No rest for the wicked

Velvet a week ago: This was the day after her rescue, and she was dry but still ruffled. When I first saw her, I thought she was black, but she's a dark red-bronze (no idea what the right designation is!), like Sammy.



Velvet this morning, and the improved look of the overnight poops (their colour is darker than that -- blame the flash -- I mean, the dish is brown!).

What a difference a week makes...I love her coloring.

Love the pictures, Teresa.
Sammy 'burrito' is adorable and looks so comfy. Bless his heart.
Velvet is looking good. She's a beauty.

Both Velvet and Sammy are so pretty to look at and Sammy sure looks all comfy wrapped up

Sammy had a bad day today. During a class he started thrashing around so much that I picked him up and carried on working. I could feel slight but very rapid tremors going through him, and his neck was very tense. The top right handside of his head is definitely more bumpy than the left -- I presume pigeons' skulls should be symmetrical, is that the case? I'm wondering whether that is swelling caused either by viral infection or trauma, and whether it might respond to Arnica.
I've added a little garlic to his water and honey. Garlic supposedly has antiviral properties, so I thought it worth a shot.
I remember reading a post by Cindy about Prednisone being used to help with convulsions, so I asked my local chemist's. They have it in pills (5mg and 20mg) and injectable (50mg). The chemist said sometimes injectable meds can be given orally. He said 'Put the question to your friends and see what they recommend.'

Velvet is continuing to improve.

Teresa wrote:

Sammy had a bad day today. During a class he started thrashing around so much that I picked him up and carried on working. I could feel slight but very rapid tremors going through him, and his neck was very tense. The top right handside of his head is definitely more bumpy than the left --

* I presume pigeons' skulls should be symmetrical, is that the case?

I'm wondering whether that is swelling caused either by viral infection or trauma, and whether it might respond to Arnica.
I've added a little garlic to his water and honey. Garlic supposedly has antiviral properties, so I thought it worth a shot.


** I remember reading a post by Cindy about Prednisone being used to help with convulsions, so I asked my local chemist's. They have it in pills (5mg and 20mg) and injectable (50mg). The chemist said sometimes injectable meds can be given orally. He said 'Put the question to your friends and see what they recommend.'

Velvet is continuing to improve.

Hi Teresa,
* Yes, a pigeon's head should be symmetrical.

** The vet prescribed Prednisone in the 5 mg tablets for Pij.
The directions were:
- Dissolve 1 tablet in 2.5 mls of water (the vet gave me the syringe to use)
Once the tablet was dissolved, I refilled the syringe and just put it in the refrigerator.
- Give two drops orally once a day.
With Prednisone it has to be decreased gradually. I don't recall exactly how we decreased Pij's dose as the vet told by verbally and it was several years ago.

You might run this option by your vet. If you concur this would be worth a try then your vet would figure out the best decreased dosage.

Please keep us posted.

I'm not sure about Prednisone as it is used as Immunesuppressant. It will lower his resistance which is just opposite what he needs now.
Against convulssions you can use Belladona pills and do not expose him to bright light.

Many thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it!

Sammy is stable, still needing a lot of attention though. I mentioned him to the avian vet earlier on today but didn't get much joy. I don't think they rate his chances much, but with your help I will fight for him all the way.
I'm still taking every precaution to avoid contamination, but it's now over 7 weeks since I found him, so surely he can't be shedding the virus any more?

Guess 7 weeks are enough time too.

Sammy -- mixed news:

Yesterday evening Sammy started having less convulsions. Before and after feeding, he held his head upright several times and even nibbled at my hands.
What's not so good is that, as soon as he'd eaten, he produced a jet of diarrhoea (mostly water mixed with urates, and green strings of fecal matter).
The situation is the same today. He's been up and alert, even trying to peck at his seed bowl, but the poops are scary! The two things changed at the same time, so they must be related.


Scarlet -- wing injury:
Meet Scarlet, today's rescue.



Her wing was bleeding when I found her, and she could move it and hold it upright, but she couldn't fly. I guess she'd just got injured. There is a puncture wound, but it doesn't look deep.
I gave her a drop of Metacam, cleaned the injury and staunched the bleeding with hydrogen peroxide (that's why her wing is wet in the photo), warmed her up and started her on Amoxicilin.

What a pretty bird Scarlet is. I hope she wasn't suffering for too long out there. Wishing her a good recovery.

An ongoing rollercoaster ride with Sammy aswell, I hope things are going in the right direction. More healing thoughts coming his way.

Janet

Thank heaven those Pigeons have you as their care taker and advocate.

Poor little Sammy.

I hope Scarlet finds flight soon and can rejoin her flock.

Thank you both for your good wishes!

I'm glad I found Scarlet when I did. It had started to rain while I was trying to catch her, and she led me a merry old dance in the pouring rain...

... but since then it got really cold, about 50 (Ok, I'm a wimp!) and it's been hailing most of the night! :eek:

Teresa wrote:

Thank you both for your good wishes!

