Lazy gosling?

[RoosterHuggerLiz]

So I've made posts about this gosling before and I've never raised geese or ducks so I'm not sure if this is normal or not but his behavior mostly consists of him just sitting around, he never once tries to do anything other than move to his food and water, he drinks and eats plenty and he's super cuddly. He's highly affectionate and loves to snuggle but he just doesn't seem to want to move around on his own other than to get to his food and water, I'm worried that that will affect his leg development so I've been trying to get him to swim around our bathtub and he'll swim around for a couple of minutes but then he'll just float, I'll sit in there until he starts cheeping for me to take him out. He seems to prefer it when I pick him up instead of him doing anything on his own and I should probably mention that when I got him he was extremely weak because he has been swimming for about 4 hours straight. Again he eats and drinks normally but what I'm worried about is lately I've been trying to bring him outside because he will follow me and he will run for a couple of steps and sit down breathing heavily.. I tried to get him a playmate but the store was all out, is he lazy or is that just normal gosling behavior? He should be about a week and a half old now

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Based on what I've read in some of your other posts, I'd suspect either a nutritional deficiency, congenital problem, or illness - rather than laziness - as possible causes of the gosling's unwillingness to move around much.

Are you already offering the supplemental niacin that's been recommended? I'd also add a wider-spectrum supplement like Poultry Nutri-Drench to address other possible deficiencies.

As a very young rescue gosling, he may have not have eaten properly or been warm enough before he was brought to you, and may still be trying to overcome that now. Residual weakness from his early-life ordeal may account for the labored breathing you've seen after exertion. If he doesn't improve with proper nutrition and TLC, there is a remote chance that he may have something like a cardiac issue going on.

Enjoy those cuddles because when he gets older, you won't be "cool" anymore. Best wishes for your gosling's recovery!

 

[RoosterHuggerLiz]

Based on what I've read in some of your other posts, I'd suspect either a nutritional deficiency, congenital problem, or illness - rather than laziness - as possible causes of the gosling's unwillingness to move around much.

Are you already offering the supplemental niacin that's been recommended? I'd also add a wider-spectrum supplement like Poultry Nutri-Drench to address other possible deficiencies.

As a very young rescue gosling, he may have not have eaten properly or been warm enough before he was brought to you, and may still be trying to overcome that now. Residual weakness from his early-life ordeal may account for the labored breathing you've seen after exertion. If he doesn't improve with proper nutrition and TLC, there is a remote chance that he may have something like a cardiac issue going on.

Enjoy those cuddles because when he gets older, you won't be "cool" anymore. Best wishes for your gosling's recovery!

Yes and I bought him food that is high in protein as well as I've been giving him mealworms as a boost, I bought all the supplementary medications and nutrient powders that my vet had told me.. do you think It's safe enough for him to have his little swims? I always there next to him and he seems to enjoy it. Ill try a different kind and of gosling food for him and see if that helps.

 

[Goosebaby]

Yes and I bought him food that is high in protein as well as I've been giving him mealworms as a boost, I bought all the supplementary medications and nutrient powders that my vet had told me.. do you think It's safe enough for him to have his little swims? I always there next to him and he seems to enjoy it. Ill try a different kind and of gosling food for him and see if that helps.

His swimming sessions can build up his stamina, and if he enjoys doing something that’s what matters most.
The most important thing is that he’s happy, it’s completly normal for him to want to be held all the time, that’s what makes goslings happiest.

I agree with @FoodFreedomNow, it does sound like he has a health issue going on, it’s hard to say if it will resolve or worsen, only a vet can really determine that, non specific mild symptoms can be from something benign that may just go away without notice, but just as often they’re due to a chronic issue that may not be treatable unfortunately.
Excercise intolerance could be caused by a heart defect, atherosclerosis, possibly pneumonia/air sacculitis, or poor body condition from an illness or nutrient deficiency. Does he breath with his mouth open or open his mouth slightly to breath when he hasn’t been active?

If you have a stethoscope you could listen to his heart yourself, some subtle heart issues can be hard to notice, but if it sounds like his heart is making a whooshing sound or sounds like the rhythm is irregular those are typical sounds of heart problems. The heart should sound like a steady fast or slow “1 2, 1 2, 1 2, 1 2.”

 

[Goosebaby]

Something to look into is gastrointestinal issues, sometimes an infection or worms can cause inflammation that can press on their lungs, and will cause overall lethargy, and later on lack of appetite.

 

[RoosterHuggerLiz]

His swimming sessions can build up his stamina, and if he enjoys doing something that’s what matters most.
The most important thing is that he’s happy, it’s completly normal for him to want to be held all the time, that’s what makes goslings happiest.

I agree with @FoodFreedomNow, it does sound like he has a health issue going on, it’s hard to say if it will resolve or worsen, only a vet can really determine that, non specific mild symptoms can be from something benign that may just go away without notice, but just as often they’re due to a chronic issue that may not be treatable unfortunately.
Excercise intolerance could be caused by a heart defect, atherosclerosis, possibly pneumonia/air sacculitis, or poor body condition from an illness or nutrient deficiency. Does he breath with his mouth open or open his mouth slightly to breath when he hasn’t been active?

If you have a stethoscope you could listen to his heart yourself, some subtle heart issues can be hard to notice, but if it sounds like his heart is making a whooshing sound or sounds like the rhythm is irregular those are typical sounds of heart problems. The heart should sound like a steady fast or slow “1 2, 1 2, 1 2, 1 2.”

I do indeed have a stethoscope and it doesn't sound like he has any palpitations or issues, he breathes with his beak closed and overall he seems to be healthy with everything other than the exercise issue, what I was originally thinking is that he still has a lot of stress on his muscles from all that exercises prior, he wasn't even a day old when I got him so maybe that could have affected his muscle development?

 

[RoosterHuggerLiz]

Something to look into is gastrointestinal issues, sometimes an infection or worms can cause inflammation that can press on their lungs, and will cause overall lethargy, and later on lack of appetite.

He doesn't have a lack of appetite and he breathes perfectly fine, I gave him a teeny bit of apple cider vinegar in his water worrying that he might have a stomach issue because he did have some poo hanging off of his bottom the other day, he seems to be fine with that now, I'm just guessing it was stress.. he doesn't feel bloated and he's on time with feather growth, he got his first little studs today, I'm going to be paying very close attention to his feathers as he grows to see if it is or is not a nutrition deficiency but just in case I'm going to give him some extra vitamins.

 

[Goosebaby]

I do indeed have a stethoscope and it doesn't sound like he has any palpitations or issues, he breathes with his beak closed and overall he seems to be healthy with everything other than the exercise issue, what I was originally thinking is that he still has a lot of stress on his muscles from all that exercises prior, he wasn't even a day old when I got him so maybe that could have affected his muscle development?

I’m not sure swimming that long would do that, but being stressed on his own could have made him more susceptible to illness, and poor body conditioning from not eating while he was on his own would cause excercise intolerance, sometimes it can take a few weeks for them to get their strength back.
Hopefully the little guy bounces back, you’re doing everything you can for him so he’s in good hands.