How to Treat Diarrhea in Doves

Diarrhea can also be a sign of kidney, liver or pancreatic diseases. Birds with diarrhea that doesn’t clear up within 24 hours need to be seen by the veterinarian so the problem can be diagnosed. Take your bird in right away if you see blood in the droppings or your bird is straining or seems to have abdominal pain.

There are a variety of infectious diseases commonly seen in squabs, squeakers, and young birds (Table 2). Although this facultative pathogen can cause disease in nestlings, “young pigeon diarrhea” caused by overgrowth of E. coli typically occurs in young pigeons after their first training flight.

Often, when owners state that their birds have diarrhea, they actually mean that birds have more water in their droppings and no real change in the stool component. True diarrhea is uncommon in birds. The most common sign of abnormal droppings in birds is actually polyuria (too much urine).

What do they look like? Similar in appearance to little marbles, pigeon droppings are firm and white-brown in color. The feces of healthy birds will contain tiny feathers. Loose, wet droppings are a sign of stressed or unhealthy birds.

Chlamydia psittaci infection can result in the disease known as chlamydiosis. The disease presentation in birds varies and may include generalised infection affecting internal organs, including the respiratory tract and enlargement of the spleen and liver.

Wheezing, clicking noises, labored or rapid breathing are all signs your bird is very ill. You may also see them moving their tail up and down and stretching of the neck which are body movements they make to try to bring more air into their system. Open mouth (or beak) breathing is also a sign of difficulty breathing.

Bright green or yellow feces can signify that the bird is not eating (anorexia), liver disease, or Chlamydia (a kind of bacteria) infection.

A good probiotic helps a bird by becoming its normal bacterial flora and supporting the growth of other normal bacteria. When it does this it strengthens all the natural defenses a normal bacterial flora provides. Most of the research in avian probiotics has been done in poultry.

The following are indications that an animal may be sick or injured: The animal is quiet, dull, the eyes may be closed, and it has fluffed feathers (the bird looks “puffed up”). It may have an obvious wound, breathing problems, a drooping wing, or show lameness or an inability to stand.

If you find a sick or injured bird, contact a wildlife rehabilitator or local veterinarian to see if they are able to care for it. Make sure you call first as some clinics don’t have the facilities to isolate sick birds, and can’t take the risk of spreading a communicable disease among their other birds.

“Although birds and reptiles have different structures that are responsible for tear production, some components of this fluid are present at similar concentrations as what is found in humans,” said Oriá.

If you find an injured bird, carefully put it in a cardboard box with a lid or a towel over the top, and place in a cool, safe place. Birds go into shock very easily when injured, and often die from the shock.

Birds have pain receptors, Bekoff says, and feel pain as mammals do. In a 2000 study, lame chickens chose food containing a painkiller when allowed to choose their own diet.