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Farming Friends Forum » Geese

1. Mama
   Member

   Hi all, Just to let you know that after visiting the vet last week , Grace has an abscess on her foot pad. He did give her an injection of antibiotics and something to dissolve the abscess. He told me to lance it today and push out the pus which I did. It is rock hard and a little bit of pus came out but not much and was like hard cheese.I also bathed her foot in an epsom salt bath and applied an antibiotic cream.Can not see how it will heal if she is swimming and walking on non sterile ground! Her foot is even more swollen tonight and we are going back to the vet tomorrow afternoon as he is not there in the morning.So upsetting as I am responsible for her . Has anyone had any experience of this , if so what did you do. Mama

   Goose Girl

   Posted 2 years ago #

2. sallie
   Member

   Hi Mama,
   Bird abscess - horrid things. They are extremely thick and gooey and hard to expell. Did you lance it with a needle or a scalpel? Needles tend to be too fine and as the pus is so thick it wont come out. You need to get a scalpel and slice open the abscess at least half its length to allow the muck to come out.

   Not nice but necessary.

   Best wishes
   Sallie.

   Posted 2 years ago #

3. Mama
   Member

   Hi Sallie, Yes used a sterile scalpal left over from my working days but did not know the cut it had to be so big, only did a quarter inch slit.Have you had to do it as I really need hands on advice. Only done this on humans and the pus is totally different and was very scared to do it one of my precious geese, sounds bad but not meant that way. Just not used to doing it on my fragile creatures. Many thanks Mama.

   Goose Girl

   Posted 2 years ago #

4. admin
   Sara @ farmingfriends

   Hi Mama,
   I think Sallie is an expert when it comes to animal veterinary info as I believe Sallie works or worked in a vets (Is that right Sallie?) So Sallie will be able to give great advice.
   Whenever any of my birds have a foot problem I spray them with Alimycin spray and it seems to reduce the swelling. I seems to end up with the blue spray all over my hands as well as the bird!
   Hope your lovely goose gets better soon.
   Best Wishes
   sara @ farmingfriends

   http://www.farmingfriends.com
   http://farmingfriends.com/shop/

   Posted 2 years ago #

5. Mama
   Member

   Sara, Can I get that spray online? Things are not so obtainable here and everywhere is quite a distance away . Don't care about blue hands , if it dosen't bother you it wont't bother me. Thanks Mama.

   Goose Girl

   Posted 2 years ago #

6. Mama
   Member

   Sallie, Another thought . If I have to re- lance it how do I keep it clean and sterile?Surely it will not heal if I can not .

   Goose Girl

   Posted 2 years ago #

7. admin
   Sara @ farmingfriends

   Hi Mama,

   Here are some links to the spray
   http://www.nutrecare.co.uk/Product-1374/Equine-Prescription-only-Medicines/Alamycin-Aerosol

   http://www.medicanimal.com/product/~product_id=26?gclid=CIjFjuyGn6ICFdpo4wod82J-uw

   However it says that a prescription is needed.

   Hope you get your goose sorted soon.
   Best Wishes
   Sara @ farmingfriends

   http://www.farmingfriends.com
   http://farmingfriends.com/shop/

   Posted 2 years ago #

8. campbell ridge
   Administrator

   Hi, its also called terramycin (tetracycline) but it all seems to need a prescription. I am lucky to have a neighbour who has a large aerosol can whcih she had to get for one of her hens so I once borrowed that for a wing wound.
   Sarah

   Sarah L

   Posted 2 years ago #

9. sallie
   Member

   Hi Mama, yes was with a vet for 10 years + have helped with pheasants etc on a shoot so seen a lot of bird problems. When you have 3000 pheasants you meet most things!
   You would be surprised how deep the abscess can be. Just re-lance, be fairly brutal. You need to flush out with a syringe with warm water. Keep flushing until clear or more blood than pus. As far as keeping clean, you can't! If you have any form of iodine based antiseptic ie Savlon, put lots in the hole you have made. You need to keep the hole open as long as possible and allow to heal from the inside out. If the skin heals too quickly the abscess will recur. Not nice but you have to be rough to be kind at this sort of thing. I use a 10 ml syringe to flush and really pump it in to the wound, as much pressure as you can manage. Keep your mouth closed as it sprays everywhere! Goose will not be happy but you will reap the benefits in the end.
   You can't stop her swimming etc but if you clean out at end of day and then put her on a clean bed overnight that should give a decent length of time for the wound to stay clean.
   Hope all goes well
   Sallie

   Posted 2 years ago #

10. sallie
    Member

    PS Mama, Allamycin is prescription only but you can get milder sprays. I use savlon dry antiseptic spray as this contains iodine and works well.
    Sallie.

