Common Goose Diseases : Symptoms, Prevention & Treatment

Common diseases and health problems in geese

Geese are generally hardy birds, but they can develop viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic, toxic, and nutritional illnesses. Because many goose diseases cause similar symptoms—lethargy, diarrhea, weakness, breathing problems, or loss of appetite—appearance alone usually isn’t enough for a definite diagnosis.

A goose that suddenly becomes quiet and withdrawn, stops eating, separates from the flock, sits much more than usual, closes its eyes repeatedly, breathes abnormally, or develops diarrhea should be examined closely—the earlier illness is recognized, the better.

A goose needs prompt veterinary attention when you see sudden inability to walk or stand, severe breathing difficulty, seizures/tremors, a completely limp neck, repeated vomiting/regurgitation, significant bleeding, severe dehydration, suspected poisoning, or multiple birds suddenly becoming ill or dying.

A healthy goose should normally be alert, interested in food, walking normally, breathing quietly, maintaining its weight and producing reasonably normal droppings.

Angel Wing in Geese: Causes, Signs & Prevention

Angel wing is a condition that causes a goose’s wing feathers to turn outwards. A diet high in protein and excess calories, is thought to be a common cause of angel wing, though genetics, incubation and hatching issues, may also be contributing factors. Angel wing is the result of new feathers developing faster than the musculoskeletal structures necessary to support them. The weight of these new feathers causes the joint to twist. As a result, the affected wing tip(s) is not able to be tucked into a normal position against the body.

When caught very early, angel wing can be corrected, but you should consult with a veterinarian to make sure you are taking appropriate corrective measures (while also addressing the underlying cause, if applicable). While bandages and splints are often used to correct angel wing, it is imperative you are shown how to do this correctly as improper technique can have unintended consequences.

If not caught early, before the bones have mineralized, the condition will be permanent. While permanent disfiguration of the wing(s) is detrimental in free-living wild geese since it prevents them from being able to fly, Sanctuary residents can live a happy, healthy life with the condition.

Angel wing, also called slipped wing, twisted wing, or carpal valgus, is a developmental deformity seen mainly in young, rapidly growing geese and other waterfowl. The outer portion of the wing twists away from the body, causing the flight feathers to stick outward instead of lying neatly along the goose’s side.

Causes

The exact cause is probably multifactorial, but excessively rapid growth is strongly associated with the condition. Nutrition—particularly excessive calories and an inappropriate balance of nutrients during growth—is commonly implicated. Genetics, incubation or hatching factors, and restricted exercise may also contribute.

It is therefore better not to assume that protein alone causes angel wing. Growing goslings actually require an appropriately formulated starter diet. The concern is feeding a diet that causes overly rapid or nutritionally unbalanced growth.

Avoid making bread, corn, scratch grains, or other calorie-dense treats a major part of a gosling’s diet. A balanced waterfowl starter/grower feed is much safer than trying to formulate the diet yourself. Merck specifically notes that excessively rapid growth in large waterfowl should be avoided because it can contribute to bone and joint deformities such as angel wing.

Signs

You may notice that:

• One or both wing tips begin sticking outward.
• The new flight feathers seem unusually heavy and pull the wing downward.
• The wrist area of the wing starts twisting outward.
• One wing may look very different from the other.
• When both wings are affected, they can resemble little airplane wings.

Angel wing generally develops while goslings are growing and their flight feathers are coming in.

Viral Enterisis

Viral enteritis in geese, more commonly called duck viral enteritis (DVE) or duck plague, is a highly contagious and potentially fatal herpesvirus infection affecting ducks, geese, and swans.

How geese become infected

The virus spreads primarily through direct contact with infected waterfowl and through contaminated:

• Drinking or swimming water
• Feces and other secretions
• Feed and feeding areas
• Equipment, footwear, clothing, and bedding

An infected goose that survives can become a latent carrier. Because this is a herpesvirus, it can remain dormant and reactivate later, allowing an apparently healthy bird to shed the virus and infect others. Wild ducks and other wild waterfowl can therefore be an important source of exposure for domestic geese.

Symptoms

Disease can progress very quickly. Some geese may simply be found dead without having shown obvious illness beforehand.

