Need help/advice for goose not eating and wobbly

[Miss Lydia]

Afternoon (still day 12) update:

It's currently 4:40 pm and another long day and a bit of a scare.

When we went and did the 5:30 am tube feeding with wormer added it was very dark outside and she was just laying down quietly. She was easy to pick up hold and all went smoothly. When I checked on her about an hour later she was still in the same spot. She couldn't get up and was trying to scoot with wings at full extension. I gently picked her up and set her on her feet and she waddled away from me. Apparently she can walk but lacked the strength to lift herself. I know it's malnutrition from not eating and at this point she had only been tubed with a small amount twice.

I had some errands (yet again but last one for at least two weeks) to run and didn't get back home until 11:30 am. I only had a few hours left on the 5 day Corid treatment so I went ahead and changed it out and replaced it with electrolytes and probiotics water. Then I gave her a warm bath water with some Nutri-Drench added to it. I had no one to help me with the next feeding, so around noon I made an attempt to do it by myself - Success ! Shortly after the feeding she pooped and it was lime neon green and some that was pea soup green that looked like colored baby bird formula. So the formula is getting through but it is definitely malnutrition and a possible (but unconfirmed) bacterial infection.

After the noon feeding she is able to get up and down and in and out of her bath water. I'm hoping that it is a sign that the feeding is helping

. But since every day seems to be something different, better, or worse it's still a wait and see.

There will be four additional days of worming and tube feeding every 4 hours or so while gradually increasing the amount of feed given (currently at 45ml per tubing). We want to get her nutrition quickly but avoid shocking the system. This is going to be a delicate dance.

As long as she is perky, walking, and talking there is still hope. She'll get one more feeding later tonight just before bed.

What a detailed description of all your doing, thank you so much. And you tube fed her by yourself that is great. So if suspect a bacterial infection shouldn't she be on an antibiotic @casportpony She sure is one tough cookie.. Bless her heart and yours for staying with her and trying to get her through this.

 

[Free Spirit]

So if suspect a bacterial infection shouldn't she be on an antibiotic @casportpony She sure is one tough cookie.. Bless her heart and yours for staying with her and trying to get her through this.

The green poo can be from either malnutrition or infection or worms (based on the research I've been doing). So the question is whether to treat for worms first and tube feed to get nutrition in her (build up some strength) and wait to see before starting antibiotics or take a chance and start giving the antibiotics along with the wormer not knowing for sure and which antibiotic will be appropriate. We just finished Corid and have started fenbendazole and don't want to push her over the edge with more chemicals if I don't need to. I'm not a fan of giving antibiotics without a really good reason but I do have amoxicillin on hand and ready to use. I will not hesitate to start it if you all think it's the right thing to do.

 

[Miss Lydia]

The green poo can be from either malnutrition or infection or worms (based on the research I've been doing). So the question is whether to treat for worms first and tube feed to get nutrition in her (build up some strength) and wait to see before starting antibiotics or take a chance and start giving the antibiotics along with the wormer not knowing for sure and which antibiotic will be appropriate. We just finished Corid and have started fenbendazole and don't want to push her over the edge with more chemicals if I don't need to. I'm not a fan of giving antibiotics without a really good reason but I do have amoxicillin on hand and ready to use. I will not hesitate to start it if you all think it's the right thing to do.

@Free Spirit I am not a fan of over loading them with drugs either just when you said it could be bacterial It made me think maybe she should be on an antibiotic that is why I called for @casportpony she is a good one to know what is the best one to use and will not interact with something else she maybe taking.
I just want to see Diamond totally over this. What ever it is.

 

[Free Spirit]

@Free Spirit I am not a fan of over loading them with drugs either just when you said it could be bacterial It made me think maybe she should be on an antibiotic that is why I called for @casportpony she is a good one to know what is the best one to use and will not interact with something else she maybe taking.
I just want to see Diamond totally over this. What ever it is.

