Stubborn canker lesion-HELP!

Got a dove in with severe canker in the beak/mouth nearly 3 weeks ago, I've given 14 days metronidazole, he's had 4 spartrix, most of the canker from his beak has gone, but there is one stubborn lesion by his glottis which is still there. What do I do now?
Not safe to give Met any longer? (kidney damage??)
Any suggestions?
Thank you

I would use diluted Lugols Iodine and swab growth twice a day. Also ACV in the water may help. If you can find Emetryl - DIMETRIDAZOLE you can make paste and swab with it too.

Thank you, not sure where to get these from, I'm in the UK. Hoping Cynthia will reply too :)

plamenh wrote:

I would use diluted Lugols Iodine and swab growth twice a day. Also ACV in the water may help. If you can find Emetryl - DIMETRIDAZOLE you can make paste and swab with it too.

AliBlack wrote:

Got a dove in with severe canker in the beak/mouth nearly 3 weeks ago, I've given 14 days metronidazole, he's had 4 spartrix, most of the canker from his beak has gone, but there is one stubborn lesion by his glottis which is still there. What do I do now?
Not safe to give Met any longer? (kidney damage??)
Any suggestions?
Thank you

Hi Aliblack. Sounds like your dealing with a stubborn case of canker. I had a 2 week old pigeon baby that had canker so bad that she had a large lump protruding from the side of her neck, and the throat was so closed off, that I could barely get formula into her. The vet wasn't so sure that she would make it, but today she is healthy and happy and almost a year old. I too tried the Spartrix first, then got the liquid flagyl (Metronidazole) from the vet. She was supposed to be on it for 5 days. Well, the lump went down fairly quickly, but 2 weeks later she was still on the Flagyl. It took that long to get rid of the last of it in her throat. Like your bird, that one piece just hung on. When I spoke to the vet on about the 10th day, even in light of the danger of keeping them on it too long, taking them off would be worse, as it would just come back, and be stronger for having stopped before wiping out the canker. I would give it for a few more days, and if still not gone, maybe try the ronidazole. Some cankers are more resistant to different drugs. But if it has cleared it up this much, I'd stay with it for a few more days. Then switch over if need be.
Plamenhs suggestion for dabbing it with a Q-tip soaked in half betadine half water was good. Just be very careful not to knock it off as you could cause a bleed. Keep us posted as to how it goes. Good luck.

I think you received some great advice from both Plamen and Jay.

As there are different strains of Trichnosis, switching medications at this point would be a good thing to do as the strain you are dealing with may be resistant to spartrix and metronidazole.

Jay...do I remember correctly that the baby you just wrote about, was on both spartrix and metronidazole for a while at the same time?

No. I tried the spartrix first, then the Metronidazole.

NiteOwl wrote:

No. I tried the spartrix first, then the Metronidazole.

Thank you. Someone did...I just can't remember who it was.

Many thanks for the help, would I get Betadine from a chemist? I've not used it before. Can I ask what ACV is? Thanks :)
The canker is much better, he did have much more in the beak and big lump in the neck.
If there is canker actually right in the glottis would that mean those lesions cannot be got rid of?

ACV= Apple Cider Vinegar[must be unfiltered organic]

The apple cider vinegar makes the crop environment more acid, and most bad bacterias and the like do not live in that environment. Yes, you get the Betadine (povidone-iodine 10%) at a chemist or drugstore. Once the canker is cured, all the lesions will be gone.

I'm sorry to hear about your little rescue, Ali.
Will think positive thoughts that all goes well.

Some times back I had the same situation.
Carnidazole,
Metronidazole,
Dimetridazole,
Niadizole,
Secnidazole and other bunch of zoles
nothing would work. But Iodine managed to clear it.

You may try this new drug:

Nitazoxanide – brand names Alinia, Annita, Daxon, Dexidex, Kidonax, Pacovanton, Paramix (Mexico), Nitax, Zox, Nitazox, Toza (Bangladesh).
It is used in resistant Trichomonas insted Metronidazole and Carnidazole.
It is broad antiprotozoal drug that has also limited antiviral and antibacterial activity.
Fast acting – used either as single dose or 3 day treatment.
Safe – on overdose indications (from 50~150 mg/kg body weight)
Comes in 500mg tablet form or 100mg/5ml oral suspension.

I will get some Betadine tomorrow :)
I heard back from Janine Perlman (one of the Mac diet creators)
>Longer use of metronidazole shouldn't be a problem at the proper dose. It's also possible to attempt curettage on the lesion if it's life-threatening---sounds like the bird isn't in crisis, though.

I'd continue with both metro (twice daily) and Spartrix (one, once per week), along with good supportive care (plenty of all vitamins, and good protein offered in the form of tiny dried insects, crumbled egg, and excellent seed mix). Do that for three more weeks and get back to me then or sooner. <

Please let us know how the little Dove does.

Matilda wrote:

Please let us know how the little Dove does.

I will do :)

Yes indeed, please do keep us posted.
Get well wishes are on their way.

I hope your little dove will soon be rid of the remaining canker!

Just a note on Betadine, here it is sold in different forms depending on what it's going to be used for, and each is colour-coded. If it's the same in the UK you'll want the green one, recommended for gargling with.

That's interesting, Teresa. As far as I know, there is only one strength available here in the states and it is expensive. It would be nice to have more choices.

Matilda wrote:

That's interesting, Teresa.

As far as I know, there is only one strength available here in the states and it is expensive.

It would be nice to have more choices.

I'll have to agree with you, Charis. I've never seen it in different strengths here either.
It would be great if we did have an option.

I believe there is a 'generic' brand that isn't as expensive.

I'll look for that, Cindy.

I found it at Target. At least I think ( ) it was Betadine.

I Googled it and it is available for a fraction of what I have paid.

Link doesn't work.

You must have just removed the link.

I did remove it because the link didn't work.