Asking for advice for pigeon

[YUMgrinder]

I don't usually pick up wild birds. I saw a post about a pigeon on Facebook in a local group that was just hanging out with a hurt leg on an apartment landing. It was 2 minutes away so I went and got it. The pad on its foot is swollen pretty bad, it won't use it at all. No vet will see it or give me antibiotics or pain meds for it. It also looks like it was attacked by a cat. It's missing a huge chunk of feathers on its rear end. It's in a spare cage and is calm around me. Apparently pigeons do not bite

What can I do to help its foot? I don't see any wounds it's just swollen at the knuckle. Could it be filled with puss?

 

[LaManuka]

I don't usually pick up wild birds. I saw a post about a pigeon on Facebook in a local group that was just hanging out with a hurt leg on an apartment landing. It was 2 minutes away so I went and got it. The pad on its foot is swollen pretty bad, it won't use it at all. No vet will see it or give me antibiotics or pain meds for it. It also looks like it was attacked by a cat. It's missing a huge chunk of feathers on its rear end. It's in a spare cage and is calm around me. Apparently pigeons do not bite

What can I do to help its foot? I don't see any wounds it's just swollen at the knuckle. Could it be filled with puss?

Thank you for taking this little one under your care, I'm just sorry that it seems to be so difficult to get veterinary care. Could you perhaps try a diluted solution of Betadine on the foot? Also, if you can get your hands on a plant, aloe vera from a freshly cut leaf offers antibacterial properties and a bit of pain relief as well. If indeed it has been attacked by a cat however, that's another matter and it really would require antibiotics, so if no vet will see you then there may only be so much you can do. Thank you for caring, though, @YUMgrinder, it's good to see you back!

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

I would give it a salt water rinse (one part salt to 10 parts water) if you don't have access to Betadine. Rinse the foot really well. I second the aloe vera leaf if you can get some.

Thank you so much for caring about this little guy!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Is he eating at all? Drinking? If so he may recover but if not he won't last long. Here's hoping.

 

[YUMgrinder]

Is he eating at all? Drinking? If so he may recover but if not he won't last long. Here's hoping.

Yes it is eating bird seed and drinking water. It has healthy poops as far as I can tell. I just wonder how long his foot has been like this and if this is an injury that can heal on its own.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

It will have to heal on its own since no one will treat it. A wildlife rehabilitator, the kind that that nurse injured birds of prey back to health, could if you had one nearby. Since he's eating and pooping he's not systemically sick as in septic/infected so just keep on taking care of him. You may have a disabled pigeon after he heals because he might not be able to survive in the wild with a disabled foot or with other disabilities.

 

[YUMgrinder]

Is he eating at all? Drinking? If so he may recover but if not he won't last long. Here's hoping.

Yes it is eating, drinking, pooping normally. I just saw it preening itself and it cooed a little bit! But that foot must really bother it. He won't put any pressure down on it. What could cause the knuckle to swell like that and stay swelled?

 

[YUMgrinder]

Thank you for taking this little one under your care, I'm just sorry that it seems to be so difficult to get veterinary care. Could you perhaps try a diluted solution of Betadine on the foot? Also, if you can get your hands on a plant, aloe vera from a freshly cut leaf offers antibacterial properties and a bit of pain relief as well. If indeed it has been attacked by a cat however, that's another matter and it really would require antibiotics, so if no vet will see you then there may only be so much you can do. Thank you for caring, though, @YUMgrinder, it's good to see you back!

What about Neosporin? I feel like maybe if I poked it with a syringe or something and see if it's fluid in there or maybe it's a mass. But I don't want to make it worse. At this point though it has no use of its foot.

OMG IT JUST COOED AGAIN

It's been a few years since I've posted!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Can't you find a different vet that you can tell them it was your pet not a wild pigeon and they'll treat it?

 

[LaManuka]

What about Neosporin? I feel like maybe if I poked it with a syringe or something and see if it's fluid in there or maybe it's a mass. But I don't want to make it worse. At this point though it has no use of its foot.

OMG IT JUST COOED AGAIN

It's been a few years since I've posted!

I'm not sure about Neosporin tbh, but you might try a product called "Medihoney", which contains medical grade honey. I've heard it used by a lot of folks on birds for it's antibacterial and wound healing properties and I've got some on standby for mine just in case I ever need it!