• Sudden weakness or severe lethargy
• Sitting apart from the flock
• Ruffled feathers
• Loss of appetite
• Excessive thirst
• Watery, greenish, or bloody diarrhea
• Blood around the vent
• Blood around the bill or nostrils
• Partially closed eyes and sensitivity to light
• Poor coordination or stumbling
• Difficulty standing or walking
• Drooping wings
• Inability to fly in wild birds
• Rapid decline and sudden death

Severe outbreaks can cause extremely high mortality, although the death rate varies considerably depending on the viral strain and the birds affected.

Diagnosis

A veterinarian or diagnostic laboratory should confirm suspected cases. PCR testing or virus isolation can identify the virus. This is particularly important because sudden death, diarrhea, weakness, and neurological signs can also occur with diseases or toxicities such as avian influenza, bacterial infections, botulism, and poisoning.

Treatment

If you suspect it in one of your geese, immediately separate the sick bird from other ducks and geese and contact an avian veterinarian or veterinary diagnostic laboratory. Avoid moving birds, equipment, bedding, or contaminated water between enclosures.

Preventing viral enteritis

Prevention is especially important because there is no curative treatment.

Keep domestic geese separated from wild waterfowl whenever possible. Don’t allow wild ducks or geese access to your birds’ feed or drinking containers, and avoid using untreated pond water visited by wild waterfowl as drinking water.

Clean and disinfect boots, equipment, transport crates, and other items used around waterfowl. New birds should also be kept separate from the established flock before introduction. The virus can remain infectious in the environment for an extended period; Cornell reports environmental persistence of up to approximately 60 days under suitable conditions.

Vaccines against duck viral enteritis are available in some settings, particularly for commercial or breeding duck flocks, but vaccination practices vary. For geese or backyard flocks, vaccination should be discussed with an avian veterinarian rather than attempted without veterinary guidance.

Aspergillosis in Geese: Symptoms, Causes & Prevention

Aspergillosis is a non-contagious fungal disease that typically manifests as respiratory illness in birds. While there are numerous species of Aspergillus any of a genus (Aspergillus) of ascomycetous fungi with branched radiate sporophores including many common molds, Aspergillus fumigatus, a ubiquitous soil fungus, is the most common cause in geese.

Aspergillosis is an opportunistic infection, while birds are constantly exposed to fungal spores, often without developing disease, immunosuppression (such as from stress, corticosteroid use, disease, or malnutrition) and being exposed to large numbers of aerosolized spores, may result in disease.

Aspergillus spores occur naturally in soil and organic material. Problems usually develop when large amounts of mold grow in a goose’s environment. Common sources include wet or moldy bedding, damp straw or hay, moldy feed, poorly ventilated shelters, dirty brooders or incubators, and decaying organic material. Wet wood shavings can become particularly hazardous after drying because disturbing them may release large numbers of spores into the air.

Young goslings are particularly vulnerable because their immune systems are still developing. Adult geese can also become sick, especially following heavy exposure or when weakened by another illness, poor nutrition, stress, or other conditions affecting immunity.

Symptoms

Aspergillosis can develop suddenly after massive exposure or progress slowly over weeks or months. Watch for:

• Labored or difficult breathing
• Open-mouth breathing or gasping
• Tail bobbing while breathing
• Rapid or increased breathing
• Coughing or abnormal respiratory sounds
• Reduced appetite
• Lethargy and weakness
• Poor growth in goslings
• Progressive weight loss
• Exercise intolerance
• Occasionally a change in vocalization

Advanced infection may spread beyond the respiratory system. Neurological involvement can cause head tilt, tremors, loss of coordination, abnormal balance, or other neurological signs.

Unfortunately, birds are very good at hiding illness. Significant damage to the respiratory system may already be present before obvious symptoms appear.

Causes

Poor ventilation, unsanitary conditions, wet bedding, moldy food, and warm, humid conditions increase the risk of aspergillosis. Therefore, you can help protect your birds by properly storing food, keeping living spaces clean and well ventilated, and ensuring spaces do not become warm and humid.

Straw bedding can harbor mold and fungus, so wood shavings or other non-straw (and non-hay) bedding is a better option, if aspergillosis is a concern. Signs of aspergillosis include open-mouth breathing, labored breathing, tail bobbing, gasping, and an elevated respiratory rate. Other signs include inappetence and lethargy. Be sure to contact your veterinarian if you suspect aspergillosis.

