On Thu, 20 Jul 1995, Alan Richards wrote:

>
>
> My question -- what is frounce?

trichomoniasis gallinae...pigeons are a common carrier...it
manifests itself in a yellow cheesy growth in mouth & throat.

"...late stages of untreated trichomoniasis can result in the
development of massive lesions in either the region of the palate
or around the rim of the mandible and base of the tongue that
inhibit swallowing mechanisms and occlude the esophagus."

*Diseases and Aliments of Raptors*
by Patrick T Redig, DVM,Ph.D.

While a serious ailment, treatment is relatively simple..
metronidazole (Flagyl) at 30 mg twice daily for 5-7 days..

I once saw a a squib about some banders who trapped a female Cooper's hawk
that was starving..she was so loaded with frounce she couldn't eat and was
desperately hungry...razor sharp keel etc...they hooded her, medicated
her and placed her in a dark closet for a couple of days..the medication
kicked in and she was noticeably improved the next day..I believe they put
a tube in her crop and force fed her at first...in a week or so she was fat
and on her way...someone turned in her band 7 or 8 years later..she
apparently died of old age in the wild..

Tom