After deciding to get pigeons or to breed them, you need to learn the basic rules for caring for them and preventing disease, because these birds are carriers of many diseases. You need to know what symptoms may be harbingers of the disease. To still understand how you can help your pet, you need to know what you are struggling with. The most common disease is coccidiosis in pigeons.
Coccidiosis in pigeons
Possible symptoms
In order to protect your pet, you need to constantly carry out preventive measures, preferably 2 weeks before the fall and 2 weeks before the spring. It is during these seasons that the peak of exacerbation of the disease falls. Symptoms and treatment are very closely related components, because with the first symptoms of a pigeon, you need to immediately treat it so that the disease does not flow into a severe form.
Often this ailment overcomes those birds that spend the night on bedding made of straw and sand, and, of course, eat poor and poor-quality food. Veterinarians say that you can understand that the pigeon is sick right away, and identified several main signs of coccidiosis:
- complete loss of appetite;
- fatigue;
- signs of apathy (no matter what they do to her, she will not care, no aggressive actions);
- severe upset.
What is this disease?
Coccidiosis is Escherichia coli, which could enter the body through poor-quality and unclean food, it causes intestinal invasion. They say that with age, pigeons develop immunity to the disease and can easily endure it. But the chicks and young animals are at risk, because their body has not yet built a blockade against this ailment, respectively, the winged can not resist or overcome coccidiosis.
The stick begins to develop as soon as it appears in the body. In the digestive system, the bacterium develops within 6-8 days, then comes out with droppings and thus infects other members of the pack. Often the disease overcomes pigeons from 2 weeks to 2 months old. It is when a child flies out of the nest that there is a big risk of becoming infected. Veterinarians recall that even after the pigeon coped with the disease, he is a carrier of the disease for another 6-9 months.
If you keep such a specimen together with healthy birds, there are 80% that healthy pigeons will get sick, so the bird should be immediately planted and treated. The general symptoms of the disease can manifest themselves differently in all birds. Everything will depend on how many months or years the bird, at what stage of the disease and how strong the immune system and the possible predisposition of the bird to the disease. Pigeon should be treated only with the drugs prescribed by the veterinarian and only at the dosage that was in the prescription.
Bird Treatment
The treatment of coccidiosis in pigeons occurs in different ways, everything will depend on the stage of the disease. If, however, specialists diagnosed and confirmed coccidiosis, then you need to start treating the bird right away, because you can never start the disease. First you should observe the behavior of the bird well. If she, for example, flies a little, does not touch food and always sits with her neck outstretched, these are the first signs of coccidiosis.
It is extremely important to take the bird to an appointment with the veterinarian, because self-medication can kill the bird, and, possibly, the whole flock, if relatives later became infected. Only an experienced veterinarian can get ahead of what disease it is, at what stage and with what medications it should be treated. You should not pull it, you need to take the pigeon right away to see a doctor at the first symptoms, because only a professional can provide qualified help and prescribe the necessary medications that can help the pigeon overcome the disease and build immunity. Such a disease spreads very quickly and can infect an entire tribe in a matter of days.
Often use various drugs against the disease.
- There are drugs that have already established themselves as the most effective, so very often veterinarians prescribe a specific one. Drugs are always prescribed along with a complex of vitamins, as many drugs have a bad effect on the digestive tract and microflora.
- You can also connect trivitamine and, of course, fish oil to the treatment. Often, such drugs give no more than 2-3 days, but the dosage should be prescribed only by a doctor.
Symptoms and treatment of coccidiosis in pigeons are closely related. Due to what symptoms have already manifested, you can understand what stage the pigeon has, prescribe the right treatment and the right dosage.
How can you be saved from this ailment?
Since the disease is contagious, the pigeon can catch coccidiosis from another bird, so you should carefully monitor who the bird is in contact with. The bottom line is that at first the disease can proceed hiddenly, then the pigeon will behave as before, without showing any signs of the disease. It is advisable not to let out pigeons for walks when it is cold and humid, because such weather leads to a weakening of the immunity of the bird, and it is precisely these environmental conditions that are a paradise for coccidiosis. There were times when a client bought a bird that was already infected, without even knowing it.
- Remember that you should stress the bird as little as possible. This can be done if it is decided to transfer the bird or to drive the winged away from each other. Adaptation in birds is not good, so it's best to leave everything in its place.
- In order for the bird to feel good and be healthy, it is necessary to maintain proper and high-quality nutrition. Feed must be top grade and not raw. You should only buy goods from sellers you trust.
- To prevent birds from getting used to it, regularly change the food menu. The main thing is regardless of the season and weather outside the window to give the pigeons the necessary vitamins and minerals, and the water in the drinkers should always be boiled and clean.
- Before filling the bird, the feed should be sorted out and cleaned of debris and dirt.
Disease prevention
In order for this to never happen, you need to look after and watch your birds. Firstly, if nevertheless the pigeons have confirmed the diagnosis of coccidiosis, infected individuals must be immediately and urgently put off. Pigeons should be placed in a separate room for at least 6-9 months, because even after recovery, the pet will be a carrier of the disease for several months. The main thing is to adhere to the order and rules of hygiene: clean once a week, as well as carry out disinfection of blueberry. It is advisable to wash all dishes, equipment, drinkers, and so on every day, and water should be changed every 4-6 hours, because if the disease gets into it, the whole flock will be infected.
Among other things, it is important to change bedding and soil. The stick can penetrate the ground, breed there and eventually infect everyone. If cement is in the dovecote, it must be constantly washed and disinfected. They also say that it must be pierced and disinfected. After processing, it is important to wash your hands, implements and work clothes thoroughly, especially shoes. General cleaning should be carried out once a week, but disinfection - 2 times.
Very often, most diseases appear where it is dirty, damp and wet, so it is advisable to regularly treat the room and everything that is in it. The pigeon must have good ventilation. If you decide to get pigeons, then remember: they must be shown to the veterinarian at least 1 time in six months. Also, the symptoms and treatment of coccidiosis in pigeons depends on the severity of the situation. It is better to consult a specialist rather than self-medicating.
