Common pigeon diseases and methods for their treatment

Pigeons are susceptible to a number of diseases that can be accompanied by a wide variety of symptoms. With improper treatment, most diseases result in the death of a bird, and if it comes to infectious diseases, an epidemic can occur that will destroy more than a dozen birds. Not all diseases of pigeons can be cured on their own. But in order to determine what disease feathered pets faced, you need to know the symptoms that appear with a particular disease.Only after diagnosis is it possible to treat birds.

Diseases of the pigeons

The most common diseases among birds

The pigeon is a carrier of many diseases, including those dangerous to humans. Conventionally, all diseases to which birds are susceptible can be divided into:

• infectious, which cause viruses or bacteria;
• fungal, caused by spores of fungi;
• others .

The group of others includes illnesses that are caused by improper care of birds. So, for example, in case of violation of sanitary standards, parasites can appear in the house, and if the maintenance standards for pigeons are not observed, colds can develop. For humans, they are usually not dangerous, although helminths may well get into the body of people when they come into contact with an infectious bird, so you should not engage in their treatment.

It should be remembered that many diseases that appear in birds are transmitted through the air or water to a person, so when the first symptoms of malaise appear, you need to isolate the pigeons and hurry to make a diagnosis in order to do the treatment. The veterinarian will be able to make a diagnosis.

We will not consider all possible diseases of pigeons, since some of them are extremely rare. Let’s talk only about those diseases and methods of their treatment that all pigeon breeders face at least once in their life.

Newcastle disease

Among all the pigeon diseases, the most dangerous is Newcastle disease, which is also called henchworm or paramykovirus. This disease of pigeons is most common and causes its paramyxovirus infection. It is dangerous in that it ultimately leads to paralysis of birds. A small stick develops quickly enough: in just 7-9 days, the disease leads to death. This is a disease of an infectious nature, so it can be transmitted to other individuals.To prevent the spread of the epidemic, it is necessary to isolate the infected pigeon from healthy ones even in the early stages of the disease.

Conventionally, Newcastle disease passes through 3 stages, each of which is characterized by different symptoms. At first, the pigeon’s appetite disappears and feathers are ruffled. The bird practically does not depart from the drinking bowl. At this stage, you can still save other birds. They should not be in contact with a diseased bird.

The second stage is characterized by paralysis. At the same time, the pigeon does not immediately paralyze. First of all, the neck muscles fail, then the bird ceases to move its wings and legs. Ultimately paralyzes the whole body. Paralysis occurs when the virus affects the nervous system and brain. In case of damage to the nervous system, internal hemorrhages begin, which leads to death.

The precursors of death are convulsions, the onset of which indicates the onset of stage 3 twitches.

Treatment and prevention

This disease of pigeons is terrible because it cannot be treated. The only thing that can be done is to prevent the spread of twigs.

After isolation of a sick pigeon, dovecote should be sanitized. Formalin is suitable for disinfection. Use a 3 percent solution. It is worth mentioning that some pigeon breeders treat vertically with piracetam. In this case, sometimes piracetam really helps. You can try to cure the twirl with phosprenyl.But phosprenil helps only in the early stages of the development of the disease. If the bird twists its head, it won’t be able to help.

Prophylaxis against twigs involves vaccination of birds. Vaccinate monthly chicks. It is not necessary to involve specialists for this. You can independently give drugs that form immunity to pigeons in pigeons. Most often, albuvir or lacota (Lakota) is used. You can also use boron-74.

Smallpox

The cause of this ailment, like the previous one, is the virus. Chick viruses are more prone to this. The smallpox virus infected by the domestic virus (through water, dirty feeders) is infected. Also, infected insects can infect the disease. Today there are medicines for pigeons for this disease, but treatment must be started on time, otherwise the birds will die.

The smallpox virus is activated in spring and autumn, and the incubation period of the viral disease is about 2 weeks. The mucous membranes and skin are primarily affected. Also, birds lose their appetite, their behavior becomes lethargic. But these symptoms apply to almost all pigeon diseases.

Types of smallpox

Smallpox comes in 3 types: diphtheria, smallpox, and mixed. We will not understand how these types of diseases differ, but only talk about what symptoms are inherent in each type of ailment.

