Common Pigeon Diseases: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

The diseases pigeon keepers and rescuers see most often are canker (trichomonosis), pigeon paramyxovirus (PMV-1), paratyphoid (salmonellosis), coccidiosis, pigeon pox, respiratory infections, and parasites such as worms and lice. Many cause similar signs, such as fluffed feathers, weight loss and changed droppings, so a vet’s diagnosis, often from a droppings sample or swab, is the reliable way to know which one you are dealing with.

Quick symptom guide

Disease	Main signs	Spread
Canker (trichomonosis)	Yellow-white cheesy lumps in mouth or throat, drooling, trouble swallowing, weight loss	Parent to squab during feeding, shared water
PMV-1 (paramyxovirus)	Very watery droppings, twisted neck, circling, trouble picking up seed	Droppings, contaminated food and water
Paratyphoid (salmonella)	Swollen wing or leg joints, green droppings, weight loss, dead embryos or squabs	Droppings, carrier birds, eggs
Coccidiosis	Diarrhoea (sometimes bloody), weight loss, poor condition	Droppings, damp lofts
Pigeon pox	Wart-like growths on cere, eyelids, beak corners or feet, or lesions in the mouth	Biting insects, breaks in the skin
Respiratory infections (including ornithosis and mycoplasma)	Sneezing, wet eyes, nasal discharge, rattling breath	Air, close contact
Worms	Weight loss, poor feathers, worms in droppings	Droppings
Lice and mites	Holes in feathers, scratching, restlessness	Contact, nest material

Canker

Canker is caused by the protozoan Trichomonas gallinae. The University of Florida’s extension service calls it the most common disease of pigeons and notes many adult birds carry the parasite without showing signs until stressed. Squabs aged around 10 to 24 days are often worst hit, because they pick it up from their parents’ crop milk. Merck Veterinary Manual lists carnidazole and metronidazole as treatments, given under veterinary direction. Full guide: canker in pigeons.

Pigeon paramyxovirus (PMV-1)

A pigeon form of the virus that causes Newcastle disease in poultry. A review in the Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences describes polyuria (very wet droppings) first, then nervous signs such as head and neck twisting, loss of balance and paralysis. There is no cure, but many birds recover with weeks of supportive care: warmth, hand-feeding if needed, and a calm space. Vaccination with an inactivated vaccine prevents illness in kept birds. The RSPCA’s 2013 rehabilitation protocol notes that paramyxovirus in pigeons is a notifiable disease in Great Britain, so suspected cases should be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Reporting rules differ in other countries, so if you suspect it elsewhere, ask your vet whether it must be reported. Full guide: pigeon paramyxovirus.

Paratyphoid (salmonellosis)

A review in Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice calls paratyphoid the most important bacterial disease of pigeons. Swollen wing or leg joints (“boils”) are a strong clue. Treatment needs antibiotics chosen by a vet after testing, because strains vary in which drugs work. Full guide: paratyphoid in pigeons.

Coccidiosis

Caused by Eimeria parasites in the gut. Low numbers are normal; disease appears when birds are stressed, crowded or kept on damp floors. Diagnosis is by droppings test. Full guide: coccidiosis in pigeons.

Pigeon pox

Merck Veterinary Manual describes a “dry” form with wart-like lesions on bare skin and a “wet” form inside the mouth and throat. It spreads through insect bites and breaks in the skin. Treatment is supportive, lesions often heal in a few weeks, and a vaccine exists for kept pigeons.

Respiratory infections

Sneezing, bubbles at the eye, a wet cere and rattling breath can come from ornithosis (Chlamydia psittaci), mycoplasma or other infections, often together. Ornithosis can infect people. See ornithosis in pigeons and mycoplasmosis in pigeons.

Worms, lice and mites

Roundworms and hairworms cause weight loss and poor condition. Feather lice chew small holes in feathers. See pigeon lice and best pigeon wormer.

Preventing disease in kept pigeons

Quarantine new birds for at least 30 days, as the University of Florida guide recommends.
Keep lofts dry, well ventilated and not overcrowded.
Give clean water every day and clean drinkers.
Scrape droppings regularly (see how to clean pigeon poop).
Vaccinate against PMV-1. If you race, check your organisation’s vaccination rules.
Watch droppings daily. Changes are often the first sign (see pigeon droppings guide).

When to see an avian vet or contact a rescue

See a vet with pigeon experience if a bird:

is fluffed up, sleepy and not eating
has watery, green, yellow or bloody droppings for more than a day
has a twisted neck, is circling or cannot pick up food
has lumps in the mouth or throat, or trouble breathing
has swollen joints or a drooping wing

For a sick wild or feral pigeon, contact a pigeon rescue (see pigeon-friendly rescue centres). Keep sick birds separate from others and wash your hands after handling.

FAQ

Can I catch diseases from pigeons?

Some, such as psittacosis, can pass to people, but the UK Health Security Agency reports it is rare. See do pigeons carry diseases.

Can I buy pigeon medicines without a vet?

Some treatments are sold for racing pigeons, but guessing the disease often means the wrong drug. A droppings test is cheap compared with losing birds.

This guide is general information. If a bird is injured or seriously ill, contact an avian vet or a wildlife rescue as soon as you can.

Sources

Last reviewed: 21 October 2026

Last updated 24 October 2026 · Health