I found a pigeon with a sore eye.
Is there anything for human use (polysporin, etc.) that I can use on a bird?
Would just keeping it clean with a warm, damp towel work?
I can't take him to the vet, they'd make me release him since keeping any wild animal, even an injured one, isn't allowed...
eye medication
get some terramycin eye ointment. Feed Stores usually have it but be warmed it is $15.00+ for that tiny tube. I got some just to have on hand in case I ever needed
Perfect advice Donna.
It has been recommended to use Neosporin, but that should not be used in eyes!
Thank you both!
hopefully, it is available here in Canada!
I've used triple antibiotic ointment in eyes for years. I do use the generic, and make sure I use a new tube (to avoid contamination), but it's worked pretty well when I don't have terramycin.
Just my experience, mostly with cats.
Avoid any eye medication with steroids in it as it can make a scratch/infection slower to heal.
Very true, unless, of course, it has been prescribed :)
I couldn't find any kind of eye medication here but! his eye has healed beautifully! maybe the other pigeons were picking at him not allowing it to heal?
He seems to have serious balance issues now though...
A treatment for eye infections that I read in a book on country lore involved a small amount of lemon juice in warm water. It changes the pH of the eye and makes it inhospitable to the bacteria causing the problem. It was recommended for goats and other large animals, but we used it on ourselves, too.
doesn't that burn??
It burns slightly but it's not bad, and anyway that way you know it's working! At least that's what I tell myself, or whomever I'm dosing with it!