In desperate need of help for an African goose

[Miss Lydia]

How precious is Duck Duck!! LOL cute name too.

Wildlife rescue girl did not call or come today as I had hoped.
I had held off giving Scarlet any medicine because she was going to bring the ivermectin liquid (1%) to give her.

So, I went ahead and gave her Ivermectin paste (1.87%). I read that it was okay to give a goose the width of a flat toothpick (not the length!), so I put some on a piece of bread.

I also remembered I had some veterinary Keflex (250 mg) for my dog who probably weighs the same as Scarlet. I gave her that too. <biting nails>
I HAD to do something for her!

She's still got a good appetite and again, she ran to me when she saw me.


Does anyone have experience with vision loss in a goose?? A friend said that may be why she's not swimming. Not sure if it's vision loss of loss of depth perception.
She can see me, apparently fine, but sometimes she misses my hand and goes right beside it or she misses the container I have her food in, like her judgment isn't right.
heck, I don't know.

She has a new excoriated place under her right eye (it was left eye last week) that looked like it was open.
Her skin where the feathers are missing is scaly and just gnarly looking. No other open wounds on her, except about the face.

I know nothing about goose anatomy, but I swear, it looks like she's missing part of her skull in places where it just dips in. I suppose that's because she has lost the feathers on her head.

Wish I knew what happened to this baby.

So say a prayer that the medicines I have given her will help. I won't give her ivermectin again for 14 days, but I will be giving her the Keflex twice a day and keep feeding her lots of protein.

I think I will go to the feed store tomorrow and get the DE for her. I'm a little afraid of putting Sevin dust on her....she doesn't need to get poisoned on top of everything else.
She is spending a lot of time standing still and putting her head on her back between her wings.

I figure nothing can hurt at this point.

I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks!!

If she is in danger of predation because she isn't going in the water can you not take her home and try to find someoen who will take her. maybe someone with a farm?

 

[Coleman]

I live on a lake, where she lives. There really isn't a place to take her and not sure how we'd get her anywhere else.

After doing more research today, I am almost convinced she has Avian Pox. The pictures I have seen looks almost exactly like Scarlet except she is missing a lot of feathers. She's not bald, but she has several areas completely bare. The larges is probably 3x5 inches.

I told a vet friend of mine (who lives in another state) what I am thinking and she suggested I call the national wildlife health center.

I am notifying the national wildlife health center, since the local wildlife rescue people wouldn't do anything and because, if that is what she has, she could infect the many mallards, mallard ducklings, and so many other waterfowl that live here.

:-(

We think she probably isn't swimming due to vision....and maybe also because the fish and turtles in the lake may be attracted to her wounds and nip at her.

I don't think there are any animals around who would attack her as she stays in my yard and a neighbors yard and there aren't dogs roaming and we generally don't see/hear coyotes, etc. She's lived here a long time. If she were a lot smaller, I'd be worried, but reaches my hips when I stand. She's a big girl and isn't lethargic or anything.

We'll see what they say tomorrow.

 

[thomaschickens]

Any update on Scarlet Coleman?

 

[desertdarlene]

Any update on Scarlet Coleman?

X2

I hope it's not something contagious. If she is, she must be removed from there. Is there an animal control department where you are? Maybe they can help.

Unfortunately, if she is very sick or injured, she may have to be put down. They may make an exception if someone could pay for her treatment and have a place for her to go.

I don't recommend paying for vet care for a dumped goose unless you have a home for it. We had a lady take a dumped goose to the vet and re-released him back where he was dumped. The goose was later stolen by someone not long afterward, probably for their Christmas dinner.

 

[Coleman]

Thanks for asking about my friend Scarlet.

Well, the local wildlife girl who was coming out on her off day---didn't call or show up.
The national wildlife health center was "going to notify their local agents" to check on and protect the local wildlife----never heard from them.

There is no animal control where we live.
The closest vet we could take her to is about 30 miles away (and that is by interstate) and no real way of getting her there.

So on to my friend.....

I feed her every day floating catfish food (30% protein).
When we have some bread, she eats from our hands.
She doesn't look any better, but she also doesn't look any worse.

Still not swimming.
She did get in the lake and stand there for a few minutes with both feet!!! Something she has not done in a long, long time.

I gave her a smidgen of the Ivermectin paste (about a toothpick width worth) about 10 days ago.
Other than that.......nothing has changed.
She still looks very ugly. :-(

Lots of goslings and ducklings around along with the adults, none of them seem to be infected or affected by Scarlet.

So I have no earthly idea what the heck is wrong with her.
Just wish her feathers would grow back and she'd start swimming again.

On a lighter note, now she thinks she is our dog and is extremely friendly---and that's okay with us.

thanks for asking!!