injured dove

[damieng]

hi guys and gals.
i have a problem, this afternoon at my mothers house a neibourhood cat mangled a spotted dove ( Streptopelia chinensis ).
its wings and legs are intact however its tail is gone.
and there is extensive skin and feather loss to the right hand side of its body from chest to tail.
i do not know if it will survive the night but i'd like to try to help the little one. i know if i take it to a vet they will want to put it down. for if it does survive i dont know what the chances are of its feathers growing back are.
does any one have an helpful advise or tips on what i can do to help the little one out.
i have it safe and warm at the moment at home and i realise i will have it for a minimum of 6 months b4 i can release it, if it survives the night

[damieng]

Never mind the dove has just sucummed to its cat inflicted injuries

[avinet]

Apr 11, 2011 19:41:02 GMT 10 damieng said:

Never mind the dove has just sucummed to its cat inflicted injuries

Sorry to hear the dove didn't make it. For future reference for everyone, cat scratches and bites are dangerous and it is important if possible to get the bird to a vet asap so that antibiotics can be given by injection - Baytril is a good one - and wounds washed out with antiseptic. Cats have lots of bacteria, especially gram positive, living on their claws and teeth that a bird reacts to very quickly and badly so quick action is ideally needed.

If it isn't possible to get to a vet - night time or holidays for instance, then wash all wounds well with warm salty water, and then treat the wound with an antiseptic such as liquid Betadine or one of the iodine based antiseptic powder - plenty of it.

Unfortunately far more birds die from cat attacks than survive.

cheers,

Mike

[gypsy]

Sorry the little dove didn't make it.

Thank you Mike for sharing this info. Hope I never NEED to use it.

[anzac]

Most, if not all, of our native bird rescue centres refuse to treat injured doves and I suspect like you thought most vets would just have them pts. In WA the rainbow lorikeet is also consided a pest and again, most native bird rescue centres will refuse to treat them as well. See here

www.agric.wa.gov.au/PC_93047.html

We have hundreds of lorries in our neighborhood and Billy (my turk) loves spending hours chatting away to them. He also loves the black cockatoos as well. In my local neighborhood, they also regard corellas as pests and are now shooting them.

[gypsy]

Apr 12, 2011 10:24:56 GMT 10 anzac said:

In my local neighborhood, they also regard corellas as pests and are now shooting them.

Same here I'm afraid, with Galahs and corellas. Also some consider the mighty Wedge Tail Eagles as pests !!!!!! have had many arguments with people over those magnificant birds, I just love it to bits when I see one - they are impressive!

I nearly cry when I see galah's and teils dead on the side of the road, I just love my Wally and Squark.