POORLY GEESE

[Heidifreimuth]

Hi everyone, Gertie is currently at the vet having a blood test and an x-ray as she is eating a little bit but not much. Vet seems to think she has a mass like the other one but the x-ray will confirm it and we shall go from there. Thank you for all your comments and much has helped.

 

[Heidifreimuth]

So, an update. She had an x-ray and showed she has a mass of sand and grit in her abdomen. Vet not sure why. She does have signs of gizzard worm as well and so am looking to get some Flubenvet for her. However, if she is unwilling to eat anything, how am I going to get her to eat the pellets covered in the Flubenvet? I will be dosing the other geese as well but not sure whether to dose the other female we have still currently laying eggs as we are hoping for goslings.

 

[Goosebaby]

Soak her pellets in water @Heidifreimuth Geese love soupy wet mash, and it may also loosen up her blockage. Any solid foods should be avoided until she can pass the blockage.
flubenvet I would give her down her throat by hand, she’d never eat something that tastes weird on her own. She may need a few drops of coconut oil down her throat to pass the blockage too.
Hand feeding geese is tricky, you need a dropper or a syringe for any kind of liquid or gel, you have to open her mouth and quickly get it down her throat, her teeth are rough and she might fight and nick your fingers but you just have to remember that if you don’t give her her medicine she can’t survive. Azygous added a picture on this thread that shows how to administer with a syringe https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/questions-help-please.1349257/page-5
My guess is the worms caused inflammation, so she was eating as much sand and debris herself in an attempt to flush out what was making her feel bad. Poor girl!

 

[Goosebaby]

Also administering medication by hand is easier in a confined dimly lit space I’ve found, you need to be able to corner her and hold on to her and the low lighting is at least slightly calming.