Very sick seagull

I've just got a very sick seagull -- emaciated, can't fly or stand but there's nothing broken. He's very young, no more than 6 months.

Some joints are swollen (at least one knee and one toe), eyelids are swollen and dry, bird is exhausted and emaciated, closing his eyes often, too tame. Barely ate, didn't drink.

If it were a pigeon, some symptoms resemble pox, others salmonella.

I'll phone the seagull sanctuary tomorrow, but I would like to do more if I can. Does anybody know of any sites with symptoms of seagull diseases?



https://s333.photobucket.com/albums/m381/Skbllz/Seagulls/Merry/?action=view&current=DSCNB4075.flv

Teresa...I'm just leaving my house but when I return I'll give Deb a call and ask her. In the meantime, could you weigh the bird?

I would try vitamins and electrolytes and fluids. Sounds like toxins to me.

Such a sad little one.
He surely doesn't look like he's feeling any to chipper.

I have been goggling everything I can think of, seagull related, and haven't found a darn thing as far as symptoms and treatment. Sorry.

Electrolytes, as Plamenh mentioned, would probably be the best for now.
Also I would place him on a towel lined heating pad, set on low or place him under a low wattage lamp.

Between the heat and electrolytes his body temperature will stay maintained and he will stay hydrated.

Please keep us posted.

Thank you so much for the prompt replies!

He drank tepid water with electrolytes and multivitamins -- two hefty gulps, yay! Maybe he just didn't feel like drinking until he'd warmed up.
I've left the water and the food in the carrier with him. I also put an ampoule of Ivermectin (for 'large birds', i.e. parrots etc) on the back of his neck, cause he was crawling with fleas.

Weighing him wasn't easy because of his size. He weighs about 1.4 Kg (with a possible error of up to 100g either way. Hey, he's just taken another drink!

I've googled 'seagull diseases symptoms' and got next to nothing of any use.
But there was a study of Salmonella in seagulls: they said most seagulls carried the bacterium but without showing the symptoms.
There was also a mention of pox in seagulls. But that was from one of the pest control merchants, so not reliable.
Ornithosis has been identified in seagulls, but I don't think that's the case.
And then there's the dreaded avian flu, but I don't think there's any about at the moment.

I forgot to mention earlier that he seems to have some difficulty swallowing, but you can see that in the film. I checked his neck for any external constriction, and there was none. I even thought he might have swallowed something that got stuck, but can't feel anything.

Charis is out of the house but is relaying me a message.

This is coming from her vet friend, try to get it to a vet or wildlife center ASAP.
Until then Deb has recommended 1 - 22.7 mg of Baytril.

Charis also suggested offering him some small raw fish.

She will reply when she gest home.

If you have any questions, let me know and I can try to get a hold of her.

Are the swollen joints warm to the touch?

I would suggest botulism as this is specific for water birds.

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/205400.htm

It can also be some other type of poisoning. Fluids should help flushing them out.

Plamen...that's what I think too. Very common with ducks and other water birds. I have found several ducks with similar condition to the Gull at the lovely park where Caleb and I fed the ducks on Christmas day.
Baytril has worked well on the others.

Oh you clever gull!

He's had the Baytril : half of a 50mg tablet, with what I estimated to be 1/8 cut off.
And do you know how he took it? Smuggled inside a clam! (Without the shell of course!) I was just wondering how much damage he would do to my fingers when I pushed it down his throat when he leaned forward, took it gently and ate it!
You see, I didn't have any small fish to give him, but I remembered there were clams in the freezer. I thawed and opened them with boiling water then let them cool a bit. I was so impressed with the way he took his med that I reckoned he'd more than earned a clam supper!
:That\\\'s so f See for yourselves:

https://s333.photobucket.com/albums/m381/Skbllz/Seagulls/Merry/?action=view&current=DSCNB4077.flv

He's perked up quite a bit!

...what a good Gull.

Kids could learn how to take their medicine from that sweet little seagull.
That was great, Teresa.

It looks like he has a nice little cave all set up for him to sleep in.
I hope you both have a restful night.

Please keep us posted.

The one I rescued would only eat smelt. I was pregnant at the time and the smell made me want to puke.

Gulls are like Pigeons in that they are semi tame. ...they are also very smart.
My rescue wandered the house, sometimes spending the day on the dining room table or the arm of the sofa. When it got dark outisde, he would put himself to bed in his box.
He was quite a charming house guest and I am very thankful to have known him.
I love Gulls.

Fancyfeathers wrote:

Kids could learn how to take their medicine from that sweet little seagull.
That was great, Teresa.

