Gosling neck broken or strained

[Curran]

I have a yearling brown chinese mother that hatched two beautiful babies last week, the oldest is now a week and has been doing great but today when I went out to check on them the oldest baby was laid out on the ground and then I witnessed the mother go and stand on him.

I don't know if something else happened to him or if the mother did it by accident or ill intent. But right now he is alert and breathing okay, he beeps and twitches his head and curls it up tight against his chest/to the right side which makes me think it might be a strain? (I'm no injury expert) But then he does not seem to have any movement in his legs. He moves his wings and neck occasionally when he's in pain but that is about it.. And he also relaxes when I support his head and neck and massage it.

I'm really new to geese and haven't encountered anything like this before, I'd really like to give this little guy a chance but at the same time don't want him to suffer.

 

[Carrosaur]

Do you have any pictures?

 

[Tenrec]

Gonna go ahead and do the "not a vet" disclaimer here.

The head twisting sounds like torticollis. Does he ever hold his head in a position that isn't upright? Seconded on the pictures.

Is he showing any other symptoms? Torticollis is generally a sign that something in the CNS has gone awry, but that's...unfortunately broad. It could be head/neck trauma, vitamin deficiency, or infection (and there are quite a few infections in birds that cause encephalitis). Any other symptoms? When you say the legs are limp, do you mean he can't move them at all? Does he have a deep pain response in them (don't check for that unless you're very careful)? Prognosis depends on all of these factors and what his ultimate diagnosis is. If it's trauma, he can recover, if it's a matter of the surrounding tissue being bruised/swollen and impinging on nervous tissue...Or he can get worse, or not change at all. The discomfort from trauma + swelling can be alleviated by certain meds, but I'm unfortunately no expert on how those can be used in waterfowl, if they /can at all/. A vet's consult would definitely be required on that issue.

Regardless of symptoms, keep everything between him and the other geese clean, including yourself, just in case. Give him lots of love regardless, he's still at an age where he requires the warmth and company of other animals....Though I'm going to bank on trauma, from what you've described. Make sure he's getting his vitamins and proper nutrition + TLC.

Hopefully some other voices can chime in here on differential diagnosis for this little guy. Poor baby...Keep us updated.

 

[Curran]

Okay well here is the morning update!

When I checked on him this morning he was sprawled out on his right side still with his left leg stretched out, nearly on his back but he was in the "pancake" laying position with his neck stretched too. I definitely think he had some swelling that went down over night since he's now able to hold his head straight up and doesn't seem to be in as much pain. When I held him this morning he stretched his left leg out again when he became comfortable, but I still haven't seen or felt anything in his right leg. I did get him to take some electrolyte water this morning and he has been pooping good too, I've given him a little non-medicated crumples which he looked at but hasn't eaten yet.

I noticed though when I was holding him it was as if he had jolts of pain which caused him to tense his whole body. then he would usually turn his head around and rapidly touch the area between his shoulders, or he would try turning/twisting/stretching his neck to alleviate it. But overall he seems to be doing a little better.

Here are the pictures I got too. The one where his head is touching his back is when he's having a jolt of pain, it looks like he's trying to put pressure between his shoulders or maybe on his neck. And the other picture is how he has been sitting normally today. I've been trying to keep him propped up as much as possible and have a heating pad on low under the box since it's been a bit chilly. But I'm going to continue giving him water through the day and if he doesn't eat on his own by the end I was thinking maybe a crumple slurry could work for him?

As for other symptoms, he was doing real well before this happened. I didn't witness anyone ever pick on him and he was drinking, eating and running around on his own. No odd behavior that I ever saw. And I think he is holding his head/neck in a more up-right position today. yesterday he had it mostly stretched out or curled kind of backwards like in the one picture, but he was definitely in pain from it.

I can't think of anything else to add so I'm just going to keep an eye on him through the day. And hank you Tenrec for the input! I hope others can give me some as well. He's such a bright little guy, before and after this happened. I really want to give him the opportunity and time to recover.

 

[Tenrec]

He pooped normally? Gut motility is a GOOD SIGN, especially with suspected spinal cord injury. Good nutrition + hydration is going to be important for him no matter what he has. Is he drinking on his own? If he has any functionality in his right leg, is he able to swim/splash a little? That might encourage him to drink and perhaps eat a little on his own too if he feels he has good access to water. It goes without saying, but if you do get him in some tepid/lukewarm water, watch him carefully and don't let him stay longer than 5-10 min. Dry him and keep him warm then. Proper heat in general is going to be important for making sure the guts keep going. Sometimes goslings will like slightly damp food a little better, but I'd lean very cautiously with assist feeding. That carries its own risks, especially with such a small bird. Does short grass tempt him at all, since he's used to foraging with mom and his siblings?

The episodes you're describing aren't seizure-like at all, right? If not, that's a good sign. Bird cervical vertebrae are a little different from ours, so I'm not familiar with how their neck muscles are innervated and where the problem would be if it's trauma...Is his right leg limp, then? He might have more than one area since mom stepped on him too. Feeling his back probably won't give you any good idea of this either, unless the bones are decimated, in which case it'll feel gravelly.

