Weight loss

[plantcityhomestead]

Get a bulb baster and try to get some water in her that way.

 

[Iain Utah]

If it is meticam, it tastes like a treat. If she is engaging in nibbling on the diaper, you may try to see if she will nibble on the syringe. If so, while she is nibbling, depress plunger a touch to give a taste. If you can convince her that it is a treat from the get go, it makes life much easier long term to give your girl meticam.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Aww I hope she will feel better soon, Thank goodness the vet was able to help her.

 

[The goose girl]

The painkiller (Loxicom) and the pill was no problem this morning.

My neighbors and I teamed up and it took less than a minute. It seems practice really does make perfect!

She's still not eating, and she's drinking very little, so I did feel concerned. Luckily, my sweet, fantastic vet called me to ask how things were going, and she said the goose needs rest more than anything else. I shouldn't worry too much about the water yet, as she got lots of fluid during the surgery. AND she'll be at the clinic tomorrow Sunday, so if need be, she can take the goose in.

She also suggested giving her a short bath - and drying her thoroughly afterwards - but after I put the goose on her nest to nap, she did not want to leave it. She's making little happy noises, and when I tried to take her out, she jumped right back in. She's got water right next to her, and every half hour I coax her into drinking a sip or two.

She has pooped once this morning and once this evening, so she's not all dried up.

I guess I'll try my baster thingy (a soft acrylic ear rinsing bulb) tomorrow, if the bath doesn't get her to drink.

 

[Iain Utah]

Best of luck!! You are a wonderful mom!!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Goose girl, try making her some oatmeal (plain just like we human would eat for breakfast) add 1/8 teaspoon of molasses or sweet berries to it to entice her. Mashed egg yolk blended with plain yogurt is also very good. Steamed smashed sweet potato, or squash are also good super foods for her right now. You can take dark greens like kale ect and finely shred and put into any of those too.

Good luck with her.

 

[The goose girl]

Those all seem like great suggestions - but I have to pry her bill open and force feed her, and I really don't want to put that kind of stress on her right now unless I absolutely must. The vet said if she doesn't eat today (which she didn't), we should start enteral feeding tomorrow. I think I'd prefer that to the bulb baster - she'll get more nutrition with the same amount of stress. Oh, but how I wish she'd wake up tomorrow and start eating on her own!

She did seem a little better this morning. She got up and got out of her house on her own, and the vet ok'ed a half-hour swim in her pool, which she enjoyed tremendously. Although she got tired after only about five minutes, so the rest of the time she mostly floated around with her eyes closed. She also enjoyed drying off on a towel in a shady spot, but she absolutely did not care for the hairdryer afterwards. She was clearly too tired to preen much herself.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Goose Girl: Perhaps she needs a bit of time. I know when I get sick, the last thing I want to do is eat anything and I don't drink much either. Hopefully, as she feels a bit better, she'll become more interested in food.

You know, I have seen chickens sit a nest and refuse to leave it for more than a few seconds for three solid weeks. They have a much smaller body mass than a goose, and despite barely eating or drinking manage to survive and hatch their babies.

Besides, it sounds like your vet is very much on top of things and keeping good tabs on your goose. I am sure between the two of you with the assistance of your very nice neighbors, your goose will be back to herself in no time at all.

Best wishes for her full, and speedy recovery for your feathered baby.

 

[SummerChick]

Goose Girl, I hope your precious goose is doing better today. Has she started eating on her own yet?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have been thinking about her and you, I hope she is doing much better today.