EDITED TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON 2-7-2010 (Eilid)
This thread currently includes information to help identify: Avian Botulism
Trichomoniasis
Hi everyone
At the end of my update regarding a collared dove that I found in my garden yesterday, I mentioned there was further information I wished to discuss with the RSPB before starting this thread.
I hope it may be of interest to others on this site who are, like me, keen to learn. As I'm not an expert I have checked my facts before writing, but I do encourage anyone seeking more detailed information on this subject, to visit the RSPB website or to contact a local animal hospital.
The dove in my garden was suffering from and subsequently died from severe starvation. In this case the most likely cause was that the dove had been inadvertently shut in a shed, garage or greenhouse, for some time and was therefore unable to find food.
Starvation can, though, be an indication of trichomoniasis, a condition caused by a parasite. This disease tends to become more widely spread over the summer months.
A great deal of very useful information is available on the RSPB site and this forum, regarding identification of fledglings and young birds and what to do if we feel concerned about them.
The RSPB site also contains guidance on what to do should we feel concerned about a sick or injured adult animal.
However because the focus for most of us at this time of year is so much on young birds, I feel there is a risk that sick birds could be overlooked, with potentially serious consequences for the local bird population, in the case of trichomoniasis,not to mention suffering for the bird.
In most cases non-intervention is usually the wisest approach, but there is also a case for wise intervention. In my experience adult birds that can be picked up (stunned birds being an exception) are generally already very sick and unlikely to survive, but on occasion, expert care can save the animals life.
Birds with trichomoniasis are best settled in a box away from other birds to limit the spread of the parasite, or in severe cases it may be more compassionate to ask a local vet to end the animals suffering.
By feeding the birds in my garden I am already intervening. It is my personal opinion that because of this I am also likely to attract sick animals looking for a safe place, near to food and water. This, I feel, brings with it a duty of care for those animals who may need help. My approach is to get expert advice so that I can act in the best interests of the animal.
Having re-read this I am concerned that it may come across as a lecture from a new member which is not my intention at all. My visit to the wildlife rescue centre simply reminded me that we can sometimes wait too long to help an animal, affecting it chances of survival.
Eilid
"out beyond ideas of right doing and wrong doing there is a field. I will meet you there" Rumi
I am just reading through the earlier posts that I missed yesterday ..... and came across this one.
I am saddened to see the poor fluffed up littel birds that have this awful disease. I too was ignorant of the illnesses that some of our little birds endure.
We had a spate of chaffinches with yellow webbed feet last year - that looked like they were wearing yellow flippers. It was before I knew about the RSPB Forum - but I did find advice on The RSPB Website - that I found it was an illness - but it seemed there was nothing we could do to help them.
We too also had some fluffed up greenfinches and chaffinches last year - which was most upsetting - especially when we found out - as you've said - they are slowly starving to death.
Masie has mentioned that there are some treatments available if we can catch the birds - but where do we take them? We, like so many of you are out in the sticks in Wales - and there are no Animal Sanctuaries nearby, do we take it to our local vets in that case? Would they be willing to treat wild birds?
Perhaps LRB or one of the other RSPB moderators could advise us? Apologies if this has already been covered in another post.
Diana
AVIAN BOTULISM
The information in this post is taken from the thread started by GLP on 29-6-2010.
GLP started this thread after finding a yound jackdaw that seemed to have been injured.
Over the next few days GLP cared for the young bird, Steve. His local Animal Hospital put him in contact with a local man who specialised in sick and injured Corvids.
From his symptoms, Steve was diagnosed with avian botulism, a condition that can present with a range of symptoms. In Steve's case, the symptoms were:
Paralysis
Diarrhoe
Ability to fly short distances but with rapid loss of orientation
Otherwise, Steve was alert, responsive, ate and drank, flapped his wings and tried to fly
Treatment is available for this condition and some birds respond well and recover.
Sadly, despite being so well cared for, Steve died. GLP has provided the information in this post to help others identify the condition and find specialist treatment.
Further information can be found at:
www.avianweb.com/botulism.html
This is another thread I have missed over the last few days, but its very informative and thank you for starting it, Eilid and thank you to everyone who has contributed.
I've had a few Collared Doves every now and again that seem to have had trichomoniasis, but I didn't know what to do with them.
A sick wild bird can only be treated if it can be caught. As I said in an earlier post, by the time it is possible to catch one, it is normally far too far gone for any help at all, especially if it is a finch, and so it is best to think about how to prevent other birds catching the infection rather than how to treat a sick one. Isolation of the sick bird so it can die in peace without having a further opportunity to infect other birds, or even euthanasia is the best thing in these situations. This might sound cruel to some of you, but there are limits to what is physically possible to do for a wild bird without causing it too much suffering and stress in the process.
The foot condition that Blackbird mentioned in the chaffinch was most likely to be chaffinch viral papilloma. This is a chaffinch specific viral skin infection, and since it does not spread to invage other organs, it is not life threatening in itself, although it will irritate the bird and an advanced case can interfere with the bird's ability to use the affected leg. There is no known treatment.
Hi Trochilus
Thank you for information about the Male Chaffinches foot problems
I have waited such a long time to find an answer to why 'Mr Ganny Leg' had a problem as he did.
I am glad to know it could not get any worse and spread to other areas of organs at all. So at least the bird did not suffer at all. It only seemed to affect the birds ability to preen itself and take care of itself.
So if anyone sees a Finch inflicted with odd growths on their legs you will know what it is now - like we do now
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Trochilus said: A sick wild bird can only be treated if it can be caught. As I said in an earlier post, by the time it is possible to catch one, it is normally far too far gone for any help at all, especially if it is a finch, and so it is best to think about how to prevent other birds catching the infection rather than how to treat a sick one. Isolation of the sick bird so it can die in peace without having a further opportunity to infect other birds, or even euthanasia is the best thing in these situations. This might sound cruel to some of you, but there are limits to what is physically possible to do for a wild bird without causing it too much suffering and stress in the process. The foot condition that Blackbird mentioned in the chaffinch was most likely to be chaffinch viral papilloma. This is a chaffinch specific viral skin infection, and since it does not spread to invage other organs, it is not life threatening in itself, although it will irritate the bird and an advanced case can interfere with the bird's ability to use the affected leg. There is no known treatment.
This is the thread with photo's to help with ID'ing trichomoniasis
Thank you for showing this thread again Eilid. It is full of vital information to help combat these awful diseases, well done, I have certainly learned a lot.
With all the torrential rain we have been having, I find I am cleaning my feeders thoroughly almost.every day and have also had to throw some of the wet seed away. I am lucky to be able to do this as I am working from home at the moment. However, I would like to emphasise that the birds can always bring the disease into my garden from elsewhere. I know people can feel terribly guilty if it appears in their garden, I know I did. So, please don't blame yourself.
Please may I also highly recommend the easy clean feeders sold by the RSPB, they are really excellent and very hard wearing.( No more fiddling with screws and losing nuts down the sink LOL). I now have three in my garden.
http://shopping.rspb.org.uk/p/BirdFeeders/Ring_Pull_easy_clean_seed_feeders.htm
Kind regards Jane.