Scribbles from a layman (21-11-22)
Novice fanciers often want to know from more experienced sportsmen what they think about a number of medical matters. Also because veterinarians think and advise so differently, even contradict each other. People sometimes ask me what I think about certain things. Everyone should know that, but watch out! If I think such and such, it does not mean that it is so.
GLOBAL
Especially the manure can teach you about the health of a pigeon. In particular, if it's too big, too green, and too sticky, something is wrong. And that can be anything! Even canker.
Many fanciers believe that you can see in the mouth whether there is canker. You can, but you don't have to. You can especially smell it in the mouth.
A pigeon can also have canker while the throat seems fine and canker growths in the throat do not always mean 'so canker'.
Canker is the only ailment against which you can treat blindly and without consulting a vet according to a scientist from the University of Ghent.
Fortunately, an unusual but favorable development has taken place in this regard. For some obscure reason, it's not nearly the ailment it once was. With bad manure you may fear coli / adeno today, the ailments of this time!
GUARDS
Altabactin (chloramphenicol and furaltodone) used to be popular for counteracting intestinal problems. It's out of business, but that is not a disaster.
The specialist vet can recommend something similar to you. Or approximately. Baytril may also lead to excellent results, but that has also become difficult to get. You may also benefit from Theraprim (Oropharma), Nifuramycin (Rohnfried), Cosumix, Collistine and furoxin where available. Furoxin in particular once had a great following in Belgium with renowned names.
UNJUSTIFIED
By the way, you often hear criticism of vets that they don't deserve. "A bungler because 'his stuff' works for one person, but not for another." Still, be careful.
Even leading scientists claim that as a veterinarian you sometimes need luck when making a diagnosis and prescribing medication. In addition, it is quite possible that paratyphoid, worms, coccus, etc. are measured one moment and not the next. In other words; don't shoot too quickly at the pianist, in this case the vet.
THE HEADS
'Respiratory problems (both youngsters and old pigeons) are the nightmare of many fanciers. Some blame the transport, 'the basket', by which they mean the contact with other pigeons. That's not strange. The problems often arise after a few flights: sneezing, wet eyes, loose necks, red throats, we all know that. Or hopefully not...
SELECTION
Cases differ. From non-existent to an annual recurring nightmare.It seems to have a lot to do with selection.One fanciers removes birds with problematic health, the other resorts to antibiotics.In the selection of our racing pigeons, not only the results should be decisive, but also natural health.
Through selection we have to strive for a kind of pigeon that can cope with all kinds of ailments that attack them. Especially in the trucks and through mutual contact.Didn't Darwin already point out what selection did to the world?
There is no question of one disease, ‘head disease' as they say in Holland and Belgium is a collective term used for ornithosis, snot, mycoplasm, herpes, chlamydia and so on. Both bacteria and viruses can be involved, which explains why there is no specific drug that guarantees success.And that you should not judge the vet too quickly.
TO PREVENT
Especially with regard to respiratory problems, we should not try to cure, but to prevent. You can achieve this by selecting strictly on health, whereby the aim must be to get a type of pigeon that can do without medication. The living environment, in other words the lofts, deserves attention.
If the problems occur during the season, you obviously have little choice. You will have to call in the help of a specialized veterinarian to get the pigeons back on track, often by means of antibiotics. As much as you are against.
Giving such birds medicine is a waste. They are gone too far.
WHAT?
Aureomycyin, streptomycin, sygmamycin, doxycycline, lincospectin, suanuvil, chlortetracyclyne have been widely used.Most are related to each other and can be injected as well as administered via drinking water.
Which is best? ‘Best?’ Hmmm. The question should be ‘the least bad’.After all, medicines are by definition harmful, especially if they are used frequently or improperly. But, as said, if you have to, you have to be lucky.
After all, it is the disposition of the culprit that determines the result of the medication and that disposition is sometimes difficult to determine.
AGAIN CANKER
The feared irreversible resistance therefore did not materialize. Even today there are fanciers who no longer cure at all. As if it no longer exists. Still watch out. Like that Antwerp champion whose 2022 season was ruined by canker.
Ronidazole used to be popular and still is. A cure of about a week seems better than a one-time application of a tablet. You usually have to repeat the latter too quickly.
Our birds perform every year unbelievable. We cure for a week before the season, then no more and we rely on so-called Yellow Drops.
WEATHER
When administering medicines via the water, take the weather into account. In hot weather, when pigeons drink a lot, half the normal dose is sufficient, in ice-cold weather pigeons barely drink and you can give a double dose.
After all, the pigeons are supposed to 'intake' a certain amount of the medicine. The manufacturer may indicate 'so much per litre', but he has one problem: The pigeon decides for itself how much it drinks.
Incidentally, you often notice that pigeons become lighter during a canker cure.
This can be overcome by adding grape sugar or honey to the drinking water with the anti-cankering agent.
So far some scribbles from a layman. Certainly don't want to sit in a vet's chair, but more than half a century of experience and successful racing doesn't make a person dumber.
Talking pigeons with friends can be fun.