Cure or not?
To determine the nature of an infection or determine the cause of poor flight performance a bacteriological research is often done. The results of these studies, however, do not always tell you to start a cure.
If there is a problem with the pigeons because the flight results are disappointing, people (with their pigeons) often visit the clinic for a bacteriological examination. But also when autopsies are performed a bacteriological examination takes place for further investigation. It is possible that there are different kind of bacteria found in this. (may or may not be pathogenic.) As the result of the autopsies of a sick pigeon shows, for example E. Coli bacteria in the liver or kidney and did the sampler done its job properly, than we can say that this bacteria doesn’t belong here. It could be that this E.Coli cost septicemia, as a result that the pigeon died. In such cases it is advisable to medically intervene to prevent the remaining animals to get worse.
Does the pigeon breeder have problems with the flight performances of his pigeons, then often is the question to examine a random pigeon, often without any clinical symptoms. For example, it may happen that an E. coli bacteria is found in the intestines in such pigeons. Many breeders than have the opinion that this is the cause of the problem (because nothing is found, for example).
Some veterinarians do not contradict this. But is this really the reason behind the problem? In many cases, (probably substantially all), that is precisely not the case. There are hundreds and hundreds of different E. coli strains, and many of them are not even pathogenic. So throw everything together because the name E. coli cases has nothing to do with good veterinary medicine.
In practice, I'm not that quick in prescribing antibiotics when this happens. I make an exception in the spring when the youngsters who suffer from the Adenovirus. This ailment is often compounded by a pathogenic E. coli. In those cases, it may make sense to cures to prevent mortality as much as possible.
Something similar occurs in the setting of Streptococci and Staphylococci. Both bacteria are pathogenic potential, but do not have to because of the existing problem. The bacteria are found during routine screening. The identification of these bacteria and performing a susceptibility can be an aid in determining the resistance pattern of the pigeons in the loft. You can take this into account when problems occur in the loft. However, if there are no problems with the pigeons who carry this pathogens (see above), the pigeons still train and make proper prices, curing against it is often counterproductive. A lot of German breeders come with results from colleagues because one told them to give a cure for the indentified bacteria. I cannot remember the amount of breeders, in the last few years, who I advised not to do this. Because the lack of effect. Especially when they have got the advice to use Gentamycine. If you please, an antibiotic that is very poorly absorbed by the intestine. The probability that there active blood levels are reached is only slight. And of all the bacteria against which it is prescribed, the Staphylococcus, has a long in need of treatment with an antibiotic in a sufficiently high dose is required, so that it can also be effective.
Many breeders came back to me after the season, without describing them the advised cure, and told me that they had a perfect season. I’m just saying.
What I try to make clear here is that the adoption of a pathogenic bacterium that is potentially, not automatically means that one should cure against this. If this is necessary, depends on several factors. Healthy pigeons that perform well can carry the bacteria mentioned without them having some discomfort. Of interest is that the birds have a good resistance and well looked after by the breeder.
“Yes, but…. “ That is what I hear many breeders think right now. What if this bacteria can give problems when the pigeons get less resistance… why not cure preventive against it? Sadly it is not that simple. For example take Stapylococ. This bacteria can be a very mean visitor for the pigeons.
Therefore as soon as it causes problems such as we have previously noted, a sufficient length and sufficiently high dose is needed to cure against this pathogen. A preventive treatment, with many breeders then think is in terms of two to three days, this will not do the trick. In these cases only the weaker ones will die and the strong ones will survive and grow and multiply. But what can be the side effect of preventive treatment? The intestinal flora of the treated pigeons can be brought out of balance. So instead of going forward, one sometimes goes backwards. The feeling tells them they have done well because they think this bacteria has been dealt with. But we did not see much before the cure and we did not see much after the cure. In short, what is the efficiency of the treatment been?