    Posted 2 years ago #

11. Mama
    Member

    Sallie , Thank you so much for the info. Vet on hols for three days so can not go back yet. Shall try what you have suggested although the abscess is very hard.He did say to wait until the whole area went blue, guess that was to do with the stuff he put in to dissolve the abscess. Shall get some iodine tomorrow as Savlon does not exist here. The vet said to use bleach on it which I am not too happy about. Grace is so lovely once I have caught her , she justs sits and let me bathe her foot. Done that with a syringe flush many times and sometimes got a mouthful but not from my birds!!! Regards mama

    Goose Girl

    Posted 2 years ago #

12. sallie
    Member

    Hi Mama,
    If you have an salt spoon you can scoop some of the pus out with that. Good luck.
    Best Wishes
    Sallie.

    Posted 2 years ago #

13. Mama
    Member

    Hi all, Rang the vet today as grace's abscess is growing . He said to wait until next week as the injection he gave her will dissolve the abscess and make it easier to push out when I lance it. It has started to turn a pinkish blue so do hope he is right but I did not think it would take this long to disintergrate. We live and learn and he is a lovley vet. Feel so sad for her as she is limping but a poppet when I catch her everyday to have a look and give her a foot bath . Sid is not too happy about it but no big deal just a hiss until I tell all is well.Wish I could get savlon here. Just have to do with iodine. Mama.

    Goose Girl

    Posted 2 years ago #

14. m40mo
    Administrator

    oh dear this sounds awful for her
    how are you doing Mama, i did post asking after you last week but you never saw it,and hows your hubby doing you went through a bad week yourself
    Mo xxx

    mo x

    Posted 2 years ago #

15. m40mo
    Administrator

    Sallie as you worked at a vets you may know the answer to this
    I have something called Melafix which is used for treating ulcers and wounds in fish in fish ponds, would something like this be helpful for Mamas goose or injuries to ducks for that matter x
    www.pondcare.com

    mo x

    Posted 2 years ago #

16. sallie
    Member

    Hi Mo, Melafix is an antiviral not an antibiotic. It has been known to kill fish so I would steer clear of it.

    Best thing for Mama is straight antiseptic preferably iodine based. Good old salt water is really good, 1 teaspoon of salt to a pint of water, totally harmless.

    Best wishes
    Sallie.

    Posted 2 years ago #

17. Mama
    Member

    Hi Sallie, Yes iodine is good and have now got that. Thanks for the tip of salt water , the vet said bleach but am not happy about that but sure it is not bad advice. He did say there is no point in buying any special sterilising agent.Been giving her warm footbaths everyday and hopefully tomorrow the abscess will be ready to lance, if not back to the the vet as I can no longer just watch her limping around.The abscess is bigger now and bless her she is still laying but does go to bed early every night and is sleeping on the nest. Don't care if she never goes broody , just want her to get better.I think she is more comfortable on a bed of straw and have added more in the house. What a worry our lovely animals are if they are ill. Best wishes to you and your animals . Mama

    Goose Girl

    Posted 2 years ago #

18. campbell ridge
    Administrator

    Bleach? Did he mean a peroxide based one? Why not plain peroxide? I used straight aloe vera plant on my duck who had a touch of bumble foot and it cleared up in no time - not the same as an abcess though I know..... Very soothing too and is a natural antiseptic.
    Sarah

    Sarah L

    Posted 2 years ago #

19. Mama
    Member

    Sarah, Do you mean a slice of aloe vera which I have or a cream. like to use naturel products if possible. No he just meant ordinary bleach. Thanks for yet more good info. Mama