I have been talking with Kathy and she gave me the proper dosage to giving the antibiotic. A goose her size will be needing 250mg 2x per day orally of amoxicillin. That will be one capsule in the morning and one in the evening. I'm going to make the tough call and start her on it first thing tomorrow though. The reasons are:

She was on Corid only for 5 days. During those 5 days she had not eaten (water only) and I hadn't (yet) learned to tube feed. So she was essentially starving for 5 days. Before the Corid she was at least getting nutritional additives in her water.

Now that I've learned and applied the tube feeding we are finally getting some nutrition in her. And I still can't thank you ladies enough for that or I surely would have lost her already. We have also started the wormer and as of this morning we are on the second of five doses.

My decision (this is what my gut instinct is telling me to do), is to continue tube feeding every 4 hours today and get some nutrition and (hopefully) some strength back into her. Then add the antibiotics first thing in the morning in addition to the wormer. I feel that if we get some vitamins, minerals, and probiotics into her then the antibiotics will have a better chance of working without putting too much more stress on her system.

We are on day 13 (wow this has gone on for a while, huh?).
So here is the current plan going forward: Wormed and food today - Wormer, antibiotics, and food starting tomorrow.

And as always a whole lot of

. I am happy to say that the she has not had any episodes of being off balance/looking drunk in the past few days. We did have that scare yesterday with her showing weakness early in the morning and improved several hours after her morning feeding. She appears quite normal today. So by outward appearances the only symptom we can see is that she is not eating. Therefore, visually, we are down to only one symptom. I hope that's progress

.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have been talking with Kathy and she gave me the proper dosage to giving the antibiotic. A goose her size will be needing 250mg 2x per day orally of amoxicillin. That will be one capsule in the morning and one in the evening. I'm going to make the tough call and start her on it first thing tomorrow though. The reasons are:

She was on Corid only for 5 days. During those 5 days she had not eaten (water only) and I hadn't (yet) learned to tube feed. So she was essentially starving for 5 days. Before the Corid she was at least getting nutritional additives in her water.

Now that I've learned and applied the tube feeding we are finally getting some nutrition in her. And I still can't thank you ladies enough for that or I surely would have lost her already. We have also started the wormer and as of this morning we are on the second of five doses.

My decision (this is what my gut instinct is telling me to do), is to continue tube feeding every 4 hours today and get some nutrition and (hopefully) some strength back into her. Then add the antibiotics first thing in the morning in addition to the wormer. I feel that if we get some vitamins, minerals, and probiotics into her then the antibiotics will have a better chance of working without putting too much more stress on her system.

We are on day 13 (wow this has gone on for a while, huh?).
So here is the current plan going forward: Wormed and food today - Wormer, antibiotics, and food starting tomorrow.

And as always a whole lot of

. I am happy to say that the she has not had any episodes of being off balance/looking drunk in the past few days. We did have that scare yesterday with her showing weakness early in the morning and improved several hours after her morning feeding. She appears quite normal today. So by outward appearances the only symptom we can see is that she is not eating. Therefore, visually, we are down to only one symptom. I hope that's progress

.

She still isn't interested in eating? I am glad your going to continue the tube feeding she surely needs that right now. This baby bird food does it have a lot of good nutrition in it? I've never had to use it.
I tell you my hat is off to you too for hanging in there and doing all of this for Diamond I sure hope it pays off. Great news about her looking so much better.
I am glad you are keeping in touch with Kathy she is awesome with her willingness to help.

 

[Free Spirit]

She still isn't interested in eating? I am glad your going to continue the tube feeding she surely needs that right now. This baby bird food does it have a lot of good nutrition in it? I've never had to use it.
I tell you my hat is off to you too for hanging in there and doing all of this for Diamond I sure hope it pays off. Great news about her looking so much better.
I am glad you are keeping in touch with Kathy she is awesome with her willingness to help.

Saying Kathy is awesome may be an understatement - right now she is my HERO

. Unfortunately Diamond is still not eating on her own. The baby bird formula is a balanced. high-nutient formula that also contains probiotics. Here's the list of ingredients (I copied and pasted from the Kaytee website)

exact Hand Feeding Formula contains probiotics to encourage a healthy population of intestinal microorganisms. The selected species have been chosen specifically for their vitality, stability, and overall benefits to a bird’s system.

