Common diseases of pigeons and methods of their treatment

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Pigeons are susceptible to a number of diseases that can be accompanied by a wide variety of symptoms. With improper treatment, most diseases end in the death of the bird, and if we are talking about infectious diseases, an epidemic may arise 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 have encountered, you need to know the symptoms that appear with a particular disease. Only after the diagnosis is made can the bird be treated.

Diseases of pigeons

The most common diseases among birds

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

infectious, caused by viruses or bacteria;
fungal caused by fungal spores;
others.

The group of others includes ailments that are caused by improper care of birds. So, for example, if sanitary standards are violated in the poultry house, parasites may appear, and if the standards for keeping pigeons are not followed, colds may develop. For people, they are usually not dangerous, although helminths may well enter the body of people upon contact with an infectious bird, so it is impossible not to treat them.

It should be remembered that many diseases that appear in birds are transmitted through air or water to humans, so when the first symptoms of ailment appear, you need to isolate the pigeons and rush to make a diagnosis in order to start treatment. A veterinarian will be able to diagnose.

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 lives.

Newcastle disease

Among all diseases of pigeons, perhaps the most dangerous is Newcastle disease, which is also called a whirligig or paramykovirus. This disease of pigeons is most common and is caused by paramyxovirus infection. It is dangerous because it ultimately leads to paralysis of birds. The whirligig develops quite quickly: in just 7-9 days, the disease leads to death. This is an infectious disease, so it can be transmitted to other individuals. In order to prevent the spread of the epidemic, it is necessary to isolate the infected pigeon from healthy ones at the early stages of the development of the disease.

Conventionally, Newcals disease goes through 3 stages, each of which is characterized by different symptoms. Initially, the pigeon loses its appetite and ruffles its feathers. The bird practically does not leave the drinker.At this stage, you can still save other birds. They should not come into contact with sick birds.

The second stage is characterized by paralysis. At the same time, it does not immediately paralyze the pigeon. First of all, the muscles of the neck fail, then the bird stops moving its wings and legs. Ultimately paralyzes the entire body. Paralysis occurs when the virus attacks the nervous system and the brain. When the nervous system is damaged, internal hemorrhages begin, which leads to death.

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

Treatment and prevention

This disease of pigeons is terrible because it does not respond to treatment. The only thing that can be done is to prevent the spread of the whirligig.

After isolating a sick pigeon, the dovecote should be disinfected. Formalin is suitable for disinfection. A 3% solution is used. It is worth making a reservation that some pigeon breeders treat the whirligig with piracetam. That being said, sometimes piracetam does help. You can try to cure the swivel with fosprenil. But fosprenil helps only in the early stages of the development of the disease. If the bird turns its head, it will not be possible to help it.

Prophylaxis against swirling involves vaccination of birds. Monthly chicks are vaccinated. It is not necessary to involve specialists for this. You can independently give drugs that form immunity in pigeons to the twirling virus. The most commonly used are albuvir or la-sota (Lakota). You can also use boron-74.

Smallpox

The cause of the appearance of this ailment, like the previous one, is a virus. Chicks are more susceptible to this virus. Feathered smallpox virus is infected in a household way (through water, dirty feeders). Infected insects can also 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. Mucous membranes and skin are primarily affected. Also, birds lose their appetite, their behavior becomes sluggish. But these symptoms apply to almost all diseases of pigeons.

Types of smallpox

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

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

With the smallpox form of the disease, the eyes and neck are the first to suffer, in the area of which pockmarks appear. The skin in the vicinity of the beak is also affected. This allows you to quickly diagnose the smallpox form of the disease and start treatment in a timely manner. If the disease is not treated, then neoplasms appear under the wings of birds and on the legs. 14 days after the formation of pockmarks, erosions appear in their place, which indicates an advanced stage of the disease. With the provision of medical care to birds, erosion is delayed within 25-30 days.

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

Treatment and prevention

Smallpox is treated with medications. There is no single drug suitable for treating all types of ailments. The doctor first determines which form of smallpox the pigeons are sick with by examining the place of localization of pockmarks, and then prescribes treatment.

If we are talking about lesions of the skin (neck, wings, legs), then a weak solution of boric acid (2%) can be used.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 lozeval solution, which contains glucose. Veterinarians also prescribe enrostine. Treating smallpox on your own is not worth it.

As for preventive measures, these include regular disinfection of the dovecote. The smallpox virus is afraid of preparations containing iodine. They are used for disinfection. It will not be superfluous to add a weak solution of chloramine to drinking water.