    Goose Girl

    Posted 2 years ago #

20. campbell ridge
    Administrator

    Yes the slime from the aloe plant leaf. i find it works really well for a lot of things and best of all its cheap, soothing and natural. I often take the gel chopped up (slime removed its very bitter) to help with aching joints, for myself and my old dog. :)
    S

    Sarah L

    Posted 2 years ago #

21. m40mo
    Administrator

    blimy Sallie, I was sold the Melafix at our fish pond shop when we had a bad attack of leaches sucking on them, we were told it wouldnt kill them but they would no longer like the taste of the fish, it did work and from what you say, thankfully the fish survived,x

    mo x

    Posted 2 years ago #

22. Mama
    Member

    Hi Friends, I lanced Grace's abscess yesterday and it was quite disgusting but hopefully she will now get better. I noticed the other day there was a lot of down in her nest and guess what ,I think she has gone broody.she has not laid for two dys and she was on the nest at 7pm last night and is still there this morning.
    Normally I would be thrilled but how am going to take care of her wounded foot. I think I shall have a terrible decision to make, take away the eggs and destroy the nest. After waiting since February now was not a good time for her to do this.Anyone got any suggestions please. Regards Mama

    Goose Girl

    Posted 2 years ago #

23. campbell ridge
    Administrator

    You could see how it goes naturally. You will be able to tend her foot regularly as she will be confined to her nest, that is if your extra attention and handling doesnt put her off. If she becomes hissy or angry then the decision is changed, as her foot must come first.
    Sarah

    Sarah L

    Posted 2 years ago #

24. admin
    Sara @ farmingfriends

    Hi Mama,
    I agree with Sarah, keep tending her foot and if she is broody she will let you kow by hissing and then as Sarah says decision made take her off the nest and remove the eggs then!
    Good luck
    Sara @ farmingfriends

    http://www.farmingfriends.com
    http://farmingfriends.com/shop/

    Posted 2 years ago #

25. Mama
    Member

    Thanks both, I guessed what you would say . She is hissing but I am going to get her off the nest this afternoon whether she likes it not , I am not afraid of her. I shall try doing foot care in the house but if it doesn't workout then the nest will have go. I could cry, not only has she had a rotten time with her foot but now it looks as if she can not be a mum this year. Knowing my luck lately, she will carry on sitting with or without eggs. Regards Mama

    Goose Girl

    Posted 2 years ago #

26. Mama
    Member

    Sallie, Hope you read this. Do I have to open the wound if it has clotted over and flush out with antiseptic ? Or would it be ok to just bathe it with antiseptic. I am used to packing abscess cavitys with eusol wicks but can't do that with my goose.Thanks Mama.

    Goose Girl

    Posted 2 years ago #

27. Mama
    Member

    Hello everyone, Poor Grace, despite trying to keep it clean her foot was so bad I had to go back to the vet this afternoon. He gave her another injection to soften the abscess again, this time it was twice as big as the last one and it has come up in only three days. She has been off the nest since we got back which was about 2pm so it may have put her off nesting although it is 31 degs today. I felt the eggs , one of which she had broken and they were not cold. At least if she sits I get get hold of her easily. Just so want her to get better. Mama

    Goose Girl

    Posted 2 years ago #

28. m40mo
    Administrator

    oh poor Grace plus if she sits i guess it would heal better x
    very hot here to today x

    mo x

    Posted 2 years ago #

29. campbell ridge
    Administrator

    Im sure the vet has advised you now, but i think the wound needs to be open to get all the pus out and to drain. I used to be a dental nurse and all abcesses had to be drained and cleared up with antibiotics. It sounds like it had healed over with the pus still inside.
    Poor Grace and poor you x

    Sarah L

    Posted 2 years ago #

30. Mama
    Member

    Hi Sarah, I did lance it and got two marble sized balls of puss out of it. I does not help when she marches straight into the pond. The vet said that was no worse than her walking on the ground.Don't understand why it has grown so quickly in such a short time.
    He did repeat ,to use weak household bleach in warm water foot baths before after the next lancing so I shall do it this time and maybe swab with iodine. Heres hoping she gets better soon. Mama.

    Goose Girl

    Posted 2 years ago #

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