With the diphtheria form of smallpox, the pharynx and mucous membrane of the oral cavity are primarily affected.There are growths that are called smallpox. After the formation of smallpox begin to grow. In 10 days they reach such a size that the bird cannot close its beak. Small pox cause not only discomfort, but also pain. Gradually, they appear on the eyes and in the area of ​​the beak.

In the smallpox form of the disease, the eyes and neck are affected primarily, in the area of ​​which smallpox appears. The skin near the beak is also affected. This allows you to quickly diagnose smallpox form of the disease and timely treatment. If the disease is not treated, then neoplasms appear under the wings of birds and on the legs. 14 days after the formation of smallpox, erosion appears in their place, which indicates an advanced stage of the disease. When birds provide medical care, erosion is delayed for 25-30 days.

The mixed form of the disease combines the symptoms of diphtheria and smallpox. She is most painfully tolerated by pigeons.

Treatment and prevention

They treat smallpox with medications. There is no single drug suitable for the treatment of all types of ailment. The doctor first determines what type of smallpox the pigeons are ill with, examining the site of smallpox, and then prescribes treatment.

If we are talking about lesions of the skin (neck, wings, legs), you can use a weak solution of boric acid ( 2%). If the beak is affected, then tetracycline antibiotics cannot be dispensed with.In addition to antibiotics, it makes sense to treat the beak with a solution of loseval, in which glucose is present. Also, veterinarians prescribe enrostin. It is not worth it to deal with smallpox on your own.

As for preventive measures, they include regular disinfection of pigeon. Afraid of smallpox virus drugs, in which iodine is present. It is they who are used for disinfection. It is not superfluous to add a weak solution of chloramine to drinking water.

A bird that has been ill with smallpox once develops immunity to this disease.

Salmonellosis

Salmonellosis, or, as it is also called, paratyphoid, is quite common. It causes this ailment of salmonella. Paratyphoid is dangerous because it can manifest itself after communicating with infected birds and in people. Drowsiness, apathy , lack of appetite, indigestion – these are all symptoms of salmonellosis, among other things, feces of a liquid consistency in an infected individual have frothy discharge of green color is created.

Salmonella lives in food and water. Also, the bird can become infected during contact with the feces of a sick pigeon, therefore, if sanitary standards are not observed, the risk of infection increases significantly.

Types of paratyphoid

Salmonellosis can be intestinal or nervous. In the first type of disease, the gastrointestinal tract is first disrupted, resulting in diarrhea in birds. There is blood in the feces. As the disease develops in the birds, some joints fail, resulting in partial paralysis. The sick pigeon does not rise into the sky, because most often it is the joints on the wings that are affected. Sometimes the joints of the legs are affected, and this causes the pigeon to stop rising.

With nervous paratyphoid, the nervous system is affected.The visual center suffers the most, as a result of which the pigeon begins to throw its head back, loses coordination.

Treatment and prevention

Sick birds need to be given medications. It is quite difficult to cure this disease, so treatment should be started when the first signs of paratyphoid appear. Since paratyphoid is transmitted by domestic means, infected individuals are isolated from healthy individuals. But even this measure to prevent an epidemic is not enough. Urgently need to call a veterinarian who will take biological substances (feces feathered) for analysis. With advanced stages of paratyphoid pigeons are killed. You can kill the bird both at home and in the doctor’s office.

Compliance with hygiene standards in the pigeon is the best preventive measure. You also need to monitor the quality of the food given to the birds.

Trichomoniasis

This disease is extremely difficult, and the treatment of pigeons almost always ends with their death. Trichomonas, which live in water, cause ailment. Accordingly, with the use of infected water, infection occurs. Further, the disease spreads through food, contact between sick and healthy individuals. Sick individuals spread the infection throughout the dovecote.

Lack of appetite, elevated body temperature – the first symptoms of trichomoniasis. The disease affects the state of plumage. Sick individuals are tousled, their wings are down, the goiter is slightly enlarged.With the development of the disease, the bird begins to breathe hard, it has difficulty swallowing food, which can be judged by how it eats. The pigeon during swallowing begins to press its head to the neck as much as possible. As trichomoniasis develops, loose stools, snot, neoplasms on the mucous membrane in the oral cavity appear. In some cases, lumps appear on the feathered throat, indicating damage to the esophagus.

