greendarcy Posted June 12, 2009 Report Posted June 12, 2009 Hi, This is my first time on the forum and to be honest I don't keep pigeons, but I do have a growing stud of Ringneck Doves (Barbary/Java Doves), and so I thought this would be the best place to come as I need a little help. One of my 2003 Dark Pied hens has what looks to be an ear infection. About a week ago I found her in the aviary with a lump of yellow, egg-smelling gunk on one side of her face, mainly stuck to her eye and ear. It looked like another dove has laid an egg from a perch and it has landed on her head and smashed. Anyway, she wasn't looking too good - fluffed up and depressed, but still nice and plump. I bought her indoors, cleaned the gunk off her face and eye with warm saline, and put her in a large cage with my pet Cockatiel, and 2 disabled birds which cannot go into the aviaries (Bengalese Finch & Diamond Dove). She has perked up a little but is still very sleepy. She also still has a yellow liquid oozing from both her ears now, which still smells like egg. She's also lost all the feathers around her eyes and ears, and her ears look swollen with the holes enlarged. Is this canker (trich?). I've kept birds for 13 years now and have never had a case of canker. The rest of the aviary birds are healthy, as are the 3 sharing the indoor cage with the poorly dove. I feed all my birds a good balanced diet (Cockatiel seed, wild bird seed, EMP eggfood, fruit & vege, digestive biscuits, bread, porridge oats), and they are suplemented with Entrodex, Vitacel, Calciform, Mycoform T and wormed every month with Expel. What should I do? Are there any proprietary medicines I can buy from the pet shop e.g. Harkers? Or does she need to go to the vet (which is going to be very expensive!)? She's one of my favourite birds - 1st Ringneck I bred and I also handreared her as her parents threw her out of the nest, so she's such a tame little sweetie. Any help would be gratefully appreciated. Many thanks, Samantha PS. Photo is of her in good health... I'll post some photos later of her poorly ears, once my camera charges.
pigeonpete Posted June 12, 2009 Report Posted June 12, 2009 Nice bird, i would say it is canker, but not 100% as never had it round ears? could probably have an underlying problem that has caused the canker, harkers tablets would be fine if it is canker, But a good avian vet would be your best bet, its hard to diagnose without seeing.
greendarcy Posted June 12, 2009 Author Report Posted June 12, 2009 ...and a few more... I have to say she looks awful in these photos! Has anyone used Aviform Proban? http://www.aviform.co.uk/Store/Racing-Pigeon-Products/Recovery/PROBAN-canker-cocci-support Think it'd work? Thanks again
pigeonpete Posted June 12, 2009 Report Posted June 12, 2009 is she eating o.k? and discharge from her beak? its not canker!! im sorry for saying it was, see how easy it is for getting it wrong without seeing! could be an ear infection? but i would rather not hazard a guess, best to get her checked out mate. sorry couldnt be of more help
greendarcy Posted June 12, 2009 Author Report Posted June 12, 2009 Also, if it is canker, will all my birds need treating? I've got approx 60 of various species (Aussie Parakeets, Lovebirds & the Doves - Ringnecks & Diamonds).
REDCHEQHEN Posted June 12, 2009 Report Posted June 12, 2009 It looks like an infection - but would have thought there would be an unpleasant smell - if you value your bird - I really would see a vet I don't think the proban would be of any use to this bird - I think its really just a support (supplement) for healthy birds
REDCHEQHEN Posted June 12, 2009 Report Posted June 12, 2009 www.hyperdrug.com is a good on line site for various medicines that prescriptions aren't required for
Guest IB Posted June 12, 2009 Report Posted June 12, 2009 As far as I know, canker does not weep, it forms a solid mass, not a liquid one. But whatever it is it sounds like a tumour that has ruptured tissue, and the damaged area is weeping. Need to see an avian vet.
greendarcy Posted June 14, 2009 Author Report Posted June 14, 2009 Hi, Thanks so much for all your replies. She's eating and drinking OK, her droppings are nice, solid, dry and of a good colour. I checked in her beak this morning and there are no trich or thrush plaques - all nice and clean. Her eyes are bright aswell. It's just her ears now. She is still very sleepy though, but she's not losing weight - nice and plump breast with a full crop, and the discharge from her ears seems to have dried up a bit. Also her ear holes don't seem as sore or swollen. The other birds she's living with are all fine, so thankfully it's not contageous. I'll get her to the vets anyway to see what they say. I don't want to lose her as she's such a special little girl. I'll let you all know how she goes. Many thanks again for all your help, Samantha
Guest IB Posted June 14, 2009 Report Posted June 14, 2009 Wondered if balance & co-ordination had been affected? Brain is obviously close, but it was more the middle ear I am concerned about, it 'controls' balance: any staggers, falling-over kind of thing in the bird?
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