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A question about a disease or a symptom you're not familiar with?

Hi, my brother has a pigeon that is about 1yr 6 months. The pigeon started vomiting and also having yellow droppings?

Hi, my brother has a pigeon that is about 1yr 6 months. The pigeon started vomiting and also having yellow droppings. Is it possible to tell what the pigeon could have and what kind of medication we can give him. Thanks Kind regards, Loredana Scicluna for Malta

question by: Loredana Scicluna

answer by: Ruben Lanckriet

Dear Madam/Sir,

It is very possible the pigeon has the adenovirus type II. This is a very serious illness that causes complete destruction of the liver and death of the pigeon. It is very important you get the bird into quarantine and desinfect the lofts completely.

The bird will normally die if it is this virus. If there is another (bacterial) cause for these symptoms you can give the bird antibiotics, sedochol and electrolytes, if necessary by injection by your veterinarian. A clinical examination is always of help.

Kind regards

Je veux bien savoir la meilleur façon pour bien prépare les pigeons pour les courses de fond dans un climat sec?

Bonjour voila je suis un jeune colombophile Marocain. Ma question sera posé sur la période des concours les concours de fond, je veux bien savoir la meilleur façon pour bien prépare les pigeons pour les courses de fond dans un climat sec, la période des concours de fond dans le désert Marocain les pigeons sont obliger de dépasse un territoire désertique de 400 km jusqu’à 500 km avant d’arriver dans un autre environnement montagneux dans la région d’Agadir au sud de Maroc avant de contenue leur vols pour arrive dans la région de Rabat Salé, je parle bien sur pour les courses de 800 et 1000 km. Comment on peu bien prépare les pigeons pour ce type de courses ??? La plus part du temps on utilisés des produits pour la préparation du conditions physique, mais je veux bien savoir quelles types des produits il faut donne dans ce genre de courses et de conditions climat en sachent que dans le désert le climat peu arrive a jusqu’à 40° et 45° …

question by: Otmane

answer by: Dr Vincent Schroeder

Il est difficile de donner une réponse à votre question. Chaque vétérinaire a ses propres idées et préférences concernant les produits de « mise en condition ». Pour ce qui est des concours de fond j’attache beaucoup d’importance à l’utilisation d’acides aminés, d’huiles et de minéraux de manière telle à amener les pigeons en très bonne condition et avec suffisamment de réserves. Au niveau de la chaleur il est conseillé de donner des électrolytes (avant et après le concours) de manière à hydrater les pigeons au maximum. Au niveau médical il va de soi que les pigeons doivent être indemnes de parasites (tricho, cocci, vers…) et les voies respiratoires doivent être surveillées de près. Salutations

I am having trouble with my young birds flying. The whattles and eyes look clear but the feathers on the head are puffed up?

I am having trouble with my young birds flying. The whattles are white and eyes look clear and bright but the feathers on the head are puffed up. I have given them a treatment for 10 days of Doxycycline and Tylan. What could be the cause, and any solutions? Thanks Bruce

question by: Bruce Southern

answer by: Ruben Lanckriet

Dear Sir, The puffed up feathers don't always have to be an upper respiratory problem as many fanciers tend to think. In a lot of cases it is just because of a lack of real racing condition. When a bird is in condition the feathers of the whole body, also on the head, tend to 'stick' closer to the body. The bird seems smaller and is shining. The bird is full of life and trains hard on its own. Some birds always seem to have puffed up feathers on the head and still race very well. I suspect not many upper respiratory problems with the ten day treatment you gave. It is possible that the antibiotic treatment has undermined a good racing condition. A clinical examination could make clear if there are other infections. If not, a good liver treatment (because of the antibiotics) like sedochol, electrolytes, vitamins, herbal tea, good nutrition and training, could be the best way to get the birds in condition. Kind regards

What would cause cramp in a pigeons legs after a 3 hour fly in a light head wind?

What would cause cramp in a pigeons legs after a 3 hour fly in a light head wind?

question by: Helen Longworth

answer by: Ruben Lanckriet

Dear Madam/Sir, Cramps are usually caused by problems of hydration and mineral balance. If the birds were not able to drink and/or have a shortage of certain minerals, especially calcium, there could be cramps. Off course if the leg blood circulation is inhibited by a ring or a trauma, also similar symptoms could be seen, but than that are not really cramps. Kind regards

What should I give pigeons that return from a long distance race to recover faster?

When pigeons return from a long distance race they take a lot to recover. What should I give them to recover faster?

question by: Ronald Scicluna

answer by: Ruben Lanckriet

Dear Sir, The first and most important thing the first moments when the pigeon has returned, is rehydration. During a long distance race - depending of wheather condition and if the pigeon has drunk before and during the race - a pigeon loses a lot of water and also electrolytes. Although a pigeon doesn't sweat, it still loses water (and some salts) mostly through the air sacks(, droppings and urine). That is why it is important to give electrolytes after the race. This is meant to bring the blood volume as fast as possible back to normal level. If the bird only drinks water without electrolytes, the water diffuses very quickly to the tissues and it takes a lot longer to get the blood volume (and pressure) back to the normal level. When the blood volume gets faster back to normal level, toxic substances are faster removed from the muscles and nutriënts are more rapidly distributed to different tissues, with as effect that the recovery happens faster. Another factor that is very important for a good recovery, is good quality protein. If the pigeon gets good quality protein in the first hours after the race, the recovery is tremendously faster. Good quality protein could be a good balanced supplement of amino acids or even better a light digestible protein supplement with an amino acid composition that is very similar to the one in muscle tissues, for example whey protein. These two factors next to a good nutrition and water get a bird faster back in good condition. A normal long distance bird should be eager to fly when pigeons are left out of their loft the day after a long distance race. Kind regards