Treatment and prevention

Trichomoniasis is treated with arsarsol and trichopolum. You can also treat the disease with metronidazole. The drugs give 2 courses of 4 days. The break between courses is 2 days. Drugs are given in small quantities along with bread. Trichomoniasis is also treated with a drug called antisalma. It is also used to treat bronchopneumonia, colibacteriosis and dysentery.

Before starting treatment, you should consult a doctor who will tell you the dosage of the drug used.

Tuberculosis

This is a pigeon disease caused by tubercle bacillus. A bird can become infected with tuberculosis by domestic means. The most unpleasant thing in this situation is that birds can infect this disease not only with each other, but also with humans.

There are currently no drugs that can cure tuberculosis in pigeons. Yes, and identify it in the early stages is quite difficult.In some cases, symptoms begin to appear only after 3 months. And throughout this time, a sick bird infects similar individuals and people with whom it comes in contact.

Since the signs of a disease of pigeons such as tuberculosis appear late, the bird should be systematically checked for the presence of an ailment. If one is found, immediately you need to stop all contacts between healthy and infected individuals. In order to alleviate suffering, feathered painkillers can be given. But sooner or later, sick pigeons will have to be euthanized.

Unexplained weight loss, the appearance of neoplasms in the form of cones throughout the body (most often on the joints or around them), partial or complete paralysis – symptoms indicating the presence of tuberculosis. The disease also has a negative effect on the appearance of plumage, which becomes dull.

Those at risk are those breeds of pigeons that often come into contact with people (sports, for example).

Prevention

Despite the fact that it is not possible to cure tuberculosis, you can minimize the risk of a disease that can cause an epidemic. To do this, systematically carry out the pest and vaccination of birds. Lime can be scattered on the floor, which destroys the tubercle bacillus. The infectious individuals are immediately isolated.

Coccidiosis

This disease is encountered by all people who breed any bird.As a rule, even at an early age, pigeons are immune to coccidiosis. But sometimes you have to deal with the treatment of this disease. Before you begin to treat an infectious disease affecting the intestines, you need to recognize it.

Symptoms of coccidiosis are feathered apathy and excessive drowsiness, loss of appetite. As a result, the pigeon dries, rapidly losing weight. It is also worth looking at the pigeon droppings: feathered diarrhea can occur, although it does not always accompany this ailment. Sometimes the litter stays solid. Often, pigeons have cloudy eyes, sometimes partial or complete paralysis occurs.

Treatment and prevention

Coccidiosis is dangerous because it is difficult to detect in the early stages. In the later stages, it causes great damage to the health of birds. Essentially, the cause of coccidiosis is bacteria, so treatment involves the use of antibacterial drugs.

Prevention of coccidiosis is sanitary compliance in the house.

Colds

If there are drafts in the room, pigeons may have colds. In their treatment, medications are used. But before you start treatment, you need to eliminate the cause of the onset of diseases. Feathered people can get conjunctivitis, a runny nose or a cough may appear.

Sometimes colds indicate poor immunity and a lack of vitamins in the body of birds.In this case, in addition to treatment, you need to adjust the diet of pigeons by introducing mineral fertilizers into it. At the same time, the diseased pigeon is separated from the healthy ones because colds are transmitted by airborne droplets.

A sick pigeon looks lethargic, can throw its head back, and does not fit into feeders and drinkers. In rhinitis and sinusitis, the bird breathes with an open beak.

Condidamycosis

There are fungal diseases in pigeons. Condidamycosis refers to one of them. Most often, a disease is detected in young animals. Adults are usually carriers of condidomycosis. An ailment appears when there is a lack of vitamins in the body and a violation of sanitary standards when breeding birds. Condidomycosis can also cause weakening of the body due to prolonged use of antibiotics.

This disease of pigeons is accompanied by the following symptoms: weight loss and bloating goiter. The bird hardly swallows food, and an unpleasant smell comes from the beak.

They treat the disease with antibiotics. In parallel, they give vitamin B.

Ornithosis

Ornithosis affects the respiratory system of birds. A harmful microorganism called chlamydia causes the disease. This is an infectious disease during which pigeons develop wheezing, runny nose, eyes begin to watery, and appetite disappears. Sometimes the bird coughs, partial paralysis occurs.

Antibiotics are used to treat ornithosis.In addition to the medical treatment of sick birds, dovecote needs to be disinfected.

