sandeyeBIRD BLINDNESS
July 3rd 2008 14:52
I did a little research and discovered that cataracts in birds are quite common and that a veterinary surgeon can operate to remove the cataract in some cases. I do not think that I will subject Baby1 to a stressful trip to the vets though. I think being stuffed in a cardboard box then bounced along a 20 minute walk and opened into a strange indoor room might upset him far more than a naturally and slow occurring blindness taking over one eye.
Apparently, in the wild, blindness only affects a bird in the realm of food provision and safety from predators. There will be no problem with our semi-wild 'pet' pigeon going hungry, but if the eye is completely covered in cataract I may start to 'stable' Baby1 in the dunny or entryway overnight for safety's sake.
According to www.provet.co.uk, turkeys can get cataracts due to a lack of vitamin E, so I may take a look and see if there are any vitamin E high seeds or other birdable foods that I can pop into our pigeons' diet. Luckily, it is only a part of one eye affected at the moment. Hopefully it was just an injury rather than a defect or disease, and will not spread over the entire pupil. It does not seem to bother him yet, and he still chases Bebe2 coo-fully off my (his?) windowsill oftenly.
Apparently, in the wild, blindness only affects a bird in the realm of food provision and safety from predators. There will be no problem with our semi-wild 'pet' pigeon going hungry, but if the eye is completely covered in cataract I may start to 'stable' Baby1 in the dunny or entryway overnight for safety's sake.
According to www.provet.co.uk, turkeys can get cataracts due to a lack of vitamin E, so I may take a look and see if there are any vitamin E high seeds or other birdable foods that I can pop into our pigeons' diet. Luckily, it is only a part of one eye affected at the moment. Hopefully it was just an injury rather than a defect or disease, and will not spread over the entire pupil. It does not seem to bother him yet, and he still chases Bebe2 coo-fully off my (his?) windowsill oftenly.
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