Wildlife experts? A Mourning Dove.

I found this guy in my rock garden. He wasn't moving and didn't even freak out when I picked her up. He wasn't using his legs at all, but I could feel him trying to hold on to my finger while I held him. When he breathes bubbles come out of his mouth and he seems to be sort of drooling? I couldn't find any blood on him, and it seems like both of his wings are ok and not broke. I've had him inside for awhile now, and he tries to stand, but he falls within a few seconds. Any idea what is wrong with him? Should I just give him some more time to regroup and see what happens? I hope he doesn't die, his mate is outside waiting for him. These two come and eat at my feeder every day :(

He moved a little bit. I propped him up in the corner and it took an hour before he would move even a tiny bit.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t.../other/015.jpg

Poor dear!
I honestly have no clue, unless its somthing like a crop infection. I had a cockatiel years ago that had symptoms similar and thats what it ended up being.

I know we have a couple vets/vet techs about, maybe they can be alittle more insightful :/.

Fingers crossed for you and him/her.

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Originally Posted by Sariel

Poor dear!
I honestly have no clue, unless its somthing like a crop infection. I had a cockatiel years ago that had symptoms similar and thats what it ended up being.

I know we have a couple vets/vet techs about, maybe they can be alittle more insightful :/.

Fingers crossed for you and him/her.

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Oh I hope it's not crop infection :( He is standing now, but still wobbly.

Is he eating any seed?

Get him smaller seeds, there are dove mixes at the store but parakeets usually eat similar mixes. They have to eat seeds whole so they won't break apart big ones like sunflower seeds.

Have you seen him drink at all?

I used to be a really big bird freak, and the best thing you should do is called a wildlife rehabilitator.

It is illegal to keep the Mourning Dove, and surrendering the Mourning Dove to wildlife rehabbers is the best thing to do, especially since they can care for injured wildlife.

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

Is he eating any seed?

Get him smaller seeds, there are dove mixes at the store but parakeets usually eat similar mixes. They have to eat seeds whole so they won't break apart big ones like sunflower seeds.

Have you seen him drink at all?

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I tried to get him to drink a while ago, but I'll try again. I do have some parakeet food, I'll throw some of that in. He's still not moving very much, but he has been standing for a while now.

Hi,

And lets just hope it wasn't H5N1. :rolleyes:


dr del

Yeah, the folks giving warnings are entirely right. The bird sounds like it's extremely ill, and may have a respiratory infection (influenza is always a possibility).

The bird may also not be able to walk because it has West Nile Virus.

Trichomoniasis causes sores in the throat that prevent swallowing--and is also a zoonotic parasite.

The variety of unpleasant zoonoses and parasites carried by birds makes picking up a sick bird a VERY risky proposition. Take extreme care with hygiene, and I highly recommend putting it into an expert's care as quickly as possible, to minimize your exposure.

YAY! He's doing much better. I'm wondering if he got hit by a car and was stunned. He's much more alert and starts flying around everywhere if I try to put anything in the tub. He's picking the parakeet food off the ground, I haven't seen him drink yet, but I'm pretty sure he's fine now. He looks 100% better, and I plan to release him this evening. No bubbles and he reacts when one of the cats/dogs walks by rather than just laying their lifeless.

Oh, and yes I washed my hands and I didn't let any of the animals get closer than the tub to the bird.

I wonder if he flew into a window and got knocked senseless for a while. I love the picture with the cat watching through the side of the plastic box!

Might have eaten something toxic, too.

I agree with the getting smoked by a cat idea. I remember last summer I saw a robin bounce off a windsheild out front of my house. I stopped traffic to run out and grab it lol. Same exact thing as you were seeing. It was gurggling and not moving to much. I put it in a deep open box out front with some food and water and a hot water bottle. All his buds were pretty pissed and were chillin around squaking for him/her. About an hour later it was gone.

Good job!

Sounds like he/she will be alright. :)

Once it seems capable of going off on it's own again, I would try to release it.

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Originally Posted by GoFride08

I wonder if he flew into a window and got knocked senseless for a while. I love the picture with the cat watching through the side of the plastic box!

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True, it could have happened before I got up. We have a big picture window and a few birds have hit it, but had bloody noses and didn't make it. I've also found two birds in the last week that have got hit by cars right in front of our house, but they died right away.

:rofl: That's Stuart. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

Might have eaten something toxic, too.

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True...Hmm I'm glad he didn't die if that was the case!

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Originally Posted by Jeremy78

I agree with the getting smoked by a cat idea. I remember last summer I saw a robin bounce off a windsheild out front of my house. I stopped traffic to run out and grab it lol. Same exact thing as you were seeing. It was gurggling and not moving to much. I put it in a deep open box out front with some food and water and a hot water bottle. All his buds were pretty pissed and were chillin around squaking for him/her. About an hour later it was gone.

Good job!

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Weird! I wonder why they gurgle? That's good you helped him too! I was worried a cat or dog would get him too! His poor girlfriend was outside waiting for him all day! I felt bad for her and I really hoped he would make it. My mom had a couple that always came to her house and one of the mates died and the mourning dove that was left would sit on her deck every day all day for years :(

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

Sounds like he/she will be alright. :)

Once it seems capable of going off on it's own again, I would try to release it.

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It sure took him all day, but once he started acting like a bird and was alert, I took him outside and opened the tub. He flew right into our tree! I found him this morning on the ground eating food with his mate, assuming it was them. I've only seen one couple at our feeder, so I'm guessing it was them.

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

And lets just hope it wasn't H5N1. :rolleyes:


dr del

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:8: I missed this post :rofl:

make sure you got some germ-x handy.

im glad to hear the lil guy/gal is ok. if u really like that couple hanging around ur feeder, maybe u can do some research and see if u have anything in ur garden that is toxic to them.
i saved a bird today too. i found a baby bird(i think it was trying to learn how to fly) by my car. i cornered it and scooped it up. i saw its mama in a nearby tree and set it on a branch. lil guy is flying all over now