Him improving is a great sign for neuro issues, but he can still have problems if he pulls through this. Neurological problems can be tricky like that. Fingers crossed for littlest one.

A recent thought, but make sure nothing in the area where he forages is toxic to geese.

Also, that first picture looks awfully like the stargazing you see in young poultry that results from a vitamin e/selenium or B complex deficiencies. The other symptoms aren't terribly consistent with that, but make sure he's getting enough of those.

He is SO CUTE. Good thoughts for little man. Keep us updated and keep up the good work. You're trying really hard with him, and I'm sure he appreciates that.

 

[Curran]

The update for tonight!

Well I got to observe a few of his new "normal" behaviors today as he's healing. Though I can't say that it really brought me any closer to figuring out exactly what is injured on him. I did get a couple more pictures and a short video to show how he holds his head/neck. 1st picture of him in his stretched out/laying position that he ends up in when unattended (You can also see how he's pooping in that one), 2nd showing how he lays limp and the 3rd is how he holds his feet. He does lay limp in my hand and while he's laying in his comfy box, but it seems like he's tensing his left foot up? His wings also always lay limp, and sometimes he will fully let them droop.

At this point I'm thinking he has multiple injuries that may be tying in with each other, but I honestly for the life of me cannot tell. He doesn't have much energy to work with, I feel like he uses it all up during his feeding/watering times because when he decides he's done I prop him up and he takes a nap immediately. He didn't eat any solids today though. I only gave him the electrolytes through the first half of the day, and then when I saw your post I mixed up some B-complex and boy did he like that! He's had hardly no movement in his body but when he started drinking the b-complex water his little tail started wagging so fast! And then tonight I also made a couple of different liquid based meals for him to eat. Oat meal and yogurt (With some tuna water, yumyum) and Broccoli with yolk from some easter eggs. I actually tried him on both tonight since he was very alert, and he seemed to like them. then he washed it down with some more complex water and off to bed he went. Seeing how he reacts to liquids though makes me think his throat might be injured too. I know I've seen other birds exhibit the same behavior when they had something in their throat, and that would explain why he's unwilling to eat on his own. He's really not showing any signs of hunger, so when I do feed/water him it is very little, maybe 10 drops at a time. But he's getting some different nutrients which is what's important right now.

Also although he's a little over a week now he hadn't really adventured out too far, and in the area they were in they'd have to walk a ways out to get to foliage. His mom is very dedicated and stays close to the nest to continue sitting. I actually left her with 3 eggs that looked and felt good, she is super determined to hatch all kinds of babies so I'm pretty sure she would be distraught if I stole her nest.

Hopefully he will be doing a little better again in the morning, I really hope he starts moving his legs more soon. I have been switching him in to different positions though since the only movement of his own is stretching out. Anyway that's all I've got! Thank you again for all of your help, I'll give another update in the morning.

I also added a picture of him and his mom, and here's the video for analysis:

 

[Tenrec]

It's good he's acting more normal...hopefully he can start eating on his own too. When you say tensing his leg up, do you mean in a normal manner or is it spasm?

As for him laying on his side, if it's because he can't keep himself up, it may be beneficial to fashion a "donut" for him. Digestion and respiration can become difficult if a bird lays on its side and cannot sustain balance any other way. If you're assist feeding, this can also help prevent aspiration. A donut is very easy to make. Get an appropriately sized towel or piece of soft cloth (probably a hand towel for this little one). Fold it hotdog style a few times, until you get it the thickness you would imagine the height of an appropriate "nest" would be. You can also twist it to this thickness. You just want it to be stable enough to hold the bird up, but soft enough to be comfortable. Wrap the towel in a U shape or a "donut" shape. You want the space in the middle to be the right size for helping the bird prop up around its breast without flopping over to one side. Then just place the bird in the middle and see how it handles the donut. You might have to fix it up more than once before he stops flopping over.

http://www.laurenswildliferescue.org/uploads/4/7/7/3/477330/coop-12-26-16c_orig.jpg

For example, here is a picture of a rehab hawk that can't stand on its own. You can see the donut below it...though you might want to support little one's head a bit with this donut. You can see a donut is simply a structure to rest on, like a soft, supportive nest. It is not wrapped around the bird. You should readjust as necessary, and "fluff" it at least twice a day...You don't want little goosie getting pressure sores. It's good you're moving him around to begin with and making sure he doesn't stay on his side, partially for this reason.

That video strikes me as very much neurological; that's definitely stargazing. I'm thinking multiple injuries too, to be honest, if it's trauma. The fact that he isn't having any loose stool is a good sign that it's not from any pathogen I'm familiar with, though it could still be partially nutritional (maybe he got weak and mom accidentally injured him).

