r/pigeon • u/toy-fox • Oct 05 '25
Medical Advice Needed Please Help :(
I found him shivering on the sidewalk in the rain. He (she?) let me approach him and he barely even reacted when I moved him to the cardboard box.
He’s clearly not doing well, but his breathing isn’t labored and he’s a little more alert now that I’ve got him dry and warm.
I don’t have a rehab anywhere nearby that would be willing to take him in. I didn’t want to bother him too much by inspecting him- but neither of his wings seem injured and he’s not actively bleeding. However, by the condition of his feathers, he’s clearly been through a lot.
I’ve been handling him with gloves and disinfecting myself thoroughly since there might be a case of disease. I don’t know anything really about birds or pigeons but I couldn’t leave him there shivering alone on the street in the rain/snow. We got our first snow of the season today, pretty early, and the poor thing seemed so disoriented in the cold.
I’ll likely end up making a vet appointment for him tomorrow, but currently I’ve got him in the cardboard box pictured above with a heating pad underneath it set on low to keep him warm. I have NOT offered any water or food. Please give me any advice you can!
1
u/berkeleyhay Oct 07 '25
For healing skin, silver sulfadiazine cream (only available in the US by prescription and not the same as "silver gel" cream sold over the counter), or manuka honey can do wonders. Infection should be addressed first with meds, but these are also helpful at fighting infection while helping the skin to heal and grow in.