Ingredients:

Ground Corn, Ground Wheat, Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Oat Groats, Wheat Middlings, Soy Oil, Dried Whole Egg, Soy Protein Isolate, Dried Beet Pulp, Soybean Meal, Ground Flax Seed, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, L-Lysine, Wheat Germ Meal, Brewers Dried Yeast, Vitamin A Supplement, Salt, Algae Meal (source of DHA), L-Arginine, Fructooligosaccharide, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Potassium Chloride, Yeast Extract, Propionic Acid (a preservative), Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Mixed Tocopherols (a preservative), L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of vitamin K activity), Niacin, Rosemary Extract, Citric Acid, Ethoxyquin (a preservative), Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Cholecalciferol (source of vitamin D3), Folic Acid, Beta-Carotene, Calcium Iodate, Biotin, Cobalt Carbonate, Sodium Selenite, Dried A. oryzae Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus licheniformis Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product. Allergen information: Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts and other tree nuts.

URL in case you want to know more http://www.kaytee.com/products/exact-hand-feeding-baby-bird.php

 

[Allears]

You're in good hands with Miss Lydia and Casportpony

and you've done such a great job nursing Diamond. I'm so hoping for good news soon and even sneaking peeks at the site during work time to check for updates

 

[Free Spirit]

I had a good laugh today. I went in to give Diamond her noon feeding. She saw me coming and ran away into her confinement area and tried to climb the short stack of straw to get away from me. I picked her up and for the first time in two weeks she struggled. I carried her to the front of the pen where there is more light for me to see and set her between my thighs so we could begin. She kept pushing up against me. She was pretty feisty and I can feel that she is getting stronger. It took a little more coaxing to open her bill for feeding but we got it done. Then I let go of her and she left me and immediately went to preening ( all that wiggling she did caused some of her feathers to get a little ruffled). She is currently standing next to her water with her head between her wings taking a nice nap every now and then waking up and taking a drink. I have hung her feeder closer to her water in hopes that she might try and be tempted to take a few nibbles. No luck yet.

 

[casportpony]

I had a good laugh today. I went in to give Diamond her noon feeding. She saw me coming and ran away into her confinement area and tried to climb the short stack of straw to get away from me. I picked her up and for the first time in two weeks she struggled. I carried her to the front of the pen where there is more light for me to see and set her between my thighs so we could begin. She kept pushing up against me. She was pretty feisty and I can feel that she is getting stronger. It took a little more coaxing to open her bill for feeding but we got it done. Then I let go of her and she left me and immediately went to preening ( all that wiggling she did caused some of her feathers to get a little ruffled). She is currently standing next to her water with her head between her wings taking a nice nap every now and then waking up and taking a drink. I have hung her feeder closer to her water in hopes that she might try and be tempted to take a few nibbles. No luck yet.

Sounds like slight improvements! How does her poop look now? Oh, I forgot to suggest weighing her daily. I find i best to weigh them at about the same time in the morning before their first feeding.

-Kathy

 

[Miss Lydia]

I had a good laugh today. I went in to give Diamond her noon feeding. She saw me coming and ran away into her confinement area and tried to climb the short stack of straw to get away from me. I picked her up and for the first time in two weeks she struggled. I carried her to the front of the pen where there is more light for me to see and set her between my thighs so we could begin. She kept pushing up against me. She was pretty feisty and I can feel that she is getting stronger. It took a little more coaxing to open her bill for feeding but we got it done. Then I let go of her and she left me and immediately went to preening ( all that wiggling she did caused some of her feathers to get a little ruffled). She is currently standing next to her water with her head between her wings taking a nice nap every now and then waking up and taking a drink. I have hung her feeder closer to her water in hopes that she might try and be tempted to take a few nibbles. No luck yet.

Encouraging for sure. I am checking in off an on for updates too. You and Diamond Have a following. We're all cheering for you both.