Parasites

In addition to viruses and infections, parasites can cause damage to the health of pigeons, the most dangerous of which are worms and fluffers. Parasites appear only if hygiene standards are violated during bird keeping.

Worms affect not only the gastrointestinal tract, but also other organs: eyes, lungs, heart. Helminths are especially dangerous for young animals. Signs of the presence of parasites in the body of birds are apathy, liquid droppings, loss of appetite, vomiting, paralysis. Also, growth retardation is sometimes observed. There are several types of helminths. For their treatment, medications are used. These drugs should be given not only to get rid of helminths, but also to prevent their appearance.

Peroids are parasites that damage the feather of a bird. They are not as harmless as it might seem at first glance. In addition to feathers, these parasites feed on epithelium, damaging the upper layer of the skin, and this is fraught with the appearance of skin diseases. In addition, the bird becomes more vulnerable to a variety of infections.

To destroy the cannibals, you can use both medications and folk remedies (for example, ash baths).

In addition to worms and fluffers attack feathered lice and fleas, which can be eliminated using the same ash baths.

City pigeons do not get bird flu, which is dangerous for humans.

Alternative methods of treatment

There are different ways treatment of diseases. At home, you can use a variety of herbs. But there are diseases that need to be treated with medication. Specialists should be involved in their treatment.

With the help of folk remedies, vitamin deficiency can be overcome: it is enough to hang berries of mountain ash or black currant in the house. You can give feathered leaves of dioecious nettle. To get rid of worms, give pigeons seeds of pumpkin or leaves of a watch, and sunflower seeds help to clean the stomach. Infusion from pharmacy chamomile is good for colds, and to normalize the digestive tract, they prepare infusions from medicinal dandelion.

Apple cider vinegar is widely used in poultry farming. This natural substance is rich in vitamins, minerals and has antiseptic properties. Apple cider vinegar is most often added to water. On 1 liter of water give about 6-7 mg of vinegar. But to drink chicks with vinegar water is not always worth it. It is enough to give such a drink to your pets several times a week.

All those who prefer traditional methods of treatment should consult a specialist before using any remedy. Combine traditional methods of treatment and medications is not worth it.

General preventive measures

Many diseases of pigeons ultimately lead to their death, so it is very important to minimize the risk of any disease. Prevention of diseases of pigeons involves compliance with sanitary standards, disinfection of pigeons, vaccination of birds. Pest control should be done at least once every 2 years.

Vaccination of birds is a separate science. In order not to think about what diseases birds are susceptible to and how to treat them, wards should be given wards that stimulate the production of antibodies to certain infections.

You also need to monitor the quality of the feed given. If we are talking about wet mixers, then the remnants of food after feeding should be removed from the feeders. When eating pigeons, pigeons have problems with the digestive tract, which can lead not only to loose stools, but also to more serious diseases.

At the first sign of illness, quarantine is introduced. If the disease is not contagious, then isolating the bird is not necessary. If symptoms appear, a diagnosis should first be made, otherwise it is not possible to determine whether an illness is contagious or not, unless the bird has a broken wing and the danger of such an injury to other individuals is visible to the naked eye. If the birds simply sneeze or have hoarseness, they should be isolated. The birds begin to be treated immediately.You should not forget that you need to love your pigeons, and then their disease will be much easier to cure.

Conclusion

Each breeder needs to know about pigeon diseases and their treatment. At the same time, self-medication is not worth it. The first thing to do before a diagnosis is to isolate a sick individual. Almost all diseases, and some of them are not amenable to treatment, are transmitted by airborne droplets and by domestic means. It is difficult to save birds during the epidemic, which will spread very quickly in the house.

You can treat pigeons at home, but only after seeing a doctor.

We examined the ailments that are most common. But there are less common ones. For example, sometimes pigeon breeders are faced with a disease such as staphylococcosis. It is treated with antibiotics and with timely assistance does not lead to the death of birds. Adenovirus, which has recently been shown more and more often, is more dangerous. Albuvir is used for its treatment. This is a relatively new drug, which, however, is effective against many viral diseases. Also, viruses can be treated with baytril or vet. But before using any drug, even if it’s just a pill for worms, you need to read the instructions and talk to the veterinarian. Continuation of the article …