Lethargic Gosling, Labored Breathing

[Omniskies]

When I went down to the pen just now one of the goslings didn't come over with the rest. He was sitting in the middle of the pen looking sleepy. When I washed out the water dish and put it back in he wobbled over and took a drink.

I picked him up he spit up the water (All of my goslings have been handled since day one, don't squirm (much) and never regurgitate when handled). He didn't have any interest in food and I now have him inside.

He looks like he is breathing inward through his mouth, outward through his nostrils (I can feel the air coming out of his nostrils, then he opens his mouth to breathe and repeats the process). He also has a clear fluid very slowly dripping out of his nostrils (I don't know if that is extra water or not).

His breathing isn't faster or slower than usual. He's fast asleep and doesn't want to lift his own neck up. When it drops at too much of an angle he becomes startled, wakes up and drifts back off to sleep.

So far I have him bundled up and resting in my lap. If you talk to him, he won't talk back, but will wake up to listen. From time to time he will trill a little, but it's extremely quiet.

He's in with four other goslings, a goose pair that keeps trying to adopt them without any luck (the goslings have bonded with us), and a bunch of muscovy ducklings that are half his size. He's always been the runt of the litter, which somehow got him the name Biscuit, and is about six weeks old.

It looks a lot like a cold to me, but if so, what do you treat a cold with in a baby goose?

Does anyone have any other thoughts or suggestions?

 

[DuckLady]

Is he thin? If he started out as the smallest, the others may not be letting him eat. Alternatively, if he is small, he might be failing to thrive. It happens sometimes. What is he eating? Are you giving them water deep enough to blow out their nares (nostrils)? Has he gotten into any toxins that you know of? Any possibility of it?

 

[Omniskies]

He doesn't feel thin, but he's always been lighter than all the rest. He's always been able to keep up with the rest and they have a steady supply of food.

I have him on non-medicated "meat pen" food. It has a 21% protein and is the closest our feed store has to a goose food. I've always kept our geese on it.

There is a large base for them to wash their faces and there is no possibility of toxins unless it's a delayed reaction. He's been penned up for the past few days due to us trying to catch an egg thief that is slinking around the house.

The breathing through is bill isn't as prominant now. A few minutes ago he tried to stand in my lap and the effort caused him to start breathing through his bill, but it subsided. He's still wanting to sleep and he's not making as much noise. His head is tucked back in the normal resting "2" shape with his bill nestled against my leg for support.

Edit: He took in a large breath of air. Is this a problem with fluid in the lungs? If so, is there a way to help dry the lungs out?

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

If it is a cold use 1 teaspoon of terramycin per gallon of water to treat it.

It sounds like he inhaled water into his lungs.

 

[Omniskies]

If it's water in the lungs is there anything besides waiting it out that can be done?

 

[DuckLady]

I wouldn't use any kind of antibiotics unless you know for sure what you are dealing with.

As far as water in the lungs....unless he was stranded in a pool of water and and was waterlogged and going under from exhaustion, it is unlikely. You don't mention trying to force water in h im, so I presume you have not, which would rule out aspiration in that manner.

The protein in his feed is too high, though. He should be on 16% all purpose now. I would lower his feed and keep listening to his breathing.

OH! Just thought of this....what is the bedding being used? Is it being turned often? Is it moldy or wet at all aside from normal goose poo? No water build up, no rotting straw or shavings?

 

[Omniskies]

He passed away a little while ago. While petting him we realized there was a spot near his abdomen that seemed to hurt when touched. We're wondering if he swallowed something he couldn't pass.

I forgot about the protein for goslings when they get older - huge thanks for reminding me. I'll go to the feed store tomorrow.

His breathing never had a rasp or "pop" in it like there was water in his lungs. But the whole time he was dripping a saliva-water mix out very slowly.

Bedding is non-existant in this pen. It was a night time pen up until a week ago, so dirt and grass. Earlier today I put down some straw since it's supposed to rain, but otherwise it is au naturale. We have pens we're trying to cycle so we can plant winter grass and other fast growing weeds. After a hawk incident we suddenly retook the pen for our smaller waterfowl until they grow larger.

We're seriously considering doing an autopsy to see if he swallowed something or has any discoloration of the lungs. If we do decide to have one done I'll post the results here in case anyone else searches the forum looking for the same problem. Hopefully _some_ good will come of this.

Thanks to everyone who helped.

 

[dlhunicorn]

I would be careful with straw...it can often harbor mold and fungus (mycotoxins)
so sorry you lost your little goosling

 

[DuckLady]

I am sorry about your gosling!

It sounds as if he may have had an internal injury. If he was the littlest, then the other may have inadvertantly trampled him. I had that happen to a gosling I had that was injured.

 

[GloriaH]

I had a full grown Goose pass away last year with the same symptoms you describe. I couldn't bring myself to do an autopsy. ( I could do one now if I had to ) Please let us know what you find out...Gloria