Help! 4 Week old Gosling can't walk anymore!

[dianneS]

I'm discouraged already. She's so much worse this evening. Can't walk at all, flips over onto her back and can't right herself. It's really sad

Maybe things get worse before they get better? I'm praying she'll be at least a little bit improved by morning...

 

[Ducks4us]

I'm discouraged already.  She's so much worse this evening.  Can't walk at all, flips over onto her back and can't right herself.  It's really sad  

Maybe things get worse before they get better?  I'm praying she'll be at least a little bit improved by morning... 

Oh man how sad! Im sorry i cant help you more.
I only know the basic nutrition and niacin .
I have never had experience with that bad of one

 

[dianneS]

Oh man how sad! Im sorry i cant help you more.
I only know the basic nutrition and niacin .
I have never had experience with that bad of one

That's okay, thanks for all your help. This is really strange. I'm starting to think it's not niacin deficiency at all, but something else. It seems neurological. She's alive this morning, but no better. Her neck is twisted and stiffly contorted, she can't straighten or move it. I can't seem to keep her in any upright position, even if I prop her up with bedding, she still flips onto her back.

I can't find any info online that matches these symptoms? Perhaps it's something congenital? I have no idea her breeding, but she came from a local guy who had LOTS of goslings for sale. Both babies were dirty and had pecked heads when I got them.

I may have to cull her, I don't see how she can even eat or drink like this?

 

[dianneS]

I'm starting to think it might be chlamydiosis. She looks exactly like the duck pictured in this thread. The neurological symptoms are the same, however no nasal discharge or respiratory symptoms. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/368921/duckling-with-twisting-neck-very-concerned-please-help/10
For all I know, she got it from her previous home. That guy could have parrots too? It looks like it typically rears its ugly head at around 4 weeks, which is precisely her age when the symptoms began.

I don't think it's botulism, because #1 I don't see how she could get it? At least not here on my property. #2 her neck is stiff, not flacid and her legs are not paralyzed, she just can't walk.

I'm going to give tetra or doxycycline a try while continuing with the nutritional yeast, and I'll put polyvisol in her water. I will most likely have to assist her in eating and drinking at this point. If this doesn't work, I'll have to cull.

I guess I learned my lesson. Don't buy birds from un-known breeders.

 

[Ducks4us]

I'm starting to think it might be chlamydiosis.  She looks exactly like the duck pictured in this thread.  The neurological symptoms are the same, however no nasal discharge or respiratory symptoms.  https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/368921/duckling-with-twisting-neck-very-concerned-please-help/10  
For all I know, she got it from her previous home.  That guy could have parrots too?  It looks like it typically rears its ugly head at around 4 weeks, which is precisely her age when the symptoms began.

I don't think it's botulism, because #1 I don't see how she could get it?  At least not here on my property.  #2 her neck is stiff, not flacid and her legs are not paralyzed, she just can't walk.

I'm going to give tetra or doxycycline a try while continuing with the nutritional yeast, and I'll put polyvisol in her water.  I will most likely have to assist her in eating and drinking at this point.  If this doesn't work, I'll have to cull.  

 I guess I learned my lesson.  Don't buy birds from un-known breeders.

So sorry !!! Poor thing. How sad.
I have to add tho that i too learned my lesson this past winter. We have bought a bunch of new chickens and the pure ameraucaunas i wanted. Spent alot of money. And then added a few more pullets from the feed store. And already had an adult flock. The chickens i bought from a local person had a bad disease in her flock that showed up after i bought mine. All my chicks from her carried it and passed it on. Everyone ended up sick and dying. The only solution was to cull the entire flock and leave the grounds alone for 2 weeks. And then a heavy clean up job to get all soiled bedding out. It was horribke and sad. This is why we dont have any more chickens anymore.
I learned my lesson as well. Never again.
Have you looked up wry neck?

 

[dianneS]

That is sad.

Yes, I have looked up wry neck. She doesn't quite fit those symptoms, it seems more severe than that. It looks neurological. Her head was shaking like a person with parkinson's yesterday. Today, she's got mild tremors all over.

I'm about to give up hope. She's really weak today, I don't think she's going to last much longer. I can't get her to eat or drink even with assistance.

If she doesn't show some improvement soon, I may have to cull her because she looks like she's suffering.

 

[Ducks4us]

That is sad.

Yes, I have looked up wry neck.  She doesn't quite fit those symptoms, it seems more severe than that.  It looks neurological.  Her head was shaking like a person with parkinson's yesterday.  Today, she's got mild tremors all over.

I'm about to give up hope.  She's really weak today, I don't think she's going to last much longer.  I can't get her to eat or drink even with assistance.

If she doesn't show some improvement soon, I may have to cull her because she looks like she's suffering.

Wow, so sad your having to deal with this. But yes i agree, you dont want her to suffer

 

[dianneS]

I'm going to go ahead and treat for wry neck too. I figure I'll just throw everything I can at her and hope something sticks before I give up hope completely.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm going to go ahead and treat for wry neck too. I figure I'll just throw everything I can at her and hope something sticks before I give up hope completely.

@dianneS Neurological issues can be from niacin def also.

To try and keep her up right make a donut out of towel and slip her down in it legs first. Then offer her food and water as often as you can. with the niacin and vitamins in it. Hoping for the best for your lil gosling.

 

[dianneS]

@dianneS Neurological issues can be from niacin def also.

To try and keep her up right make a donut out of towel and slip her down in it legs first. Then offer her food and water as often as you can. with the niacin and vitamins in it. Hoping for the best for your lil gosling.

I put a crushed niacin tablet, a capsule full of selenium, a dropper of liquid b-complex, a dropper full of polyvisol in a dropper bottle with a little water to dissolve the capsules and I've been trying to get some of it in her bill, but a lot runs out the sides. I'm not sure if she can swallow very well? I also gave her a full capsule of vitamin E. I made sure to hold her neck straight for all of this.

Nothing I do will keep her upright. I finally put her in a 2 gallon bucket lined with hay. I packed the hay in all around her to hold her upright. I went back later and she was upside down in the bucket. She just pushes and kicks with her legs so hard she just flips herself over no matter what I do to bolster her.

I offered food and water. She can't eat at all on her own. I dipped her bill in water and I don't think she's able to drink, she just blow bubbles (not out her nose, I make sure not to dip her bill that deep) I tipped her head back and I think she got a little water to go down her throat.

I dipped her bill in some wet mash and she wouldn't even make an attempt to eat.

If she doesn't show at least some sign of improvement by morning, I'm going to put her out of her misery, I feel like I've done all I can do? She's suffering...