I'm glad I found Scarlet when I did. It had started to rain while I was trying to catch her, and she led me a merry old dance in the pouring rain...

... but since then it got really cold, about 50 (Ok, I'm a wimp!) and it's been hailing most of the night! :eek:

I hope Sammy is doing better, Teresa.

Scarlet is a beauty.
I'm glad you spotted her.
Sending special thoughts that she recovers quickly.
Please keep us posted.

Speaking of rain, did you happen to see the most recent photo I posted in the 'Show us your best shot' thread? I got so excited that we had some 'rain' clouds that I had to take picture of them and of course post it.
I was telling Chuck, those guys are going to think I've either lost my mind or been in the desert to long, getting so excited over some clouds. I'll vote for the latter. I really miss the rain and storms.

Teresa wrote:

Sammy -- mixed news:

Yesterday evening Sammy started having less convulsions. Before and after feeding, he held his head upright several times and even nibbled at my hands.
What's not so good is that, as soon as he'd eaten, he produced a jet of diarrhoea (mostly water mixed with urates, and green strings of fecal matter).
The situation is the same today. He's been up and alert, even trying to peck at his seed bowl, but the poops are scary! The two things changed at the same time, so they must be related.

Teresa, that's what I have noticed with Pina and Willy as well. But it is getting better! I hope very much for Sammy too. I stopped giving them something to drink right after their meal. So I expect that this is improving.

Fancyfeathers wrote:

Speaking of rain, did you happen to see the most recent photo I posted in the 'Show us your best shot' thread? I got so excited that we had some 'rain' clouds that I had to take picture of them and of course post it.
I was telling Chuck, those guys are going to think I've either lost my mind or been in the desert to long, getting so excited over some clouds. I'll vote for the latter. I really miss the rain and storms.

I loved that photo! Anybody in their right minds would get excited at such a majestic sky!

Sammy is definitely beter. Hecan stand up for longer periods of time now, rather than just sleep between meals, but he still stargazes a lot, especially when anyone approaches his cage. He has preened a bit, stretched his wings and pecked a few seeds the last two days, but in so far as I've been able to see, he still can't drink by himself. I think perhaps I was giving him too much water, and that's why the poops were too watery.
The worst time for seizures are when I take him out of the cage and when I put him back in. He falls over to the left, kicking his legs like mad and twisting his neck. Sometimes he ends up on his back and trying to twist his neck a full 360º, it's really alarming to watch. I either have to wrap him up or to hold him until the fits subside, and then slide my hands away very gradually.

Velvet is better, more alert and feisty. She's eating well, but she still drinks a lot and her poop is very watery -- I don't know if it's because of that or not. She has a tendency to tilt her head to the right. Sammy used to do that (but to the left) the first two weeks I had him. So if it is PMV, or whichever virus Sammy's got, we're still at the beginning.

Scarlet is off her food and acts really scared. Being indoors seems to be freaking her out, or else there's a mate waiting out there. I've been hand feeding her thawed peas and corn, but she hates that. And the meds even more. I've started putting her half tablets inside a grain of thawed corn so it slides down more easily and she doesn't have to taste it.
The wound on the wing is scabbing nicely, but the area immediately above it is still a bit swollen. I hope the antibiotic will sort that out.

Appreciate the update on Velvet and Scarlet, Teresa.
I hope they both do OK. Will be thinking 'good thoughts'.

Thank you, Cindy!

My patients have been doing well today.
Sammy must have tried to drink by himself, because he managed to tip the water container!
Velvet is getting used to my face and eyes me with curiosity and no fear at all. She's very alert and I can see no tremors or involuntary movements of the head.
Scarlet must have come to the conclusion that there are worse things in life than being force-fed peas and corn, because she's calmed down a little. The swelling is definitely going down. I hope she doesn't have babies out there, but all I can do is keep a sharp look-out when I take my dog out.
Hercules should be home on Saturday.

Im wondering if something like this would work for Sammy??? A sling to keep him in position???

Also sending loving snuggles for Velvet, Scarlet and Hercules!!!


(((BTW--- This is Lizz's picture of her Pigeon Trooper))))

Terrific idea, Jenn!

Thank you so much for finding this photo!

Trooper actually looks pretty darn comfy.

Teresa wrote:

Terrific idea, Jenn!

Thank you so much for finding this photo!

I can't take the credit for the idea... That's ALL Lizz's doing!!!

But, I was reading the post and remembered the picture...so I ran off to search it out!

If you like I can direct her here... if you have any questions.. on how and what she used....just let me know! I hope it helps poor Sammy!

Teresa.................You are just amazing. I know how stressful it is to deal with just one sick or injured pij............here you are handling four simultaneously.......Sammy, Velvet, Scarlet and Hercules. You are doing such a great job............everbody is healing and getting better.

You are truly a

Glad to hear Hercules will be back at home on Saturday.

Keep the updates coming........I am just amazed with all your little patients and how they are doing.

Louise