Diagnosis

Respiratory symptoms alone cannot confirm Aspergillosis because bacterial infections, parasites, aspiration, avian influenza and several other diseases can produce similar signs.

An avian or poultry veterinarian may use a combination of:

• Physical examination and history of possible mold exposure
• Bloodwork, including a CBC
• X-rays or other diagnostic imaging
• Examination of the trachea or air sacs
• Cytology or biopsy
• Fungal culture
• Histopathology

Treatment

Treatment can be difficult, particularly once the infection is advanced.

Nebulized or locally administered antifungal therapy is also sometimes used by veterinarians, and large fungal granulomas may occasionally require surgical treatment. However, antifungal treatment in poultry is challenging, and many drugs are not specifically approved for poultry.

If you suspect Aspergillosis, remove the goose from the suspected contaminated environment as soon as possible and place it somewhere clean, dry, well ventilated, quiet and free of mold or dusty bedding.

Discard moldy feed and bedding rather than trying to salvage them. Avoid vigorously shaking, sweeping or stirring obviously moldy bedding around the birds because doing so can send huge numbers of spores into the air. Improve ventilation and identify any leaks, condensation or other sources of persistent moisture.

Fresh water and a nutritionally complete diet should remain available. A severely respiratory-compromised goose should also be handled as little as possible because struggling and stress increase its oxygen requirements.

Prevention

Prevention is much easier than treating established Aspergillosis. Keep goose housing dry and well ventilated, replace wet bedding promptly, store feed somewhere dry, discard feed that smells musty or appears moldy, clean feeders and waterers regularly, and investigate persistent dampness or mold around ventilation systems. Brooders and incubators should also be thoroughly cleaned between groups of goslings.

Pay particular attention to spilled drinking water. Geese naturally make their surroundings wet, and continually damp bedding creates ideal conditions for mold growth.

Omphalitis

Omphalitis is an infection of the navel and/or yolk sac. This may be caused by contamination of the egg or incubator, or due to goslings being exposed to contaminated environments before their navel has closed. Goslings with omphalitis may have an inflamed navel, there may be discharge or a scab, and it may fail to close.

The abdomen of infected goslings becomes enlarged, the gosling may feel “flabby”, and there is typically a putrid odor from the gosling. Other signs include refusal to eat, lethargy, huddling near heat sources, and droopiness. Death can occur within the first 24 hours of hatching, and goslings may appear healthy until just a few hours before death. If you rescue newly hatched goslings, keep an eye out for this disease and contact your veterinarian immediately any time a gosling is showing signs of illness.

Internal Parasites in Geese

Geese can carry several types of internal parasites, especially birds that spend a lot of time grazing, foraging on wet ground, or sharing pasture with other poultry or wild waterfowl. A light parasite burden may cause no obvious illness, while heavy infestations can lead to weight loss, diarrhea, anemia, weakness, poor growth, and occasionally death.

1. Gizzard Worm

This is one of the more important worms of geese and other waterfowl. It lives in the lining of the gizzard, where it can damage and erode the tough inner lining. Heavy infestations may cause inflammation, dark discoloration, tissue damage, weight loss, weakness, and poor condition.

Geese acquire the parasite by swallowing infective larvae from contaminated ground. Because it has a direct life cycle, contaminated pasture can continually reinfect a flock.

2. Capillary or Hairworms

Several species of these extremely thin worms affect poultry and waterfowl. Capillaria obsignata, for example, can infect geese and live in the small intestine and ceca. Heavy infections may cause diarrhea, poor appetite, weight loss, weakness, and intestinal inflammation. Some species spread directly through contaminated feces, while others involve earthworms in their life cycle.

3. Other Roundworms

Geese can carry several other nematodes involving the intestinal tract, stomach, or ceca. Heavy worm burdens can cause poor body condition, decreased appetite, diarrhea, anemia, and occasionally intestinal blockage or death.

4. Gapeworms

Certain respiratory nematodes can infect waterfowl and live in the trachea. Birds may stretch their necks, cough, shake their heads, breathe with an open bill, or appear to be gasping. Earthworms can participate in the life cycle of some gapeworm species.

Severe breathing difficulty should be treated as an emergency because respiratory infections and foreign bodies can produce very similar symptoms.

