2 week old Embden Goslings with terrible symptoms - anyone know which infection it could be? Please

[Giga]

Hello all,

Just over a week ago I bought some 5 day old emden goslings from a local (and trusted) farm. They were kept in an area with the heat light and some ducklings which were younger.

Once they were home, I kept them indoors in a spacious box with a heat light, sawdust, water, geese crumbs. After the first day I did start noticing sneezing but just thought that because they were babies they were getting the water in their nostrils.

Very quickly, I began noticing heavy breathing (weezy and short) on both of the goslings, mucus out of the nostrils, dropped wings and white diarrhea. I looked these initial symptoms up online straight away and of course it went straight to the worst, about it being goose influenza, coccidiosis, etc. with a very high death rate.

Took them both to the vet the following day and was told one had jaundice because of cold and yellow feet, or entiritis. She didn't seem to know any more because the vets around where I live tend to only know details about cats, dogs, and caged birds.

She gave one of the goslings an injection of vitamins under the wing (which I later heard should not be done to such a young gosling!), and gave me baytril to be giving them twice a day. Im guessing they can't stay on this medication - will they need to come off antibiotics altogether or is there another option of treatment?

Since then, they are still alive a few days later but now I have noticed red eyes, and very swollen 'cheeks', sticking out on one of them, like two little balls. The white diarrhea is still continuing but sometimes with a mix of more solid and brown faeces. One of the goslings' breathing is still shallow - but they are chirpy and run around behind me when I walk in the garden. They go through stages of being wobbly and weak to strong and happy.

Can anyone please narrow it down what is actually wrong with them, as the internet research can be so general. I informed the farm and they said if it was a certain type of contagious bird flu then other birds would have been infected but none of them at the farm have displayed this behaviour. Do you think it was where I bought them at such a young age and their change in environment and bacteria may be the cause? I have hatched goose eggs before and have never had any health problems. Members of my family have very low immune systems so they are worried it is some strain of contagious bird flu.

They are fighting their best against it but I don't see the sneezing and swelling getting any better!

I hope someone can help suggest, or if they have seen these symptoms in goslings.

Thank you for your time,

 

[Suzierd]

Very sorry you are going thru this. It does sound like it could be Respitatory. Do you have other birds on your property they could have picked something up from. I would try to eliminate any environmental causes that it may be. What kind of sawdust do you have them on? Is it really dusty?

 

[Giga]

Thank you for your reply - yes it is really sad to see the goslings like this. I was putting quite dry sawdust in for their bedding, but after I saw these symptoms I was advised to try hay instead. What confuses me is that both of the goslings have been showing these symptoms so am confused whether it was hereditary, whether it was environmental, or whether they caught it. I called the lady's farm where I bought the goslings at 5 days old and she said that none of her birds have been ill or have any of these symptoms. From hatched to a few days old they were kept with different breeds of ducklings at her farm. Do you think this may have been a cause?

The swelling of the cheeks of one of them seems to be getting bigger and is almost changing the whole shape of his face. They are still appearing weak and the difficult breathing is really saddening to see. I am trying to make sure they are as comfortable as possible each day just in case they don't make it.

Everywhere I've been researching says that goslings should have vaccinations to protect them against certain viral infections. I don't think the goslings had been vaccinated against anything when I bought them, so was I supposed to do this?

I live in England and around where I live there isn't really anyone who knows much about goslings, I really appreciate your reply though so thank you!

 

[Giga]

Oh - and I do have chickens and a turkey but they are outside on the other side of our land, and have not come in to any contact with the goslings.

 

[Suzierd]

I hope they improve with the removal of the shavings. Respitaory disease can be spread from your cloths, shoes or anything that you used around your other birds and then got near the baby's. Your birds may not even be showing symptoms they could be carriers. Have you ever noticed any Respitatory issues in the past with any of your birds. I'm not saying that's what it is, just something to consider. I wish you the best.

 

[Giga]

Thanks Suzierd! No I have never seen these symptoms before with any of my other birds, so it is all a little bit of a myth. One of the goslings is looking much better and is growing a lot. The little one has very swollen sinuses and signs of conjuctivitis. They are on straw which will be much better than wood shavings, and I have been advised to wash their eyes so hopefully the eye infection will clear up. The little gosling is still showing very worrying signs, but fingers crossed that they make it, they really are the cutest little things!! Thanks for your help!