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Routine
monitoring
e.g. worm
egg counts, Coccidiosis counts routine post mortem examinations etc.
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Advice on preventative
medication and provision of vaccines.
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Disease
diagnosis and
provision of appropriated medication.
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Routine
monitoring
Worm egg counts
Worm infestations can affect a
pigeon’s performance and in mild infestations no other signs are likely to
be seen. Heavy infestation may result in anaemia, weight loss, stunted
growth in young birds and even death. We recommend that all pigeons be
treated for worms in the autumn after the flying season and again before
pairing. If a worm infestation is suspected at other times, worm egg
counts on faeces are recommended and routine counts can be arranged where
these are felt to be beneficial.
Coccidiosis
Coccidiosis, a disease caused
by an internal parasite, appears to be endemic in the pigeon population with
nearly all pigeons having some signs when their faeces are microscopically
examined. Clinical disease can occur and should be considered when cases of
diarrhoea are seen. The disease is likely to build up in
controlled flights and a routine count before pairing would be advisable.
Further routine counts can be arranged where circumstances suggest that these
would be beneficial.
Post Mortem Examinations
Any mortality that occurs in a
loft can give valuable information on the disease status of the whole loft.
Dead birds must be submitted to the laboratory in a fresh condition and
certainly within 24 hours of death. They should be stored in
refrigerated conditions (not frozen) until they can be brought to the
practice.
Vaccination
Whilst there are effective drugs
to combat bacterial and parasitic diseases there are no anti-viral agents
available. As with all disease, prevention is better than cure and with
virus diseases this is particularly so.
In the U.K. two major viral
diseases can be prevented by vaccination, these are Pigeon Pox and
Paramyxovirus.
Disease Diagnosis
We offer a diagnostic service
including laboratory tests where necessary.
Clients should telephone in
advance to make an appointment to see the veterinary surgeon.
Routine Medication
Routine medications can be
supplied only to clients whose birds are under our care.
They include electrolytes,
electrolytes plus multi vitamins, multi vitamins, worming preparations and
disinfectants.
Advisory
We are able to offer an
extensive advisory facility for pigeon fanciers – the notes on Pigeon
Diseases contain
advice on commonly encountered diseases.
PLEASE NOTE:
Under
the Veterinary Surgeons Act we can only supply medication to birds under our
care. To be under our care we need sufficient knowledge of the birds for
the care to be actual and not merely nominal. In cases of disease we are
required to make a clinical diagnosis (and hence will need to see the sick
birds) before mediation can be dispensed. In addition we can only supply
sufficient medication for the birds owned by that individual client.
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