Spirit - the amazing grey dewlap toulouse gander!

[RURU]

Oh J I am so sorry to hear that Ember passed away. Hope you can find another goose to put with Spirit.

Seems like the females when it is breeding season is the time we lose our girls from issues to breeding problems.
This is why I have been putting many different nuts in their feed to provide calcium!!! I make sure to put them in their feed so they eat the nuts to replenish their calcium. Because they use up their calcium in their bones laying eggs. I have found that since I have been doing this things are going better with my girls. I buy the porch, patio and deck bird food at Walmart. There is also a nut and berry one I use also. This is helping my girls and they love the seedless nuts and the berries.

 

[Iain Utah]

Thanks for the condolences. Fortunately, Spirit does not seem depressed as he is too busy watching over the goslings with the other two girls in pen with him. Here is a picture from yesterday afternoon.

 

[RugenerGooser]

On this day of giving thanks, I would like to pay tribute to my young grey dewlap toulouse, Spirit, who has enriched my life so much since he hatched on May 12th.

The past spring, I purchased hatching eggs from a random ebay seller with Holderread show stock. The eggs were scrambled in the mail and none should have developed. But Pete55 taught me how to nurse troubled eggs while incubating and with Spirit’s strong fight to live, he made it to lockdown. At lockdown, when candling, there was an obvious leg positioning problem, but Spirit internally & externally pipped unassisted in proper position. Then, when it came time to zip, it became obvious Spirit could not rotate, so I assisted. When he popped out, his right leg was rotated and both feet were curled in fists. Yet, from the first instant he looked at me, I knew he had the determination to survive against all odds. I named him Spirit after the Disney horse, because it suited him perfectly.






The next day, I raced him to the local vet and was told to wait and see if it resolves. Spirit could not stay upright and would roll onto back, so I stayed with him constantly, making sure he was ok. Most people would have euthanized him, but he had this amazing will to live despite his deformities. I had to help give him a chance at life if I could. So, for 5 weeks I took him weekly to the vet and otherwise did what I could to assist him along. He was making good progress, learning how to use his deformed limbs. Then, he started to fail and the vet told me to euthanize.







Not willing to give up, I then went to a specialist vet…Dr. Scott Echols… who told me he could help. He began by stretching tendons on club foot, as well as transitioning him to live outside in a portable pen so he could always been in deep grass. Spirit began to flourish under Dr. Echols’ care. Dr. Echols advised me that we would likely need to correct his bone structure, but could not perform that procedure until he finished growing.






We moved happily into fall and Spirit finished growing. But, with the dying off of the summer grass, he became less mobile on his deformed legs. So, on Tuesday, November 6th, Dr. Echols performed cutting edge corrective orthopedic surgery on Spirit’s right leg. Within 24 hours, Spirit was standing. Within a few days, Spirit began taking his first steps. As of yesterday, Spirit is again enjoying afternoons outside and getting stronger on his new leg every day.




The process will be long and tough for Spirit. Dr. Echols anticipates it taking another 10-12 weeks to get all the hardware out of Spirit’s leg and for him to resume living full-time with the rest of the flock. But, the prognosis is good so far.

Spirit has taught me that no obstacles are too great to overcome with determination, patience and a positive attitude. I look forward to seeing him running around outside on two good legs in the spring, making babies and being a happy gander. And I am thankful for his unconditional love and complete trust. He is an inspiration to me.

Kudos to you Utah!!!!!!!!!!!! I just love you for doing that, and Spirit for his determination. You and Spirit are awesome!

January

 

[LightningTFarm]

Oh, Janet, I am so very sorry to hear about Ember!! I know how devastated you must be, because I know how much your animals mean to you. I am grateful that there were other girls and goslings already in Spirit's pen, so that he is not lonely and sad. I'm glad that Spirit is okay. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.

I had sent you a private message a few weeks back, but never got a reply. I have been worried that something was going on with you. I hope that, aside from losing Ember, you are okay.

 

[Lake Sai]

It is so uplifting to read story like this. Thank you for sharing. May God bless you and your fellow family members.

 

[Iain Utah]

Thank you. We were lucky that things turned out as well as they did for Spirit. He is worth it.

 

[Iain Utah]

I noticed there continues to be a steady stream of views of this thread, so I figured I'd post an update. Spirit is now just over 16 months old. It has been 10.5 months since his surgery and 7.5 months since he finished up post-surgery care and returned to being outside 24/7. He lives in our backyard with the love of his life, her best friend, and an older crippled African gander that our vet rescued, then convinced us to take. Summer rolled by nice and easy into fall, and he spends his days mostly lounging in the pool with his mate, enjoying the good life.





Hugs to those of you who have kept up with Spirit's journey from the beginning. And welcome to those who are new to Spirit's story. Hope it brightened your day.

 

[RURU]

I noticed there continues to be a steady stream of views of this thread, so I figured I'd post an update. Spirit is now just over 16 months old. It has been 10.5 months since his surgery and 7.5 months since he finished up post-surgery care and returned to being outside 24/7. He lives in our backyard with the love of his life, her best friend, and an older crippled African gander that our vet rescued, then convinced us to take. Summer rolled by nice and easy into fall, and he spends his days mostly lounging in the pool with his mate, enjoying the good life.





Hugs to those of you who have kept up with Spirit's journey from the beginning. And welcome to those who are new to Spirit's story. Hope it brightened your day.

I am always keeping up with Spirit's journey. So glad to hear he is doing well.....YEA!! Go Spirit Love you!! Auntie Barb (AKA RURU)...

 

[Miss Lydia]

He looks great J, so nice an filled out. I just love Spirit.

 

[Iain Utah]

Thank you, Barb & Patti!