A bird that has once had smallpox develops immunity to this ailment.

Salmonellosis

Salmonellosis, or, as it is also called, paratyphoid fever, occurs quite often. Salmonella causes this ailment. Paratyphoid fever is dangerous because it can appear after contact with infected birds and in humans. Drowsiness, apathy, lack of appetite, indigestion are all symptoms of salmonellosis. Among other things, the faeces of a liquid consistency in an infected individual have a frothy green discharge.

Salmonella lives in food and water. Also, a 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. With the first type of disease, the digestive tract is first disrupted, as a result of which diarrhea begins in birds. There is blood in the feces. As the disease develops in birds, some joints fail, as a result of which partial paralysis occurs. A sick pigeon does not rise into the sky, since it is the joints on the wings that are most often affected. Sometimes the joints of the legs are affected, and this causes the pigeon to stop rising.

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

Treatment and prevention

Sick birds should 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 fever is transmitted in a household way, infected individuals are isolated from healthy ones. But even this measure is not enough to prevent the epidemic. It is urgently necessary to call a veterinarian who will take biological substances (feces of birds) for analysis. With advanced stages of paratyphoid, pigeons are killed. You can kill a bird both at home and in the doctor's office.

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

Trichomoniasis

This disease is extremely difficult, and the treatment of pigeons almost always ends with their death. They cause illness of Trichomonas, which live in water. Accordingly, when drinking 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, fever are the first symptoms of trichomoniasis. The disease also affects the condition of the plumage. Sick individuals are disheveled, their wings are lowered down, the goiter is slightly enlarged. With the development of the disease, the bird begins to breathe heavily, it has difficulty swallowing food, which can be judged by how it eats. During swallowing, the pigeon 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, bumps appear on the throat of birds, which indicates damage to the esophagus.

Treatment and prevention

Trichomoniasis is treated with osarsol and trichopolum. You can also treat the disease with metronidazole. The drugs are given in 2 courses of 4 days.The break between courses is 2 days. The preparations are given in small quantities along with bread. Trichomoniasis is also treated with a drug called antisalma. It is also used for the treatment of bronchopleumonia, colibacillosis and dysentery.

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

Tuberculosis

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

At the moment, there are no drugs that could cure tuberculosis in pigeons. And it is quite difficult to identify it in the early stages. In some cases, symptoms do not begin to appear until after 3 months. And throughout this time, a sick bird infects its own kind and people with whom it comes into contact.

Since signs of a disease in pigeons such as tuberculosis appear late, the bird should be systematically checked for the presence of the disease. If one is found, it is necessary to immediately stop all contact between healthy and infected individuals. To relieve suffering, pain relievers can be given to birds. But sick pigeons will sooner or later have to be killed.

Unexplained weight loss, the appearance of bumps all over the body (most often on or near the joints), partial or complete paralysis are symptoms that indicate the presence of tuberculosis. Also, the disease has a negative effect on the appearance of the plumage, which becomes dull.

The risk group includes those breeds of pigeons that often come into contact with people (sports, for example).

Prophylaxis

Although it is not possible to cure tuberculosis, the risk of a disease that can cause an epidemic can be minimized. For this, pest control and vaccination of birds are systematically carried out. Lime can be scattered on the floor, which destroys the tubercle bacillus. Infectious individuals are immediately isolated.

Coccidiosis

All people who breed any bird face this disease. As a rule, at an early age, pigeons develop immunity to coccidiosis. But sometimes you have to deal with the treatment of this disease. Before you start treating an infectious disease that affects the intestines, you need to recognize it.

Symptoms of coccidiosis are apathy of birds and excessive sleepiness, decreased appetite. As a result, the pigeon dries up, rapidly losing weight. It is also worth taking a closer look at pigeon droppings: feathered diarrhea may occur, although it does not always accompany this ailment. Sometimes the droppings remain hard. 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, however, it causes enormous damage to the health of birds. In fact, the cause of the appearance of coccidiosis is bacteria, so treatment involves the use of antibacterial drugs.

Prevention of the appearance of coccidiosis - compliance with sanitary standards in the poultry house.

Colds

In the presence of drafts in the room, pigeons may develop colds. Medicines are used in their treatment. But before you start treatment, you need to eliminate the cause of the disease. Birds can get conjunctivitis, runny nose or cough.

