Gander seems sick again with gasping - what to do?

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May 15, 2019
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We don't know what happened to the goose. Any help is highly appreciated.

The gander has gasping and gaping from time to time, and sometimes after gasping, he spits some liquid out (can't tell if it's water or something else) (vomiting?). We haven't seen him eating since this gasping symptom (we noticed this on December 29th, around 4:50 PM).

He also seemed to try to wash something out by drinking water.

The video attached shows some of the gasping/gaping-like symptoms. It also seems like he's trying to get something out of his respiratory system.


The symptoms seem similar to what he had back when he had fungal infections (here's a detailed post of what happened back then: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/gander-not-eating-temporarily-no-vet-access.1566051/ and https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/help-needed-gander-seems-sick-with-severe-gaping.1542210/), but we can't be sure what happened. We worry about avian flu, too.

We gave him a 100mg (maybe less as he spitted out some) Doxycycline tab just in case as of ~5:10 PM on December 29th.I saw solid feces from him ~2 days before December 29th, but I can't be sure if he has eaten normally between then and the time we noticed the gasping.

The other two geese in the same flock don't seem to show any symptom yet on December 29th.The avian vet isn't available yet, but we're trying our best to find a vet as soon as possible.

He can still preen himself, and the oil gland seems OK for now. He still makes his happy sound, but we worry he's pretending he's OK.

Update:
He's showing the gaping-like symptom again ~8:00PM on December 29th.

We have brown sugar water and clean water available. The brown sugar is because he's not eating normal food now.

Update:
He's feathers look wetter now (~8:40PM on December 29th). The oil gland is probably affected too.

Update:
He ate grass seeds after midnight (Dec. 29-30) and hasn't shown the gaping symptom for a few hours. Not sure if he got an obstruction out or if the Doxycycline helped.

Will still take him to a vet to get diagnosis.

Update:
My family said the gander had hiccup-like behavior since December 27th. This reminded me that on December 29th, before he gaped, he sometimes also had hiccups (?). We're still not sure if it was something stuck or if he got some infection. The earliest time an avian vet is available is December 30th. Then another avian vet will be available on Jan 2. We'll take him to both vets.

Update:
He doesn't look energetic. He ate some soil on December 30th. He still preens himself on December 30th. I haven't seen him gape on the 30th, but he still has hiccups occasionally. His breathing sounds heavy and doesn't sound smooth. Respiratory infection is likely :(
 
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My 2 cents not worth much. Thoughts would be something is stuck in his nostril. Give him deep water. To help it pass. Its not AI my guess is a obstruction problem. If it was AI he would be in the corner moaning.
 
My 2 cents not worth much. Thoughts would be something is stuck in his nostril. Give him deep water. To help it pass. Its not AI my guess is a obstruction problem. If it was AI he would be in the corner moaning.
The first time I noticed the symptoms today, he was in a corner-like space (with transparent panel from which he can see outside). He had a sudden gaping-like sound and then shook his head and then looked a little like he was vomiting (?) and then drooled. When that happened, he was not with his flock.

He's now (~7:40PM) sleeping with his flock (standing-sleep). Before this, he preened himself. Some guesses we're having:

A. There was some obstruction problem
B. There is a rather rapid respiratory infection kind of disease (he hadn't shown the gaping symptoms recently as far as we know)
C. There was some obstruction problem, but later he simply wanted to get the Doxycycline out of himself due to the bad taste of the medicine...
D. Some other non-respiratory issue
 
Sounds like this has been going on for 2 years? What do you mean he eats grass seed? are you still grinding up pellets? or did you stop that per the vet's direction? Mine will sneeze at the dust that comes off the feed out of the bag.

They need access to grit, are you providing that? and unless you're giving seed as a treat or for laying I don't think a gander needs it. Mine live off pasture, any feed they get is a treat (with the exception being winter and I do not grind anything for them.)

Goosebaby knows more about your particular situation so you might try to reach out to them.
 
The first time I noticed the symptoms today, he was in a corner-like space (with transparent panel from which he can see outside). He had a sudden gaping-like sound and then shook his head and then looked a little like he was vomiting (?) and then drooled. When that happened, he was not with his flock.

He's now (~7:40PM) sleeping with his flock (standing-sleep). Before this, he preened himself. Some guesses we're having:

A. There was some obstruction problem
B. There is a rather rapid respiratory infection kind of disease (he hadn't shown the gaping symptoms recently as far as we know)
C. There was some obstruction problem, but later he simply wanted to get the Doxycycline out of himself due to the bad taste of the medicine...
D. Some other non-respiratory issue
A that would be my first guess
B do you have vet RX pour it over his nostrils if you do. If you dont do you have some vicks save you can rub on. Not fond of that but there both camper oil.
C I use poultry cell liquid- B12 to add my medications into, sweet taste and I can get it all in a 1cc syringe.
D thats were you need a team like you sent out to so sad its Christmas holiday and we forget to tell the kidos (dont get sick now) there is such better help out there than me.
E Avian Influenza is allot different than what your dealing with. Yes Geese can be carriers but not what your boy is displaying. Way to energetic.
F for me My knowledge is limited
 
Sounds like this has been going on for 2 years? What do you mean he eats grass seed? are you still grinding up pellets? or did you stop that per the vet's direction? Mine will sneeze at the dust that comes off the feed out of the bag.

They need access to grit, are you providing that? and unless you're giving seed as a treat or for laying I don't think a gander needs it. Mine live off pasture, any feed they get is a treat (with the exception being winter and I do not grind anything for them.)

Goosebaby knows more about your particular situation so you might try to reach out to them.
This hadn't been seen for a long time, but it recurred before, so we worry it's recurring again. It can be a different problem, too.

His diet now is mainly grass seeds and pasture grasses (he doesn't eat the crumble or pellet feed when supplied), with vitamin A supplements and brewer's yeast.

I'm not having grits available...
 
A that would be my first guess
B do you have vet RX pour it over his nostrils if you do. If you dont do you have some vicks save you can rub on. Not fond of that but there both camper oil.
C I use poultry cell liquid- B12 to add my medications into, sweet taste and I can get it all in a 1cc syringe.
D thats were you need a team like you sent out to so sad its Christmas holiday and we forget to tell the kidos (dont get sick now) there is such better help out there than me.
E Avian Influenza is allot different than what your dealing with. Yes Geese can be carriers but not what your boy is displaying. Way to energetic.
F for me My knowledge is limited
He's showing the gaping symptoms again from time to time since 8PM PST. :(

I'll still try to take him to a vet as soon as possible. Still, it's rather rapid than the 2 times when he had the fungal infection.
 
He's showing the gaping symptoms again from time to time since 8PM PST. :(

I'll still try to take him to a vet as soon as possible. Still, it's rather rapid than the 2 times when he had the fungal infection.
I really wish I could be more help. Christmas week makes it really hard fingers crossed smarter people than me jump in in the morning. @Goosebaby
 

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