An animal infected with the pigeon pox virus may experience symptoms such as dehydration, uveitis and vision problems, reduction in egg production and behavioural differences.

[2] Some of the infected animals show yellow and roundish nodules with a diameter of 0,5 – 1,0 cm under the eyelids, the beak and mouth.

The animal will generally recover from the infection within 6 weeks and the virus is only on very rare occasions lethal.

[citation needed] To further validate the diagnosis a histological examination of a biopsy or the evaluation of vesicles liquid under an electronic microscope is used.

[citation needed] A treatment is not possible or known and scientifically proven, but vitamin A and antibacterial substances have shown, that they can help in the prevention of the occurrence of secondary infections.