Struggling with raising a lone disabled gosling indoors - all feedback and tips welcome!

[Skyfire]

I have no wisdom to offer. Wishing you the best. Whatever choice you make, will be the right one.

 

[Carrosaur]

A healthy goose can live to 20. You will basically be raising a disabled child. Can't talk, and it can't get its own food, you always have to watch it, not potty trained, etc etc.

 

[littlegosling]

Have you thought about taking her to a vet to maybe possibly see if there's any way to improve her walking?

Too bad you don't live near me, I would've taken her!

There is no vet within 2 hours of where we live that will treat a goose, so we are pretty much stuck with our own assessment at this point.

 

[littlegosling]

A healthy goose can live to 20. You will basically be raising a disabled child. Can't talk, and it can't get its own food, you always have to watch it, not potty trained, etc etc.

Yep, if we go through with this we expect to be tied down, no major travel for the next 10-15 years.
We are going to diaper her for the day time to help with the clean up and be able to carry her around in the house.
There is a possibility we may decide to euthanize her down the road if we can't maintain the commitment given that we are the only ones willing to take in the disabled goose. We are at least hoping to get her to adulthood so she can experience her adult feathers and then we'll decide how much commitment we can handle.

 

[littlegosling]

If the bird is going to be lame and dependent for its whole life I would encourage you to cull it. Keeping a Goose as a house pet is a huge responsibility (not speaking from experience). Geese do need constant companionship. A lot of your life would have to revolve around this goose. This service would last upward of 10 years (I say 10 because of the lack of exercise). Its quality of life will also not be that great.

Our main concern is her quality of life. I have read amazing stories of lame geese or ducks being kept as pets indoors and living a great life, so I guess it's possible, just very hard to achieve.

 

[lovedbygeese]

(((What wonderful, loving people you are!)))

For your little one's nails, you might consider taking her into a pet shop that grooms dogs/cats once she's a little older and her nails a bit longer. Gratefully, it sounds like she's used to being around a variety of species, so it might not shake her up too much, but, in case other animal clients aren't as accepting, maybe you could call the groomer and schedule an appt. for her before the start of the day (or sometime it's slow.)

My pup has really sensitive feet (and black nails on top of it all,) so home clipping isn't an option. But, she has an excellent groomer who uses a dremel-type tool designed for pets to very gently file her nails--so, no nicks and there isn't enough vibration from the tool to trouble sensitive feet.

The geese I've known really do seem most comforted among their own kind, but they're also really are adaptable, maybe b/c they are so affectionate, smart and have great memories. I've seen them befriend ducks and coot and, while not their first choices, they'll even look in on turtles and whole families of rabbits. Most of all, though, they really do make very deep, long-lasting bonds w/ the humans who love and look after them. Include her in as much of life as possible (which it sounds like you're doing exceptionally well, esp. letting her tuck in for sleeping <3 ), you'll be hard pressed to find anyone (incl. humans) more faithful, more-protective of you, someone who wants to include you in all dimensions of her life, someone who cheers so exceptionally at you just being with them. Pretty well the definition of love.

She will be crazy smart and, if she hasn't already, she may develop a very big personality w/ definite opinions of her own (which will make you smile.) If she hasn't found her voice already, it won't be long. She'll have speech patterns/inflections unique to her and she'll be great w/ non-verbal communication, too, incl. great posturing w/ her wings! I've known geese who purr, babble, call out, peck at something metal to musically punctuate a point as well as sometimes really getting their feathers ruffled (she might like playing w/ a toddler-sized xylophone, drum, rattle, tambourine...anything musical, like an electric keyboard--she might get a real kick out of a keyboard that could record her voice and she could play it back! Garage/tag sales or stores that resell used kids toys could have nice bargains.) Talk with her, sing to her (esp. songs that sound similar to comforting sounds that she makes--that should be pretty relaxing for her.)

As for living w/ a disability, keep her protein up so her muscle mass doesn't wane and fiber (since not being able to move around so much could slow peristalsis), a kid's play pool (or even a feed/water trough for horses/cattle when she grows into it) will provide her with aqua therapy and allow her the greatest mobility possible. Just like a kid, bath toys should make grooming time/exercise/play-time a lot more fun.

Her potential for a great big, creative, intelligent, long life lies with you. She'll live up to your aspirations for her.

Personally, I can't wait to see pics of this amazing, courageous and enduring little goose. Both she, and her family, sound incredible! Her varied and unusual life would make for an inspiring blog (and really cool live/streaming feed or youtube channel.)

What a great family!

(A disability's just a different way of living (not an easier one, but not always death sentence.) It's all about quality of life. Like I tell my pup w/ her sensitive feet or the injured/disabled birds, they "lucked" into the right family b/c having a few limitations myself, I can understand a bit of what they're going through and I won't give up on them. Never : ) )

 

[Carrosaur]

I remember last year one of my geese got very very sick, and I took her to a vet and they basically told me the treatment would last so long and she would need 24/7 care that I couldn't handle so they put her down. Every day I wish I had argued with the vet and convinced him that I could do it.

r.i.p. Apple

 

[littlegosling]

lovedbygeese - I want to say thank you for the lovely post.

Everyone here has been very nice and I thank you all for your advice and support.

I will be taking some pics when I get the chance.

I did have a question and I don't know if anyone is knowledgeable in goose orthopedics! As our goose doesn't walk at all, she has started developing ways of being comfy laying down. Her worse leg, which is the left one, she now extends all the way to the back most of the time rather than keep it flexed or close to her body. Being than her toes are curling, I believe she finds it more comfy that way as the toes don't hit any pressure (they are upright in that extended position). Should we try to teach her to hold her leg differently? Also her better leg now is developing a crooked paw with curling toes. Once again probably because she doesn't use them for weight-bearing much. She scoots around to reposition herself but with difficulty so she doesn't do that very often. She enjoys swimming and we place her in the bathtub with supervision twice a day.

 

[EvenLater]

Found a couple things for you, in case you're interested in giving it a shot. People have had and raised non-walking geese before. A quick Google search even led me to the story of a 2 week old gosling that they gave leg braces to so she can now stand and walk just fine. Thought I'd link it for you, just in case...


Her story is here: http://boingboing.net/2009/07/14/baby-goose-with-home.html

 

[Miss Lydia]

lovedbygeese - I want to say thank you for the lovely post.

Everyone here has been very nice and I thank you all for your advice and support.

I will be taking some pics when I get the chance.

I did have a question and I don't know if anyone is knowledgeable in goose orthopedics! As our goose doesn't walk at all, she has started developing ways of being comfy laying down. Her worse leg, which is the left one, she now extends all the way to the back most of the time rather than keep it flexed or close to her body. Being than her toes are curling, I believe she finds it more comfy that way as the toes don't hit any pressure (they are upright in that extended position). Should we try to teach her to hold her leg differently? Also her better leg now is developing a crooked paw with curling toes. Once again probably because she doesn't use them for weight-bearing much. She scoots around to reposition herself but with difficulty so she doesn't do that very often. She enjoys swimming and we place her in the bathtub with supervision twice a day.

As far as teaching her where to position her legs and feet, I'd just let her do what is confy to her. I'd dif try and fashion her a sling to take pressure off her hips and legs some during the day.