Salmonellosis in pigeons: symptoms and drugs for treatment, prevention

The development of salmonellosis in pigeons is considered a dangerous condition. This violation brings serious damage to the number of birds. Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to ignore the symptoms of pathology. To avoid the development of the disease, birds must be vaccinated in a timely manner and strictly follow the rules of hygiene. If the violation still appears, you can use medications and folk recipes for treatment.

Description of disease

Salmonellosis is provoked by bacterial microorganisms that belong to the genus Salmonella and persist in the external environment for a long time. The carriers of the disease can be not only birds.Pathology is also spread by rats and insects. Infection is carried out by inhalation of dust, which contains fragments of bacteria. Its sources can be food, water, litter. Salmonellosis is transmitted to chicks through eggshells.

Pathology can have different variants of development. At the same time, the most difficult course of the disease is observed in chicks and young birds. Mortality rates in this case reach 90%. Salmonella rapidly develops in the liver, brain, joints. It can also affect the intestines, kidneys, lungs.

Reasons for appearance

Salmonella are excellent resistant. Therefore, the ways of infection by bacteria can be different. Most often, the development of the disease is due to the consumption of infected food or water. The course of the disease depends on the condition of the bird and external factors.

The main causes of the disease include the following:

1. Contaminated water. Bacteria penetrate the water with the droppings of sick birds. Therefore, it is important to limit the access of domestic pigeons to sewage or dirty water. It is recommended to place a drinker with clean water in the house.
2. Contaminated food. The most common source of infection are grains infected with rodents.
3. Immune weakening. In most cases, salmonellosis is diagnosed in birds that are weakened by fatigue, lack of vitamins, malnutrition.
4. Violation of hygiene rules. In this case, bacteria penetrate into food and water. Therefore, it is important to control the cleanliness of tools and bedding.
5. Lack of proper ventilation. Bacteria thrive in poorly ventilated areas.

Infected pigeons can lead to infection of chicks - this happens through the pores of the shell.

Forms and symptoms of the disease

Symptoms of pathology depend on its form. The disease can be latent and transmitted to chicks. In 90% of young animals, acute pathology provokes death.

Hidden

In this type of pathology, pigeons appear he althy or have slight signs of illness. However, they are a source of infection. Bacteria are localized in the liver, kidneys, intestines.

They also affect the brain, ovary, joints, lungs. Periodically, microorganisms are excreted in the litter.

In adult birds with salmonellosis, uneven deposition of eggs is observed. Often they remain unfertilized. Embryo death also occurs frequently. The younger the birds, the more acute the pathology.

Explicit

This form is typical for weakened birds with a high virulence of the pathogen. At the same time, the birds refuse to feed and die in 8-14 days. Young birds with such an ailment face apathy, they do not fly, they lose their appetite, but they consume a lot of water. Often there is an upset intestine, which in 50-70 days provokes a fatal outcome.

The main signs of an overt form of the disease include the following:

• loss of appetite;
• apathy;
• expressed thirst;
• decrease in motor activity;
• ruffled feathers;
• diarrhea.

Methods of treating salmonellosis in pigeons

Combination therapy is needed to eliminate salmonellosis. With timely diagnosis and adequate treatment, it is possible to cure infected birds in 90% of cases.

Before starting therapy, it is important to completely disinfect the dovecote. To do this, you can use the drug "Virkon C". It is harmless to pigeons and humans.To make a solution, you need to mix 50 grams of the product with 5 liters of liquid. The composition helps to cope with viruses, fungi, mold.

Medications

The most effective drugs for salmonellosis are antibiotics. They are perfectly absorbed by the intestinal walls, and therefore act quickly. In this case, the dosage of drugs is of great importance.

The most effective means include:

1. "Gentamicin" - the drug dissolves in water. The resulting mixture is recommended to water the birds for a week. This time is enough to eliminate the pathology. For 1 liter of water, 0.5 grams of medicine is used.
2. "Streptomycin" - the composition should be administered intramuscularly. It is recommended to do this twice a day. The interval between injections should be 12 hours. For 1 kilogram of weight, 50 thousand units of the drug are used.
3. "Parastop" - this substance must be combined with water. It takes 10 days to water the composition of a dove. For 1 liter of water, it is recommended to take 1 milliliter of the substance.
4. "Furazolidone" - this remedy is recommended to be added to food for 5 days. The dosage of the drug should be 3 milligrams of the substance per 1 kilogram of weight.
5. "Amoxiclav" - this drug must be mixed with water. For 1 liter of liquid, it is recommended to take 0.4 grams of medication. It costs 3 days to treat a bird with them. If necessary, the dose can be slightly increased.
6. "Baytril" - the medicinal substance is recommended to be mixed with drinking water. At the same time, it is recommended to take 0.5 milliliters of the substance per 1 liter of liquid. Giving composition to pigeons costs 3-5 days.

Folk remedies

It is permissible to treat salmonellosis in pigeons with folk remedies. The most effective substances include:

1. Infusion of chamomile. For its manufacture, it is recommended to take 1 small spoonful of dried raw materials in a glass of boiling water and leave for 1-2 hours. When the composition has completely cooled down, it needs to be well filtered and given to the birds instead of water for 1 week. The composition has a mild effect, therefore it is suitable for birds of any age.
2. Infusion of propolis or bee bread. Bee products should be used during egg laying. This helps to protect adult pigeons and chicks. To make a he althy mixture, it is recommended to take 1 large spoon of infusion or chopped bee bread and combine with 1 liter of water. Use the finished product instead of water.
3. Decoction of pine needles. This substance has strong antimicrobial properties. It also contains many vitamins and minerals. To make a useful substance, it is recommended to take 1 cup of pine needles and insist in 1 liter of boiling water. It is worth doing 1-2 hours. Strain the finished composition thoroughly. For 1 week, replace drinking water with the resulting product.If necessary, therapy can be extended until the symptoms of the pathology disappear.

Caring for pigeons after illness

Pigeons should be carefully cared for after drug therapy.

To restore the intestinal microflora after the use of antibiotics, it is recommended to give birds food that contains bifidobacteria. It is also permissible to add special preparations to water or food.

To normalize the functions of the digestive system, you can use the Felucen vitamin preparation. In addition to useful substances, it includes gravel. This component facilitates the digestion of food.

Prevention measures

To minimize the risk of developing salmonellosis in pigeons, birds must be vaccinated in a timely manner. In addition, the following activities will help reduce the likelihood of an illness:

• providing quality food for pigeons;
• weekly cleaning and disinfection of the house, frequent ventilation, good hygiene;
• rodent control;
• Checking birds for salmonella - it must be done 2 times a year before mating begins;
• introducing vitamins and dietary supplements into the feed - these components help strengthen immunity;
• use of mild antibiotics.

Salmonellosis in pigeons is common and can lead to death of livestock. To minimize the risk of developing the disease, it is important to engage in its prevention. If the symptoms of pathology still appear, it is recommended to take timely measures. To combat the disease, it is worth using drugs or folk recipes.

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