5. Tapeworms

Waterfowl can acquire tapeworms by eating infected intermediate hosts such as snails, slugs, insects, crustaceans, or earthworms. Most live in the intestine. Light infestations may produce few signs, while heavier burdens can contribute to weight loss and poor condition.

Treating the goose alone may not solve the problem if the intermediate host remains abundant in its environment.

6. Coccidia

Coccidia are microscopic protozoan parasites rather than worms. Geese can develop intestinal coccidiosis, but one particularly important goose parasite is Eimeria truncata, which infects the kidneys. Severe renal coccidiosis can cause substantial kidney damage and mortality, particularly in young geese.

Young poultry are generally much more vulnerable to clinical coccidiosis than healthy mature birds. Wet, heavily contaminated environments encourage buildup of coccidia.

Signs of Internal Parasites

Watch for weight loss despite eating, poor growth, reduced appetite, lethargy, weakness, diarrhea or abnormal droppings, pale bill or mucous membranes from anemia, poor feather condition, reduced egg production, prominent keel bone, or unexplained deaths. Respiratory worms can instead produce coughing or gasping.

Importantly, many infected birds show no obvious symptoms, particularly when the parasite burden is low.

Treatment

Treatment depends heavily on which parasite is present. Anthelmintics such as fenbendazole can be effective against several nematodes, while tapeworms and coccidia require different medications. There are very few medications specifically approved for poultry, and many treatments commonly discussed for waterfowl are extra-label in the United States.

For that reason, I would not routinely deworm geese on a fixed schedule without evidence of a significant parasite burden. Fecal testing followed by targeted treatment reduces unnecessary medication and may help slow development of drug resistance. This is especially important if the geese or their eggs could enter the food chain, because withdrawal times must also be considered.

Prevention

The most effective parasite program combines testing with good husbandry:

• Remove manure and wet bedding frequently and keep sleeping areas as dry as possible.
• Keep feed and drinking water from becoming contaminated with feces.
• Avoid overcrowding.
• Rotate grazing areas when practical; pasture rotation can reduce reinfection with parasites whose eggs and larvae accumulate on the ground.
• Avoid putting young goslings onto heavily contaminated areas previously occupied by adult birds.
• Control excessive populations of intermediate hosts such as snails, slugs and certain insects where practical.
• Quarantine new birds and consider having a fecal examination performed before introducing them to the flock.
• Have unexplained weight loss, chronic diarrhea, respiratory signs, or repeated parasite problems investigated rather than repeatedly administering dewormers.

Good sanitation and pasture management are central to parasite control because geese can become reinfected soon after treatment when parasite eggs or intermediate hosts remain in the environment.

Goose Cholera

Goose cholera, also called avian cholera or fowl cholera, is a serious contagious bacterial disease caused by Pasteurella multocida. Waterfowl, including geese and ducks, are particularly susceptible. The disease can occur very suddenly, and sometimes the first sign is finding a goose dead with no obvious warning signs.

Infected birds shed Pasteurella multocida through secretions from the mouth, nose, and eyes, contaminating water, bedding, soil, feed, equipment, and other surfaces. Birds can become infected through direct contact, contaminated environments, ingestion, and possibly aerosols.

A goose may also survive infection and become a carrier, appearing healthy while potentially contributing to future outbreaks. Wild birds can introduce the organism into domestic flocks, and contaminated footwear, equipment, feeders, and other materials can help spread it.

Avian cholera is not the same disease as human cholera, which is caused by a different bacterium.

Symptoms

The disease may be acute, causing rapid illness and death, or chronic, producing longer-lasting localized infections.

Signs can include:

• Sudden unexplained death
• Extreme weakness or lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Ruffled feathers
• Increased or difficult breathing
• Mucus or discharge from the mouth or nostrils
• Diarrhea
• Excessive thirst in some birds
• Swollen joints or footpads
• Lameness
• Conjunctivitis or swollen tissues around the eyes
• Twisted neck or abnormal head position (torticollis) in some chronic cases

During severe outbreaks, apparently healthy birds may die before noticeable symptoms develop.

Treatment

Contact a veterinarian quickly if avian cholera is suspected. Early treatment is important.

