This little feral pigeon youngster came in yesterday afternoon from Beeston in Nottingham. She was spotted sitting huddled up against a wall in the town and the two kind girls who found her picked her up and brought her over to us. She has swollen lymph nodes as a result of infection with canker and pigeon pox, both of which are transmittable between pigeons. It is most likely the parent birds and siblings will also have these diseases. Canker, also known as Trichomoniasis, is a common disease of pigeons caused by a protozoan single celled organism. It also effects other birds such as birds of prey who feed on infected pigeons. It is seen as lumps of yellow growths in the mouth and throat. As the disease progresses it will eventually take over the whole throat stopping the bird from swallowing food. Death is usually caused by emaciation and organ failure at the later stages. The airway may also be compromised causing asphyxiation. It is essential that birds suffering from this condition be treated as soon as possible in order to save them. As the treatment works, lesions may come lose in the throat and may need removing with forceps. Affected birds need tube feeding with a hand rearing formula until the infection is under control. Pigeon pox usually effects young birds or those that are normally immuno-suppressed. It causes pustules on the beak, legs and around the eyes. As it is a virus it can not be cured, however with supportive therapy the birds own immune system will rid the bird of the virus. Treatment has already been started and since yesterday a few canker lesions have already come away from her throat and been removed. She is also much brighter and has been receiving food via a tube. She is grooming and also wanting to fly about. Fingers crossed she will make a full recovery.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 15:05:55 +0000
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