Disease Guide
Bacteria Category
What is a bacterial infection?
COCCI (Coccidiosis)
This problem can be caused by unsanitary conditions in the
loft and pigeons can get infected by picking seeds from floor
that have made contact with infected droppings.
Symptoms of Cocci:
• Loss of weight
• Slimy, dark-green droppings
• Lethargic, thirsty birds
Recommended Products:
Ornithosis
Over 50% of young birds have problems with the Ornithosis
complex. Loss of or less desire to fly, loss of pigeons in the
races and poor results, both with old and young birds.
Symptoms of Ornithosis:
• Loss of condition
• Nasal secretions
• Decreased desire to fly
• Scratching the head and beak
• Swollen eye lids & wet eyes
• Sneezing, rattling & coughing
• Discolored wattles
• Slime in the throat
Recommended Products:
• Enrofloxacin 10%
• Spiradox Tablets
• Terramycin
• Doxycycline 20% powder
• Doxy-Tyl Powder
• Golden Eye Liquid (Herbots)
• One Drop One Eye One Time Liquid (Dr.Pigeon)
• Improver Powder (Pigeon Vitality)
• Ornistop Tablets (Belgica De Weerd)
• Amoxy-Tyl Powder
• Bromhexine Powder
Paratyphoid (Salmonella)
Paratyphoid can be caused by unsanitary conditions and the
contamination of feed by rodents. It also can occur when
introducing new pigeons into the loft, without checking first
if they are healthy. Before putting new pigeons into the loft,
isolate and observe them for 14 days and put them on a
preventive medication.
Symptoms of Paratyphoid:
• Loss of condition and weight
• Green, slimy droppings
• Swelling of the legs and wing joints leading to limping
• Infertile eggs
• Twisted neck
Recommended Products:
Parasite Category
What is a parasite?
WORMS (Hair, Round & Tape)
Generally appear in unsanitary loft conditions or letting
the pigeons pick around on the ground. They will maintain
appetite, as the worms consume most nutrition in the
pigeon’s digestive system.
Symptoms of Worms:
• Loss of condition
• Loss of weight
• Increased appetite
• Infertile eggs
• Bad droppings
Recommended Products:
• Wormer Deluxe Powder
• Ivermectin Liquid
• Mediworm Tablets (Medpet)
• Pigeon Wormout Tablets (Vetafarm)
Protozoan Category
What is a protozoan organism?
Candida
Candida is a yeast that infects and inflames the crop lining
which can slow down and hinder the digestion of food. High
periods of stress or over-medicating can cause Candida to
quickly multiply.
Symptoms of Candida:
• No desire to fly
• Undigested water or food in crop
• Loss of appetite
• Struggle to swallow
Recommended Product:
• Medistatin Powder (Medpet)
Canker (Trichomoniasis)
Canker is caused by a flagellate, living on the mucous
membranes of the throat and the crop. It appears as a
yellow, cheesy substance, generally seen in the mouth,
however 10% of Canker is external, while 90% is internal. It
can break out at any age, particularly in youngsters still in
the nest.
Symptoms of Canker:
• Loss of appetite
• Problem digesting
Recommended Products:
- Spartrix Tablets (Harker's)
- Canker Combo Powder (Medpet)
- Metronidazole Powder 20%
- Ronsec Tablets (Medpet)
- 4 in 1 Powder (Generex)
- Metronidazole 20%
Virus Category
What is a virus?
Adeno-Coli Syndrome
The disease is mostly common in young birds and is a
combination of Adeno-Virus, which opens the way for a very
aggressive E-Coli bacteria, and often Circo Virus. The same
symptoms can be seen in Paramyxovirus, however in that
case the pigeons drink more and may have central nervous
issues, like twisting of the head.
Symptoms of Adeno-Coli Syndrom:
• Not listening
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of weigh
• Vomiting
• Brown green watery or slimy droppings
• Death
Recommended Products:
Paramyxovirus (PMV)
To prevent PMV, it is recommended that all birds are
vaccinated at least once a year. Young birds should be
vaccinated at 4 to 8 weeks of age, but no later than 4
weeks before the young-bird race season. Re-vaccinate all
birds 4 weeks before the breeding season. Once a pigeon
has PMV, there is very little you can do, and vaccinating
will have very little positive effect.
Symptoms of Paramyxovirus:
• Loss of weight
• Watery, green slimy droppings
• Twisting of neck and head
Recommended Products:
• PMV Vaccine
• LaSota Vaccine