It looks like he has a nice little cave all set up for him to sleep in.
I hope you both have a restful night.

Please keep us posted.

His cave is a very large carrier made of plasticised canvas, rather like a tent. It's dark and roomy inside and you can regulate the ventilation, so he's very cosy.
The removable 'mattress' is covered with foam and plush, so I removed that and replaced it with the inverted plastic lid of a storage box, which is then lined with newspaper.

The only thing I haven't done yet is check the temperature of the swollen joints as he looks quite settled for the night. I hope it's okay to do it in the morning. I remember they looked a bright, pale pink, the skin looking very stretched. Poor baby! Oh, by the way, I've named him Merry -- as in Merry Christmas, lol!

One question: If it's botulism (type C or E), does that pose a risk for pigeons, humans, cats or dogs?

I'd better get some shut-eye now, as I've got sanctuaries to chase in the morning, and I'm also taking my dog to the vet to check a growth on her chest, and it will take us about an hour to walk there and another to get back. Night-night from all of us at the zoo!

Matilda wrote:

The one I rescued would only eat smelt. I was pregnant at the time and the smell made me want to puke.

Gulls are like Pigeons in that they are semi tame. ...they are also very smart.
My rescue wandered the house, sometimes spending the day on the dining room table or the arm of the sofa. When it got dark outisde, he would put himself to bed in his box.
He was quite a charming house guest and I am very thankful to have known him.
I love Gulls.

That's amazing! But didn't he spray the whole house with fish-smelling ?! Or is it just my rescues that belong to the species Lara Foetida?

This is my favourite little stinker! She isn't a rescue, she and her mate come over everyday for tea -- have done so for 3 years. Her name is Trinity:

Trinity is beautiful.
I love it that she and her mate stop by for tea each day.
How is that!

Trinity looks like a very smart Gull.

Actually...my Gull rescue did have very stinky, loose poop.

Oh Teresa...the poor baby But so glad to hear he is allowing you to treat him and is taking meds and food without a fuss! Such a sweet little gull :Yes: Watched the videos...he sure is such a sweetheart
You are an and ditto Charis and her Vet Deb
Merry is a cute name Trinity looks sooo pretty!
Would love to be posted on how Merry is progressing

Merry is a very appropriate name for this little seagull.
I hope you both had a good night, Teresa.

Will be thinking good thoughts that Ashe has a report from the vet.

Fancyfeathers wrote:

Trinity is beautiful.
I love it that she and her mate stop by for tea each day.
How is that!

They feel so comfortable around here that they even mated on the roof in front of my window once! Naturally I ran for the camera, and one of the photos is quite extraordinary: the look of adoration as their eyes met is unmistakable! (So much for dumb animals and pure instinct!) I would have posted the picture, but I thought it might be considered bird porn!...

Teresa wrote:

Fancyfeathers wrote:

Trinity is beautiful.
I love it that she and her mate stop by for tea each day.
How is that!

They feel so comfortable around here that they even mated on the roof in front of my window once! Naturally I ran for the camera, and one of the photos is quite extraordinary: the look of adoration as their eyes met is unmistakable! (So much for dumb animals and pure instinct!) I would have posted the picture, but I thought it might be considered bird porn!...

... ... ... ... ... ...

Now that I've composed myself [ ]...how is the Gull today?

Update on Merry:

His eyes open more today, and there is more movement. Poops are pretty disgusting!
I was overjoyed when he had 3 very small sardines at lunchtime (about 10 cm long) but he brought them back up later, undigested.

I ran him a tepid salt-water bath, much to Lawrence's curiosity...



... and he enjoyed it enormously, floating, swimming and splashing about. Then a quick drying session...



... and back into his newly-cleaned carrier.



In this small video, you can see him drinking and playing with his water. And also standing for a few seconds for the first time:

https://s333.photobucket.com/albums/m381/Skbllz/Seagulls/Merry/?action=view&current=DSCNB4082.flv

PS. This time I checked the swollen joints, and they ARE warmer than the rest of the leg.

PPS. My vet couldn't guarantee that the wildlife centre wouldn't euthanise, but still I have to hand him over to them , or to the Maritime Police, under pain of a heavy fine and maybe also a prison sentence. (Don't ask me why they're so particular about seagulls, but it's the law!)
Well, the centre wouldn't answer the phone, and I went in person to the M.P. but they didn't answer the doorbell. So I concluded that some guardian angel is ensuring that he has a chance to get better first.

Well at least you tried to turn him over. Maybe it will give you enough time for him to improve from your treatment plan. With ducks, it's been about 5 days before there was na improvement.
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