Now, it is so that pigeons can be considered as animals that carry a wide range of potential pathogens. Preventive curing against a particular group of pathogens, than any other group often gets more opportunities and they will therefore intervene. If birds are not sick, the need for cures, in principle, does not exist. Once birds show clinical signs than the story is quite different. In such circumstances, as previously noted with at sufficiently high dosage and cures sufficiently long. From the above, I hope it is clear that it is much wiser to focus on preventing disease through the pigeons to deliver a good defense than to wait that it is almost too late, and then trying to clean up the mess.
By supporting the resistance of these pigeon, they will be in a position, to fight against the infections who are lurking. Indeed, in the winter months you almost never have to do anything. Only when the birds suffer from stress, sometimes starts while approaching the races, then the trouble usually increases.
Because not all the pigeon breeders take the time to do a health check of their colony, at the start of the season, are the pigeon breeders who do a health check not clear of any risks either. Because at the first flight, pigeon with a bad health are also put in the baskets. This puts some pressure on the healthy pigeons in the first few weeks. Together with the stress (what comes with the flights) can become too much for the pigeons with less resistance, what infects them negatively. This can cause a domino-effect in the first few weeks.
Many breeders go over to the preventive approach when the pigeons come back home. Regards to the interests that often play is this understandable. But I want to emphasize that the search for ways to bring these so-called basket infections up to level, is many times preferable to blindly trust the medicine from the bottle. Less sensitive to the resistance of the birds to a higher level. Practice shows unequivocally that pigeon breeders who has his focus also aimed at increasing the resistance over time are better off than the pigeons that are cluttered with antibiotics to prevent the calf drowning. In this latter way one makes the entire colony over time depending on antibiotics. At some point, sooner or later, one has a score to settle.
On the other hand, I'd also like to address an exception. I refer to the Salmonella bacterium. This germ is a true assassin. If one does not take action against this germ it is to run the risk. Against a serious problem in the long term. If this germ has gained a foothold in the loft of the flight performance are clearly back and no longer gets you up to the level which they were accustomed. Also with this one, in the beginnings they do not have to show any symptoms, also if the germ is present. Here also is one of the most important things that one needs to take, is to optimize. Attempting the resistance of the pigeons. In case of salmonella problem is blindly rely on medication alone, taking a line of subscription to treatments against this bacteria. This bacteria cannot be put off with only antibiotics. The loft is usually heavily contaminated with certain clinical outbreaks. Recontamination is therefore to be regarded as normal. It will be in the case of clinical outbreaks next decontamination, cures and vaccines are also required to optimize the disease eventually be able to get back on track.
What it is all about is that one is going to attack intelligently potential pathogens. The idea that one antibiotic cures can eradicate these potential pathogens is a real illusion. One often has the idea that they are doing well, while the opposite may be the case. For far too long there is a kind of illusion
that with antibiotics you can solve all the problems. Nature however, disagrees on that one. She defends itself against these attacks. Much more important is to provide to keep these pathogens under control, therefore the pigeons themselves is the right weapon. Improving the resistance of the pigeons is the first step. If one needs to cure for a disease, it is an option to help the intestinal flora as well as possible by giving pre-and probiotics.
Summarized:
It is an illusion to think that by only using antibiotics you can kill all pathogens. Especially for stubborn germs like Salmonella and Staphylococcus .
Preventative treatments against bacteria that have been proven that they do not allow themselves to fight with short cures of steroids is often pointless and counterproductive.
As a clinical problem is encountered by certain disease germs should be of sufficient length and sufficiently high to be dosed with the appropriate product.
It is therefore of importance to optimize the overall resistance of the pigeons. Preventative has proven its worth over the years.
If you get a result from your vet that Streptococcus , Staphylococcus or E. coli are found in routine examination, but the absence of cases of illness or poor flight performance are not in order, consider it, the advice to not cure, because usually it is not necessary in such cases. These bacteria can indicate certain problems but only by weakening the overall resistance as such opportunity is offered . You can also spend money to better improve the overall resistance than antibiotics.
If you decide to treat or you should cure in case of clinical disease. Give prebiotics and probiotics to the pigeons after the treatment and help recover the intestinal flora as soon as possible.
Good Luck!
Peter Boskamp