Sometimes colds indicate weak immunity and a lack of vitamins in the body of birds. In this case, in addition to treatment, it is necessary to adjust the diet of the pigeons by introducing mineral supplements into it. At the same time, a sick pigeon is removed from healthy ones, since colds are transmitted by airborne droplets.

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

Condidamycosis

Fungal diseases are also found in pigeons. Condidamycosis is one of them. Most often, the disease is found in young animals. Adults are usually carriers of condiamycosis. An ailment appears with a lack of vitamins in the body and violation of sanitary and hygienic standards when breeding birds. It can cause condiamycosis and weakening of the body due to prolonged use of antibiotics.

This disease of pigeons is accompanied by the following symptoms: weight loss and bloating of the goiter. The bird has difficulty swallowing food, and an unpleasant odor emanates from the beak.

Treat the disease with antibiotics. In parallel, the birds are given vitamin B.

Ornithosis

Ornithosis affects the respiratory system of birds. The disease is caused by a harmful microorganism called chlamydia. This is an infectious disease, during which the pigeons develop wheezing, runny nose, watery eyes, appetite disappears. Sometimes the bird coughs, partial paralysis occurs.

Antibiotics are used to treat psittacosis. In addition to drug treatment of sick birds, it is necessary to disinfect the dovecote.

Parasites

In addition to viruses and infections, parasites can damage the health of pigeons, the most dangerous of which are worms and downy eaters. Parasites appear only if sanitary and hygienic standards are violated when keeping birds.

Worms affect not only the gastrointestinal tract, but also other organs: eyes, lungs, heart. Helminths are especially dangerous for young animals. The signs of the presence of parasites in the body of birds are apathy, liquid droppings, loss of appetite, vomiting, paralysis. Growth retardation is also 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 worms, but also to prevent their appearance.

Feathers are parasites that damage the feathers of a bird. They are not as harmless as they might seem at first glance. In addition to feathers, these parasites feed on the epithelium, damaging the top 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.

For the destruction of feather eaters, you can use both medications and folk remedies (for example, ash baths).

In addition to worms and downy eaters, they attack feathered lice and fleas, which can be got rid of with the help of the same ash baths.

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

Traditional methods of treatment

There are different ways to treat diseases. A variety of herbs can be used at home. But there are diseases that need to be treated with medication. Specialists should be involved in their treatment.

With the help of folk remedies, you can overcome vitamin deficiency: it is enough to hang rowan or black currant berries in the poultry house. You can give feathered stinging nettle leaves. To get rid of worms, give the pigeons pumpkin seeds or watch leaves, and sunflower seeds help to clear the stomach. An infusion from pharmacy chamomile is good for colds, and to normalize the digestive tract, infusions from medicinal dandelion are prepared.

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 commonly added to water. For 1 liter of water give about 6-7 mg of vinegar. But it is not always worth giving the chicks to drink with vinegar water. It is enough to give pets such a drink several times a week.

Anyone who prefers alternative methods of treatment should consult a specialist before using any remedy. Combining 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 occurring. Prevention of diseases of pigeons involves compliance with sanitary standards, disinfection in the dovecote, vaccination of birds. Pest control should be done at least once every 2 years.

Bird vaccination is a separate science. In order not to think about what diseases birds are susceptible to and how to treat them, you should give the wards drugs 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 mash, then the remnants of food after feeding must be removed from the feeders. When eating sour food, 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 ailments, quarantine is introduced. If the diseases are not contagious, then you do not need to isolate the bird. When symptoms appear, a diagnosis should first be made, otherwise it is not possible to determine whether the disease 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 birds just sneeze or develop hoarseness, they should be isolated. The treatment of birds begins to be dealt with immediately. At the same time, we must not forget that you need to love your pigeons, and then it will be much easier to cure their diseases.

Conclusion

Every poultry farmer needs to know about pigeon diseases and their treatment. In this case, self-medication is not worth it. The first thing to do before a diagnosis is made is to isolate the sick individual. Almost all diseases, and some of them are not amenable to treatment, are transmitted by airborne droplets and by household means. During an epidemic that will spread very quickly in the house, it is difficult to save the birds.

You can treat pigeons at home, but only after a doctor's examination.

We have considered those ailments that are most common. But there are also 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. More dangerous is the adenovirus, which has recently manifested itself more and more often. For its treatment, albuvir is used. This is a relatively new drug, which, however, is effective against many viral diseases. Also viral can be treated with baytril or vet. But before using any drug, even if it's just pills for worms, you need to read the instructions and talk to your veterinarian.