We feed the local wild Senegal doves, which are like mourning doves, only bigger. They were getting scraps from the loft; but now get a serving of basic pigeon mix every day. Consequently, we have several dozen of them feasting every morning from the kitchen window sill.

Three months ago I saw one dove looking unwell; the next day it remained just sitting on the sill after eating. One of the faster members of the household was able to quickly open the window and snatch the bird. Upon examination, it was clear the bird had been mauled, probably by something trying to eat it.

It was amazing it got away because it had a huge wound on the left chest and the skin on the right leg was peeled off from the knee to halfway up the thigh. It had scratches everywhere else and a nice amount of infection in the peeled leg.

The dove was in good flesh and alert; so I decided to cage it and see what we could do. I called the vet; she said it needed the leg sewn-up; but there was not enough skin to do anything about it now and prescribed antibiotics.

After five days of antibiotic, the bird seemed worse for it; so I stopped the antibiotic and switched to homoeopathic remedies for war wounds and sepsis. This amounted to catching the dove twice a day and popping a few of the sweet pills into its mouth.

After a few days of this, the bird seemed to stabilize; so I continued the remedies twice a day for two months; and added a remedy for leg infection, as well. The dove gained flesh, a huge scab came off the left chest, and there seemed to be a perceptible increase in skin on the peeled leg.

Then, I called the vet again to see if she could do the plastic surgery now. She was surprised the dove was still around; but thought maybe she could do something. She operated and kept the dove at her hospital for about a month. Yesterday, she called and brought the bird back.

Its leg was all closed-up. The vet said although she couldn't sew it completely together in the operation, the post-op care and daily bandaging had worked wonders. The leg is tight from the surgery and not being used for three months; so I was instructed to do physical therapy.

The vet said this dove had 'attitude' and she is right. She also charged me an incredibly small fee. The dove is still very wild; and he never seemed to realize he was debilitated; but he and I have worked-out a system. So, it is back to the sweet homoeopathic pills, daily, this time for scar tissue and war wounds.

This little guy was in a war -- and won.

I am sure he will be perching soon.

Sarah

Well, he is already perching. Do you see the 'attitude' in his eye?

Sarah

What a touching story and amazing thing you did Sarah.
Looks like this baby will survive anything now.

Awww Sweet Sarah! You are a good egg! You should be proud of yourself!

That little one was more than likely attacked by a stray cat.
Lucky bird.
I am surprised the Antibiotics failed to work.
Good Job.
Hopefully the little one can be released soon.

From the way that baby's sitting - there's loads of attitude! He's a survivor.

Maybe he's sensitive to anti-biotics.

That was a great read & although the photo is a bit grainy - its a sweet photo. They are very pretty Doves. Amazing that he's so feisty after all the care he's got. We're saying he - is he a he?

I think the homeopathy treatments are gentler and although may take longer to work, are just as good. My husband responds really well to homeopathic therapies - some individuals do respond more than others.

Hi,

Update on Amazing Save:

The dove was feeling a little too frisky to be in a cage. I gave him a 'slip claw' bandage for three days to open-up his injured foot a bit. When I took off the bandage, the foot was more open.

But I saw he had battered himself flinging up and down off the perch a hundred times a day; so I decided to the aviary we go, since the weather had turned nice.

Now, he is in the outdoor aviary with most of the budgies, three cockatiels, two sparrows, and three other wild doves that came to us in different predicaments.

He is flying around and up on the highest perches when we go in. Time will tell how much use he regains of his foot.

Sarah

well done sounds successful

How is your Dove Budgielover?