Need Help w Goose

[lisa7267]

a lady brought me her goose Bc it’s mate was taken by a predator and she decided she didn’t want geese anymore....Here’s what I know:
Her mate was taken and for 4 days afterwards she wouldn’t eat but would drink. She would limp out to a field and sit for the day but then would walk back in at bedtime.
I’ve had her for two and half weeks now. She’s alert and interested in what’s going on, she started eating on her own 3 days ago!! This was huge as I’d been putting crumble in her mouth and holding it closed lightly so she would eat it and not spit it out. For three days she’s been eating greens and crumble!!
From the day i got her she did not walk at all. She tries to drag her self forward w her wings and neck...her legs are all like drawn up...as in what would be her elbow should be below her and it’s up on her side. I’ve been working w her in a pool trying to stretch her legs down, massaging, moving her feet the way the should, etc. it’s not working she will try to paddle and can a little bitty bit but she pushed her tail down in the water to try and move and then uses her wings to swim forward. (She’s a smart cookie). She will also flat out refuse to even try sometimes.
This am her toes were crinked in some
She does not pant or seem to be in any pain, no obvious signs of injury, no worms in her stool.
ANY ANY ANY advice? I don’t want to give up on her but her quality of life SUCKS and I can’t keep rotating my whole life around rehabing a goose every other hour Bc I’m worried about her legs hurting from sitting on them too long.
Thanks in advance!
PS. If you intend to make a snarky comment, keep it to yourself.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

People here don't generally make snarky comments, but some folks could just jump right to the point with feedback and questions.

It sounds like you're doing good work with her so far. I spent some time with a swan once whose partner was killed by a dog. She was so depressed and would try to attack the uniformed park officer who removed her from the lake and put her in a cage while they figured out what to do. Your goose clearly trusts you, so there's that.

And massage and keeping those legs moving is beneficial. You're not seeing any indication of a break? No swelling or discoloration on her legs or feet? Did you look on the bottoms of her feet?

Warm epsom salt baths in your bathtub would be very relaxing for her and also significantly healing should there be any wounds you haven't found yet. But she could just be weak from depression and not consuming enough nutrition to sustain her during her mourning for the loss of her partner.

I think treatment would follow closely with that of chickens, but I don't know how their needs differ from poultry, so I'll wait for someone else to recommend supplements. I'm wondering if protein treats would be helpful to help her rebuild strength.

Oh, and if you do give her epsom salt baths, be careful not to let her drink any of the water. It's a laxative, I've been told.

Please keep us posted on how she's doing.