The Common Signs of Respiratory Disease in Racing Pigeons are:
- Panting after flying.
- Sneezing
- Loft flying decreases
- Race losses
- Eye and nostril discharge
- Swollen cere and sinus
- Stretching of neck and swallowing
- Yawning
The top race performance requires perfect health and fitness.
Performance relates directly to the efficiency of the respiratory and circulation systems to provide the dramatic increase in energy requirements for flight. For example, during normal loft flying the pigeon increases its oxygen consumption fifteen fold and when flying into a head wind the oxygen consumption increases by up to 30 times. These massive energy burdens can only be supported by good health and fitness.