if this is sour crop and im getting really worried. is there anything i can do for it?
You MUST get that bird to an avian vet or an experienced wildlife rehabilitator NOW (preferably YESTERDAY.) Feeding Kaytee Exact is NOT for the inexperienced. It most certainly has aspirated some of the food and will most likely die without immediate intervention. Please find help now.
You MUST get that bird to an avian vet or an experienced wildlife rehabilitator NOW (preferably YESTERDAY.) Feeding Kaytee Exact is NOT for the inexperienced. It most certainly has aspirated some of the food and will most likely die without immediate intervention. Please find help now.
I found a baby pigeon a few weeks ago that i’ve been slowly taking care of and there were no issues in its behaviour until recently. I used to feed it kaythe exact formulae 3 times a day when its crop was near empty.
recently, the bird became sick and is showing signs of weak legs and laboured breathing. It also occasionally twitches its head too which only started recently. it also started regurgitating food but never vomits it out fully. it regurgitates and then swallows it back??
im not sure if this is sour crop and im getting really worried. is there anything i can do for it?
You MUST get that bird to an avian vet or an experienced wildlife rehabilitator NOW (preferably YESTERDAY.) Feeding Kaytee Exact is NOT for the inexperienced. It most certainly has aspirated some of the food and will most likely die without immediate intervention. Please find help now.
And for future reference, please EVERYONE, put you location in your profile so we can direct you to nearby help. It is very difficult to help birds who are truly ill if you are a novice. We've all been through it.You MUST get that bird to an avian vet or an experienced wildlife rehabilitator NOW (preferably YESTERDAY.) Feeding Kaytee Exact is NOT for the inexperienced. It most certainly has aspirated some of the food and will most likely die without immediate intervention. Please find help now.
For squeakers like the bird you found, soaked puppy chow is the best thing. You can open their beak and feed them one piece at a time and they will not aspirate.
If he's got Trich, he needs to be tube fed with medication. Only someone experienced can do that.
But you are a kind hearted soul to try to help him. That does not go unnoticed.
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