Urgent advice needed.

[bigbulls 26]

To cut a long story short, someone called in to me this avo with a sick buzzard wrapped up in a cloth, knowing that I keep Harris Hawks, and thinking I could hopefully do something with it.

It was found in a pheasant pen, I honestly dont know what circumstances it was under, but this is the immediate state its in: Eye's wide, but blinking and slow movements of its head. It hasn't flapped, and seems fairly imobile. It's wings are free, stable and dont seem to be broken. The worrying thing was that it had a mouth full of dirt, which I have removed, its mouth is wide open, and there seems to be mucusey blood in its mouth and gullet.

Alot I know is probably down to shock - but does this sound like poisoning???... Has anyone come across this before? Got any tips on getting him better?

He's quiet in a box, in semi dark at the moment, and has made no affort to get up

[daz1976 8]

no idea with birds mate try pm ing jasper he maybe able to help good luck

[spadger 0]

hi there mate, first of all you need to get the bird to an avian vet. give me your area and i will send you the nearest local avain vet contact details. never had anything like this happen to me before so its all i can suggest without seeing, and surely it cant cost you anything as you say the bird is wild native bop. they can point you in best direction. hope this helps .and best of luck

[stork 1]

I don`t know much about buzzys but to me it sound sick due to it beaing sick it may of had a collision with a tree causing the blood from the mouth and if it fell from a height it may have interinal injuries or bleeding try get it to a vets asap. keep its eyes coverd this will limet the stress.

[wag 13]

do you have a bop centre near you, if so give them a call they might help or evan take the buzzard in

 

 

regards wag

[SPAR 2]

Head injuries can cause detached retinas in the back of the eye, that can only be detected by specialist equipment. Just because you cannot see anything abnormal do not assume all is right. Have as little contact as possible and get to an avian vet as soon as possible.

[bigbulls 26]

Head injuries can cause detached retinas in the back of the eye, that can only be detected by specialist equipment. Just because you cannot see anything abnormal do not assume all is right. Have as little contact as possible and get to an avian vet as soon as possible.

im having no contact with it at all and am trying to get hold of a bop centre now, this is not the first bop that has been dropped at my door with problems but like you said it can be a serious problem that cant be seen and i get the feeling this is the case.

[bigbulls 26]

hi there mate, first of all you need to get the bird to an avian vet. give me your area and i will send you the nearest local avain vet contact details. never had anything like this happen to me before so its all i can suggest without seeing, and surely it cant cost you anything as you say the bird is wild native bop. they can point you in best direction. hope this helps .and best of luck

did you get my pm of my location bud??

[SPAR 2]

here's a few avian vets for you mate they may help

 

Duchy Veterinary Hospital

53 Henver Rd

Newquay

Cornwall

TR7 3DQ

01637 851122

 

The Veterinary Surgery

Higher Trenant

Wadebridge

PL27 6HB

Tel: 01208 813258

[jasper65 6]

To be Honest fluid therapy helps no end with sick or injured birds! crop tubing them with some cooled Boiled water or some Critical care formular or electrolites normally help, the mouth gaping and the bird may well be just a reaction to being stressed.

 

First thing I would check is its keel? check for bone breaks around the bird? if its poisen then it could spell curtains but hopefully not, I have had chicks pull through from being on deaths door by crop tubeing them with critical care useing a Ultrapet tip for AI.

 

stressed birds can look sicker than they really are! they tend to just lock up with their beak gaping and eyes bulging, but if the bird has plenty of meat around his keel! hopefully it might not be too seriouse...

 

I have just about everything here which would probably help but the Vets would be the best bet for you if there is one close by...

 

ATB

 

Jasper

[Tis TM 8]

To be Honest fluid therapy helps no end with sick or injured birds! crop tubing them with some cooled Boiled water or some Critical care formular or electrolites normally help, the mouth gaping and the bird may well be just a reaction to being stressed.

 

First thing I would check is its keel? check for bone breaks around the bird? if its poisen then it could spell curtains but hopefully not, I have had chicks pull through from being on deaths door by crop tubeing them with critical care useing a Ultrapet tip for AI.

 

stressed birds can look sicker than they really are! they tend to just lock up with their beak gaping and eyes bulging, but if the bird has plenty of meat around his keel! hopefully it might not be too seriouse...

 

I have just about everything here which would probably help but the Vets would be the best bet for you if there is one close by...

 

ATB

 

Jasper

Hi Jasper,

I could well be helping bigbulls out with this bird tomorrow, probably couldn't get the Ultrapet tip very easily - You talking Artificial Insemination gear? (I have my qualif's with Genus, but no bladdy equipment!)

Would a lamb stomach tube do? Very soft and flexible, but maybe too thick? Also, how many ml's would you say and how frequently?... sorry for all the questions but much obliged for the help.

With ref to his weight, he seems a tad on the thin side

[jasper65 6]

Hi Jasper,

I could well be helping bigbulls out with this bird tomorrow, probably couldn't get the Ultrapet tip very easily - You talking Artificial Insemination gear? (I have my qualif's with Genus, but no bladdy equipment!)

Would a lamb stomach tube do? Very soft and flexible, but maybe too thick? Also, how many ml's would you say and how frequently?... sorry for all the questions but much obliged for the help.