Antibiotics can reduce illness and deaths, but choosing an antibiotic should ideally be based on bacterial culture and antimicrobial-susceptibility testing, because resistant strains occur. Also, drug restrictions and withdrawal periods are important when treating birds whose meat or eggs may enter the food supply.

One particularly important limitation is that antibiotic treatment may control an outbreak without completely eliminating the bacteria from the flock. Illness and deaths can therefore return after medication is stopped, and recovered birds may remain carriers.

While veterinary help is being arranged

Separate the sick goose from healthy birds, but remember that other flock members may already have been exposed. Provide:

• Clean drinking water
• Fresh, uncontaminated feed
• A quiet, dry, warm recovery area
• Easy access to food and water
• Protection from stress and extreme temperatures

Do not randomly combine antibiotics or use leftover medication without veterinary guidance.

Prevention

The most important preventive measures are biosecurity and limiting contact with wild birds. Keep food and drinking water protected from wild waterfowl, quarantine newly acquired birds before introducing them to the flock, use dedicated footwear around your birds, and clean equipment before moving it between enclosures.

Vaccines against fowl cholera exist, but protection depends partly on the strain involved. Vaccination programs should therefore be discussed with a veterinarian, particularly for flocks with a history of recurring Pasteurella infections.

Botulism in Geese: Symptoms, Causes & Prevention

Botulism is a serious, potentially fatal poisoning in geese and other waterfowl. It occurs when a goose eats botulinum neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum. In birds, outbreaks are commonly associated with type C/C-D toxins, although other toxin types can occur. The toxin blocks normal nerve-to-muscle signaling and causes progressive flaccid paralysis.

Signs

The earliest sign is often weakness. As the poisoning progresses, you may notice:

• Weak or wobbly legs
• Difficulty standing or walking
• Drooping wings
• Inability to fly
• Increasing paralysis
• Limp, floppy neck — “limberneck”
• Inability to hold the head upright
• Partially closed eyes or paralysis of the third eyelid
• Trouble swallowing
• Labored breathing in severe cases
• A goose sitting or lying down and unable to rise

A goose affected while on a pond can drown because it becomes unable to hold its head above the water.

Treatment

There isn’t a simple home medication that reverses toxin already attached to nerve endings. Treatment centers primarily on supportive veterinary care while the bird’s nervous system recovers.

A veterinarian may provide fluids and electrolyte correction, nutritional support when the goose can safely swallow, respiratory/supportive care, and management of complications. Botulinum antitoxin can neutralize toxin that is still circulating in the body and may be useful when administered early, but availability can be limited and the antitoxin needs to correspond to the toxin involved.

Antibiotics are not automatically the treatment for botulism, because most cases result from toxin that has already been eaten rather than an active bacterial infection. They may have a role in certain circumstances, including suspected intestinal toxicoinfection, but should be selected by a veterinarian.

Prevention

Keep feed dry and fresh and discard anything moldy, spoiled or decomposing. Keep drinking and swimming water reasonably clean, especially during warm weather. Don’t allow geese access to animal carcasses, dead fish, rotting vegetation or concentrations of maggots.

If one bird dies unexpectedly, remove the carcass promptly rather than leaving it in the enclosure or pond area. During waterfowl botulism outbreaks, carcass removal is one of the most important measures for interrupting the carcass-maggot cycle.

Multiple weak, paralyzed, or suddenly dead geese at the same time should be treated as a flock emergency, because botulism is only one of several possible causes.

Can a goose recover?

Yes. Birds exposed to a smaller amount of toxin may recover with good supportive care. Merck notes that affected birds can recover either without specific treatment or with supportive care depending on susceptibility and the amount of toxin consumed. Severe paralysis, especially when the bird is unable to remain upright or breathe normally, carries a much more serious prognosis.

Fluid can accumulate in the abdomen, causing some affected goslings to stand in an unusually upright, “penguin-like” posture.

Riemerella Infection in Geese

Riemerella infection, caused by the bacterium Riemerella anatipestifer, is a serious and highly contagious bacterial disease that can affect goslings and geese, although it is especially well known in ducks. Young birds are particularly vulnerable, and severe infections can spread rapidly through a flock.