My pigeons have watery droppings! what caused this?

my pigeons have watery droppings! what caused this? but some they have solid brown nugget droppings but here very damp and wet! other are just mushy looking? i treated for a while with natural live yogurt because i heard that could cure\1 then i realised the intake of water so i decided to put the on electrolytes because in one of the old gazzettes. bilco gives that option for a cure of watery droppings!

question by: jake greene

answer by: Dr Ruben Lanckriet

Dear Sir,

Watery droppings can be caused by a number of factors. Infectious agents that can cause watery droppings are paramyxovirus, paratyphus, sometimes E. coli septicaemia, herpes, etc... Normally this is related with kidney damage. If the kidneys don't function properly, they don't retain enough water and so a lot of water is lost through the urine of the bird (which normally is solid and white). If there is an intestinal problem the droppings are more slimy than watery.

Another cause could just be stress. Some (male) birds tend to drink much more when they are separated just because of stress. When the birds drink more they also make much more (watery) urine.

A good veterinary examination of your birds could be of more assistance to find the real cause.

Kind regards

My young birds drink the drinkers dry. The raison??

My young birds are in form flying around the house for 45 mins but they drink the drinkers dry. Could you tell me what is the cause of this yours in sport.

question by: Dowdall R

answer by: Dr Vincent Schroeder

I should think of Paramyxo virus.

Have you had your pigeons vaccinated ?

I should give electrolytes without sugar and vaccinate again with Colombo vac pmv.

Wat kan ik doen om, in geval van een ziekte, het gewichtsverlies te beperken?

Als een duif omwille van een of andere ziekte niet meer wil eten, wat kan ik dan doen (of geven) om het gewichtsverlies te beperken ?
Idem voor het drinken. Is opspuiten van een waterige oplossing van elektrolieten een oplossing ?

question by: Roger

answer by: Pascal Lanneau

Het is in eerste instantie heel belangrijk te proberen te achterhalen wat de oorzaak zou kunnen zijn van het niet meer eten van de duiven. Door de oorzaak weg te nemen zal er normaalgezien ook een verbetering van de eetlust optreden.
Let wel, als je voor de onderliggende oorzaak medicatie dient te geven aan de duiven, vergewis u ervan dat de duiven het zeker binnen hebben, als ze niet eten of drinken zal de duif op die manier niet de nodige medicatie binnenkrijgen. Dien de medicatie in deze gevallen individueel toe, ttz rechtstreeks in de bek, op deze manier ben je er zeker van dat de duif eveneens de juiste hoeveelheid medicatie binnenkreeg. (de dierenarts kan eventueel ook de nodige medicatie injecteren)
Ondertussen kan men inderdaad wat water met eventueel electrolieten opspuiten. De dagdosis dat een duif in normale omstandigheden drinkt is ongeveer 50 cc, afhankelijk van oa de weersomstandigheden. Dit dien je best toe in verschillende beurten, zodat de duif de tijd krijgt dit te verwerken of te verteren, indien de duif met een volle krop blijft zitten, heeft het weinig zin extra water of voer toe te dienen op dat moment.
Een betere vertering kan eveneens worden bekomen door de duiven bvb extra ecuchol, sedochol of dergelijke toe te dienen.
Maar een eerste vereiste is en blijft het nagaan van de oorzaken , en hiervan af te helpen, en niet alleen symptomatisch te behandelen, want dan kan de duif bvb ten onder gaan, niet aan het feit dat ze weinig eet, maar bvb aan die ander onderliggende oorzaak.

My pigeon has flying problems and picks next to the corn. What is the treatment for this?

I have a racing pigeon that is heavily inbred, father to daughter. it is a late bred from fall of 2005. the first noticable symptom was what I thought was eye problems. he would try to pick up grain but would slightly miss it. he had control of his head but it took three or four tries before he could get the grain. He had less problems with larger grain like corn.he also had trouble flying up to the purch. he could fly up alright but just slightly miss the purch. then it hit him like an attack, on the floor flopping around head twisting no control of his wings or legs. it was like a seisure. he is now in a seperate cage. he eats and drinks ok. he has control then looses it . he has good days then bad . droppings ok and no weight loss. still can't see very well. has trouble walking and sleeps on his side. when i hold him he has lots of strength in his wings. feathers still soft and silky. eyes still seem clear and still has eye sign. do you have any ideas on treatment.

question by: Steve

answer by: Pascal Lanneau

According to your story, I think you might have problems with paramyxovirus.
Pmv can mainly cause two main symptoms: nervous symptoms and symptoms linked to the kidneys. In the first case, you can see trembling, picking just next to the corn, no control of the wings, the head that is turning around, noequilabration like it should be etc... In the second case you have watery droppings with some small pieces in the middle of the droppings. Most of the time they drink a lot.
It is possible that the symptoms go away after some weeks (can be till 6 weeks), if this is not the case, it is possible the symptoms will always stay.
In the meantime you have to make sure they have a lot of food in every corner of a seperate cage, a lot of water, you can give them extra Vit B, some electrolytes...
BUT BE CAREFULL: IN MANY COUNTRIES YOU ARE OBLIGATED TO MENTION TO THE AUTHORITIES THAT YOUR PIGEONS HAVE PARAMYXO!!!
Depending on the country, the authorities will take restrictions for a certain region around your loft and more particular measurements for your own loft!!!!
Once again, I only think it might be pmv, according to your story!!

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