That's wonderful he likes the B vitamins! Something in them just tastes really good to little birds. I'm really not sure what it is, haha. I'm sure you know this, but monitor how much of each B vitamin you're giving him; geese do have a limit. Same with E/selenium. Some people swear more by brewer's yeast for the B complex, though I've never used it myself. Since he's weak, you want to also make sure the food you give him isn't cold. It takes a little bird considerable energy to warm that food up and digest it. Tepid or lukewarm is fine.

How is he reacting to liquids that makes you wonder? Is he gagging/"yawning?" Be sure he's not aspirating it, that can be dangerous for him. You may very well be right that there's something neurologically unsound with his esophagus; I would not be surprised. That would also be a reason why he's not keen on seeking food/water. He could be in pain/uncomfortable too, and that will generally make a bird not want to eat.

Mama and baby are so cute there...I can tell she wants to be a good mum.

You're doing a really good job. You and little man (and mama and her babies) will be in my prayers tonight.

 

[Curran]

Well there certainly seems to be an improvement today! I warmed up some of his liquid foods and made some pea puree to try as well, I was afraid of it being too hot so it might have been a little cool for his taste since he was pretty picky about it all. But I held him for a while and pretty soon I started feeling his tummy gurgle, so I warmed up some of his complex water as well and once again he really liked it! That was actually the first time he's drunk on his own, any other time he showed no interested. But this morning he was biting on and actively going after the water!

and I try to be very careful when giving him any fluids. I've been using a mini eyedropper and I first touch it to the very tip of his beak before releasing anything to try and give him as much time as possible before it starts going down. Like he can feel it on his tongue and he can be prepared then.

I also plan to take him outside for some sunshine later on since he's looking much more stable today. He's not doing the head nodding anymore but is still shaking his head occasionally and doing the yawning as if his throat is bothering him. buthe's holding his neck more upright and I do see/feel movement in his legs and get a response from my touch, but he still isn't using them for anything. I'm thinking the leg tensing isn't seizure related though, but he is still holding it like that. I"m thinking it's similar to how I was feeling him tense up on the first day as a pain response? I'm just imagining from when I have had muscle or deep tissue injuries how I would always try to move to a new position or stretch to try and relieve it somehow. I set him up in a donut as well which he was curious about, but I hope it encourages some leg movement too since he is propped up off of them a little more now.

Anyway we will see how it goes today but I expect him to even perk up a bit more once he gets some outside time. I do have a backyard spot with a variety of neutral weeds and grass so maybe I can get him going on some of that. he might not necessarily eat any of it but then it might encourage him to eat his other foods. I'm still offering him crumples (I crushed them up more) since that is what he was eating on his own when he was with mom, but I imagine we'll probably just stick to the liquids today.

And thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers! even if it is just something small like the donut (which I did not know about!) it helps in so many ways and even gives me inspiration through the day!

 

[Tenrec]

Drinking on his own! Wonderful! That's a great sign. The best news, along with him able to feel/move both of his legs. I'm glad he doesn't have a permanent, total paralysis situation in that right leg; that's what had me worried the most for long-term.

You're right, it could be him responding to pain rather than spasm.

I see he's still touch-and-go, though, so keep it up. I'm glad he's improving, that's wonderful. Hopefully he gets swimming/walking again, because that's going to be one of the best things for him. He'll probably be super stoked once he gets out in that warm sun/grass too.

And, yes, it's the little things that really help coax them through the recovery process. They're emotional, thinking animals just like us.

Keep us updated. You're both doing really good!

 

[Curran]

Okay well there isn't too much to update on today. He spent about an hour outside with me just laying in some grass. he was very interested in all of noises from the other birds (especially the other geese) and I think that helped to perk him up the most. Still no real movement in his legs but I am seeing a little more as time goes on. I try to get him in to different positions through the day too so they can be stretched out and just have some general movement, but there are only two real positions.. folded and hanging limp. I know this is the fourth day now so I'm getting kind of worried about atrophy. I had really hoped he would try to move around a little during our outing today, but the only thing I saw him use was his wings to help balance on his donut. I also noticed on his beak near the tip there is a layer that's separated, kinda of like if the layers of your nail separated? Basically like this: http://www.healcure.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/flaky-peeling-nails.jpg
So after seeing that it makes me think his beak might have been injured and that has been part of his problem with eating. Poor little guy just has so much going on. :c

The best news though is that he graduated from the eyedropper and is now drinking on his own from an actual water dish! And although I tried all day long to get him to take some warm pea puree (the only creation of mine he would tolerate) after the 5th time he finally caved and ate some, and then began pecking at his crumples/oats! I haven't seen him eat any directly, but I really think he is eating at least some when I'm not watching. He is such a funny little guy though, he absolutely refuses to eat any of my liquidized foods and will clamp his beak shut in protest, but as soon as I switch over to electrolytes/b-complex/reg water he has no problem with it. I'm Sooooo happy though that he's finally showing interest in solid foods!

And that's all! Now that he's feeling a little better he's been getting a lot more fluids so I really think he should keep progressing at this point. I'm seriously so happy though that he seems to be pulling through it. Fingers crossed for his legs though, he needs to get up and walking around so I can take him more places with me throughout the day, I know he loves the enrichment of it.