Goosling injuried. Not Eating. Antibiotics?

[LadyLovesBirds]

My gosling was attacked yesterday by a predator, she is 2 months old and weighs 5 1/2 lbs. We don't know what got her, but her screams (and those of the other geese trying to protect her) sent me running, and I found her in a heap with multiple holes around her head and neck.

The avian vet put her on SMZ TMP oral suspension: 1cc twice a day. This was an avian specialist (he charged me $250) but she seems worse on the antibiotic. I can't say for sure, but she could stand up before the antibiotic, and now she can't without falling over. I'm concerned that the vet, despite being an avian vet, may have given her the wrong type of medication. Does anyone know anything about this antibiotic on geese?

Also, how do I get her to eat? It has been 24hrs, and I can't get her to eat. She will only drink a little water. I don't want to have saved her from a predator attack, only to have her to die of starvation. I am trying to give her "supplemental infant food" (the kind you would give a baby parrot) through a syringe in her mouth, but she balks at it, and I am afraid of it going down her windpipe instead of her gullet. Any suggestions on how to keep her energy up?

Any suggestions would be helpful.... even how to get rid of predators. I've lost a peacock, geese, ducks, and chickens to predators. Some only at night, some in full daylight. I'm at a loss as to how to protect my flock.

 

[Trefoil]

Do you have a chick,duckling, or another gosling that you could put with her? Sometimes they do better with company and seeing the other one eat may spark her hunger. If you have neosporin, put some on her injuries. I don't know anything about the antibiotic. Sorry. Hope it survives.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Keep the wounds clean and do as the vet has told as far as the antibiotic. Don't cover the wounds in anything including neosporin. When attacked they go into shock and it can be hours or a day later for the real injuries to fully present themselves.

Offer mashed up hardboiled eggs, you can use oatmeal (not flavored just plain) and cook, allow to cool and offer. Moisten her normal food and even go as far as running it in a blender of food processor if needed. Yogurt will sometimes peek their interest. You may need to try a few things before you find what the gosling will eat. Don't get discouraged, neck injuries would have any is us not thrilled to eat too.


Predators you can use live traps and get rid of them. Get a live stock guard dog (we have two and love the,) provide fully enclosed predator proof pens (kinda impossible for geese in the daytime). All animals should be in predator proof safe nightime housing always.

 

[The goose girl]

Oh, it's so hard watching a bird that won't eat - especially goslings, since that all they seem to do.

My adult goose just went through nine days of enteral feeding at the vet's. She had not eaten for weeks due to an infection and had lost seven pounds. I did first try the syringe thing at home, but the goose panicked and probably burnt hundreds of calories fighting. It seemed she needed the rest and peace way more.

You could offer her some sugared water, but as she also needs to rinse her head, she should be given a choice. As long as she's drinking, her healing from the wound and the infection is more important than getting her to eat immediately.

Her getting worse is unlikely to have anything to do with the antibiotics. My goose ended up on three different kinds + painkiller + corticosteroids. The antibiotic should match the infection, there's no "all-round goose antibiotic".

The best you can do is keep offering her food and let her rest. I really hope your gosling pulls through.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So sorry to hear about your gosling, I hope she makes a full and speedy recovery.

There is a product called Poultry Nutri Drench which you can give straight by mouth or mixed in her water which would probably help alot right now since she isn't eating. You can buy it at TSC or online. I would say these preds know where an easy meal is, your going to have to work hard to keep your flock safe from them. Traps, electric fencing, secure housing at night. no easy solution when they know where you live but can be done. oh and forgot. Live stock guardian dog/s
http://barnyardsandbackyards.org/2010/09/18/review-nutri-drench/

 

[Miss Lydia]

How is your gosling doing?

 

[Miss Lydia]

 

[LadyLovesBirds]

Rerun is back with her flock. It took me two weeks of intensive care, one day 4 I was crying so much because she looked like she had given up completely. I did manage to feed her through a syringe 6 times a day, 2 tsp at a time of the powder "baby bird" food you buy at pet stores and reconstitute. It took a few days of just dribbling a few drops on the tip of her beak before she would allow me to feed her completely. After her wounds closed up, I took her outside a couple times a day to see her family... they rallied around her. They didn't want me to take her back inside, but she was still too weak to run with them. She kept falling over. It was a couple more weeks of this daily exercise before I allowed her to stay with them for a few hours under watchful care. And I brought her in at night because I was afraid she was too weak still to keep up with the older ones while they are in their barn area at night. As of today, it's been more than a month, she is with her family full time but she does still have some affects fromt he attack. Dispite the obvious wound site, which the feathers grew back white instead of grey, she has a lopy gait when she walks. But she does have a squad of 6 other geese keeping their keen eye on her all the time. Thanks for all the advice.
Now I have a sick Macaw to tend to....

 

[Miss Lydia]

Rerun is back with her flock. It took me two weeks of intensive care, one day 4 I was crying so much because she looked like she had given up completely. I did manage to feed her through a syringe 6 times a day, 2 tsp at a time of the powder "baby bird" food you buy at pet stores and reconstitute. It took a few days of just dribbling a few drops on the tip of her beak before she would allow me to feed her completely. After her wounds closed up, I took her outside a couple times a day to see her family... they rallied around her. They didn't want me to take her back inside, but she was still too weak to run with them. She kept falling over. It was a couple more weeks of this daily exercise before I allowed her to stay with them for a few hours under watchful care. And I brought her in at night because I was afraid she was too weak still to keep up with the older ones while they are in their barn area at night. As of today, it's been more than a month, she is with her family full time but she does still have some affects fromt he attack. Dispite the obvious wound site, which the feathers grew back white instead of grey, she has a lopy gait when she walks. But she does have a squad of 6 other geese keeping their keen eye on her all the time. Thanks for all the advice.
Now I have a sick Macaw to tend to....

Wonderful news, hope your Macaw has as good a recovery. Thanks for giving us an update.