With ref to his weight, he seems a tad on the thin side

 

Hello Tis TM

 

I wouldn't worry about Ultrapet tips on something like a Buzzard as these tips only have a 1ml bore ideal for crop tubeing day olds or other downies. for something like a Buzzard I just use a large Syringe like the one in the picture with a four inch peice of fish tank pump tube! and if under weight like the bird you mention I would crop Tube around 15 - 20ml of boiled cooled water with a mix of Critical Care Formula by Vetark or some Glucose. if its grosely under weight get it up the Vets but if it starts to respond on fluids I would then liquidise some quail breast with some water and CCF stick it in a crop tube and fire some into its crop.

 

The other problem you might have here is without the equipment you'll never know if its something like a simple worm infestation? or if you look visualy in its mouth and there is white plaque it could be frounce, Panacure will sort the Internal worms out no probs! I use Panacure 10% = 1ML per Kilgram bird weight and there are tablets to sort the Frounce out. scales are a good monitor which will show you if the bird is gaining in weight or still loseing, if it start to gain and start to feed itself then you're on the right track but if its still on a downward spiral then The Vets with the right equipment will hopefully locate the problem.

 

Its a hard one mate as when you treat a bird like this you're going into it blind! a vet on the other hand will carry out tests the average person can't do, Blood tests, scope tests such as crop swabs, Mute samples and X-Rays, Antibiotics Etc. there is a whole lot of things that bird can have but sometimes doing the basics as above is all it will take with a shocked bird or worm infestation. one other thing is listen to the bird while its breathing for any wheezing or cracking from its back! this could also be minor or something far more sinister like Aspergillosis...

 

ATB

 

Jasper

[Tis TM 8]

Thanks ever so Jasper, really appreciate your help

[Guest little_lloyd]

It was found in a pheasant pen

 

 

 

Of all the places it has to be found in a pheasant pen,, With all the media shite about keepers killing of birds of prey.

[bigbulls 26]

Hi Jasper,

I could well be helping bigbulls out with this bird tomorrow, probably couldn't get the Ultrapet tip very easily - You talking Artificial Insemination gear? (I have my qualif's with Genus, but no bladdy equipment!)

Would a lamb stomach tube do? Very soft and flexible, but maybe too thick? Also, how many ml's would you say and how frequently?... sorry for all the questions but much obliged for the help.

With ref to his weight, he seems a tad on the thin side

 

Hello Tis TM

 

I wouldn't worry about Ultrapet tips on something like a Buzzard as these tips only have a 1ml bore ideal for crop tubeing day olds or other downies. for something like a Buzzard I just use a large Syringe like the one in the picture with a four inch peice of fish tank pump tube! and if under weight like the bird you mention I would crop Tube around 15 - 20ml of boiled cooled water with a mix of Critical Care Formula by Vetark or some Glucose. if its grosely under weight get it up the Vets but if it starts to respond on fluids I would then liquidise some quail breast with some water and CCF stick it in a crop tube and fire some into its crop.

 

The other problem you might have here is without the equipment you'll never know if its something like a simple worm infestation? or if you look visualy in its mouth and there is white plaque it could be frounce, Panacure will sort the Internal worms out no probs! I use Panacure 10% = 1ML per Kilgram bird weight and there are tablets to sort the Frounce out. scales are a good monitor which will show you if the bird is gaining in weight or still loseing, if it start to gain and start to feed itself then you're on the right track but if its still on a downward spiral then The Vets with the right equipment will hopefully locate the problem.

 

Its a hard one mate as when you treat a bird like this you're going into it blind! a vet on the other hand will carry out tests the average person can't do, Blood tests, scope tests such as crop swabs, Mute samples and X-Rays, Antibiotics Etc. there is a whole lot of things that bird can have but sometimes doing the basics as above is all it will take with a shocked bird or worm infestation. one other thing is listen to the bird while its breathing for any wheezing or cracking from its back! this could also be minor or something far more sinister like Aspergillosis...

 

ATB

 

Jasper

thank you for all the advice it was a huge help and the crop tubing has worked a treat. when i approach the crate with the bird in i am getting a propper reaction from the buzzard wich is less than pleased to see me whereas before it was doing nothing and could be picked up with no fuss. the one thing im not sure about is the slight side to side movement in the birds lower beak and i think that this is the reason for the constant gape, iv kept going to my harris to compare things and check for any obvious differences in the way things move and feel and im sure that the beak feels wrong.

 

iv just got hold of the cornish bird of prey centre and given them the full run down and they have said i can drop it in today , i feel iv done all i can for the bird with my very limited knowledge and now that it seems to have improved greatly and got its fire back a bit then it is time to pass it on to where it stands a good chance of recovery and release.

it has been good to have a small insight in to crop tubing etc, this is not something i would have done without proper advice and luckily one of "lee william harris's" books had a picture and breif discription of the process which backed up what you said and gave me the confidence to have a go.

anyway, its off to the bop centre now and then back to giving my harris full attention again, with a garden full of running dogs , ferrets and a couple of harris's it was hard to find time to go to work and look after a sick buzzard, still it was a good experience and iv learnt a heck of a lot. thanks again for all the advice.