Symptoms

• Depression, weakness, and reduced appetite
• Watery green diarrhea
• Nasal or eye discharge
• Sneezing or mild coughing
• Difficulty walking or poor coordination
• Head and neck tremors
• Twisted or abnormal neck position
• Loss of balance
• Birds falling onto their backs and paddling their legs
• Severe lethargy and eventually death

Neurological signs occur when the infection involves the nervous system. Clinical disease can develop rapidly; in susceptible young waterfowl, signs commonly appear within 2–5 days after infection.

Prevention

Good flock management is one of the most important defenses against Riemerella. Keep housing dry and well ventilated, prevent overcrowding, clean and disinfect equipment between groups of birds, quarantine new birds, and avoid mixing young goslings with older birds of uncertain health status. Facilities in which Riemerella becomes established can experience repeated outbreaks.

Vaccines and bacterins are used primarily in commercial waterfowl operations. Because there are more than 20 recognized serotypes and immunity to one may provide little protection against another, vaccination programs generally need to be tailored to the strains circulating in a flock.

Bottom line: In a gosling with green diarrhea + respiratory discharge + loss of balance, tremors, or other neurological signs, Riemerella should be considered, but laboratory testing is important because several serious poultry diseases can look almost identical. Early veterinary diagnosis gives the best chance of choosing an effective antibiotic and preventing spread through the flock.

Treatment

Riemerella is bacterial, so antibiotics may be useful, but the correct antibiotic should ideally be selected using culture and susceptibility testing. Resistance varies substantially between strains. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that certain sulfonamides and penicillin/streptomycin combinations have historically been used, but susceptibility testing is recommended because resistance is becoming increasingly prevalent.

For pet or backyard geese, contact an avian or poultry veterinarian promptly, especially when neurological signs, rapid deterioration, or multiple sick birds are present. Avoid treating blindly with leftover antibiotics.

Supportive care

While veterinary treatment is being arranged:

• Isolate sick birds from the remainder of the flock.
• Keep them warm, dry, quiet, and protected from stress.
• Provide easily accessible fresh water.
• Keep food and water close to birds having difficulty walking.
• Replace wet or contaminated bedding frequently.
• Clean feeders and water containers thoroughly.
• Prevent sick neurological birds from accessing deep water, where they could drown.

A goose that cannot stand, is having seizures or severe neurological signs, cannot drink, is struggling to breathe, or is deteriorating rapidly needs urgent veterinary attention.

Gapeworm in Geese

Gapeworm is a potentially serious respiratory parasite of geese. In waterfowl, including geese, the important tracheal worm is usually Cyathostoma bronchialis rather than the better-known chicken gapeworm, Syngamus trachea. These worms can live in the trachea, bronchi, and lungs, where a heavy infestation may partially or completely block airflow.

Symptoms

A goose with respiratory gapeworms may show:

• Open-mouth breathing or repeated “gaping”
• Stretching the neck forward while trying to breathe
• Coughing, choking, or gagging movements
• Head shaking
• Wheezing or other abnormal breathing sounds
• Rapid or labored breathing
• Weakness, reduced appetite, and weight loss
• Severe respiratory distress or collapse
• Occasionally blood or bloody mucus from the mouth or nostrils in very severe infections

Heavy infestations can cause pneumonia, severe airway obstruction, and death from respiratory failure or suffocation.

Prevention

Keeping bedding and housing clean, reducing fecal contamination, rotating heavily contaminated grazing areas when practical, and periodically checking free-ranging birds for parasites can reduce the risk. Earthworms and other invertebrates can carry infective stages, so completely preventing exposure in grazing geese is difficult.

Treatment

Anthelmintic drugs such as fenbendazole have been used against respiratory nematodes, but treatment of Cyathostoma bronchialis in geese is generally extra-label, and there is not a single universally established goose treatment protocol. A published outbreak in exotic geese used both flubendazole and fenbendazole, but infections recurred after treatment, illustrating that environmental reinfection and difficult cases can be significant problems.

For that reason, I would not guess a fenbendazole dose from chicken or turkey instructions for a goose. The correct amount depends on the bird’s weight, product concentration, severity of infection, and whether the goose or its eggs/meat enter the food chain.

Mites and External Parasites in Geese

Geese can develop several kinds of external parasites (ectoparasites) that live on the skin, feathers, or around feather shafts. They may cause intense itching and feather damage, and blood-feeding parasites can cause anemia, weakness, and poor body condition when infestations are severe.

