External lumps/ bumps on skin and limbs

POX VIRUS

It is advised that no pigeons should attend any shows or races if any pigeons in the loft have pox virus symptoms.

Symptoms

Affects all ages of bird.

• Yellow wart like swellings form usually around the mouth and eyes, although they can also be found elsewhere on the body.
• Swellings usually scab over and fall off after three to six weeks.

Diagnostics

Visual recognition of the disease.
If it presents atypically (ie. only in mouth), it may look like other diseases. Confirmation can be by histopathology.

Treatment

None, mild – moderate lesions will resolve in four or so weeks.
If severe – consult your vet for investigations into secondary bacterial causes.

Prevention

Implement routine water sanitation. This will reduce the spread between birds.
Vaccination is available.

SALMONELLA

This disease is zoonotic – this means it can cause disease in people.

Should you experience any vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal pain please contact your local GP.

Symptoms

There are many different types of salmonella, with the most common in pigeons being Salmonella Typhimurium.

Healthy birds can carry this bacterium and shed it intermittently in their droppings.

Affects all ages of bird.

• Decreased appetite.
• Green diarrhoea.
• Increased loft mortality.
• Weight loss.
• Reduced reproductive performance/increased ‘dead in shells’.
• Swollen joints, lameness, drooped wings and difficulty flying.
• Loss of balance, circling and reluctance to move.
• Increased number of dead in shells.

Diagnostics

Three to five days pooled faecal sample for salmonella culture.
As the bacteria is shed intermittently by the birds then samples are sometimes required to be submitted on multiple weeks.
Cull or dead bird submitted for post-mortem.

Treatment

Treat according to culture and sensitivity.

Prevention

Regular cleaning and disinfection of the whole loft.
Avoid stress in the birds (overcrowding, other disease).
Vaccination is also available, but is unlicensed in pigeons.