Parasite	What you may notice	Common locations
Feather/chewing lice	Tan or straw-colored insects; whitish eggs firmly attached to feather shafts; excessive preening	Under wings, around vent, breast, body feathers
Northern fowl-type mites	Very small dark/red moving specks; dirty or blackened feathers from dried blood and mite debris	Especially around vent and tail
Red/poultry mites	Tiny red, gray, or black mites; may be difficult to find during daytime because they hide in the enclosure	Cracks, bedding areas, walls and roosting/sleeping areas
Depluming mites	Severe itching, broken feathers, bald patches, feather pulling; mites may be impossible to see with the naked eye	Back, wings, breast, thighs and around vent
Ticks	Larger parasites attached to skin; blood loss or irritation with heavy infestations	Under wings, neck, head and other protected areas
Fleas	Small jumping or attached insects; irritation and scratching	Skin, particularly around sparsely feathered areas

Depluming mites are especially relevant to geese. They burrow into the epidermis around the base of feathers and can cause intense irritation, inflammation, broken feathers, and substantial feather loss. They tend to be more noticeable during spring and summer.

Symptoms

Watch for unusually frequent scratching or preening, pulling feathers out, bald areas, ragged or broken feathers, irritated or crusty skin, tiny insects moving between the feathers, or clusters of eggs stuck to feather shafts. Blood-feeding mites can produce dark, dirty-looking material around the vent from dried blood and excrement.

With a heavy infestation, a goose may become restless, lose weight, eat less, become lethargic, develop pale mucous membranes from anemia, or experience reduced egg production. Skin damaged by lice or mites can also become secondarily infected.

How to check your goose

Part the feathers all the way down to the skin in bright light. Pay particular attention to the vent, underneath the wings, breast, thighs, back, neck and base of the tail. Look for moving insects and for small white or cream-colored eggs cemented to the feathers.

If you suspect red mites, also inspect the goose’s sleeping area after dark. These mites may feed on the bird at night and hide in cracks and crevices during the daytime.

Depluming mites are harder because they burrow into the skin and may require a veterinarian to examine skin or feather material microscopically.

Treatment

Treatment depends on which parasite is present, so identification is valuable. Poultry-extension guidance lists products containing permethrin among commonly used treatments for poultry lice and mites, while other labeled ectoparasiticides may also be available.

However, pesticide registrations and formulations change, and a product labeled for chickens is not automatically labeled for geese. Always make sure the particular product permits use on your species and follow its concentration, retreatment interval, egg restrictions, and meat-withdrawal instructions exactly.

A practical approach is:

1. Examine every goose, because several birds may be carrying parasites before showing obvious symptoms. Isolate severely affected birds when practical. If treatment is needed, treating only the visibly affected bird may allow reinfestation from flockmates. For parasites that live in the environment, remove old bedding, clean the shelter thoroughly, and pay particular attention to cracks, seams and sleeping areas. Apply only a premises treatment specifically labeled for that purpose, keeping feed and water from becoming contaminated. Repeat treatment only at the interval directed on the product label, since eggs or newly hatched parasites may survive an initial treatment.

A caution about ivermectin

Ivermectin is sometimes used by veterinarians for difficult mite infestations, including depluming mites, but Merck notes that ivermectin use in poultry is extra-label. For geese that produce eggs or may enter the food chain, this is particularly important because appropriate residue and withdrawal guidance needs to come from a veterinarian/FARAD rather than from a homemade dose found online.

Also avoid simply applying dog or cat flea medications to a goose. Their active ingredients, concentrations and residue requirements may not be appropriate for poultry or waterfowl.

Bumblefoot in Geese: Symptoms, Prevention & Treatment

Bumblefoot, also called pododermatitis, is inflammation and infection of the bottom of a goose’s foot. It often begins with pressure, irritation, or a small injury to the footpad. Bacteria—commonly Staphylococcus species—can then enter damaged tissue. If untreated, infection can progress into deeper tissues, tendons, joints, and even bone.

Because geese are large, heavy birds that spend considerable time walking, problems with footing, wet bedding, nutrition, excessive weight, or an injury to the opposite leg can contribute to abnormal pressure on the footpad.

Symptoms

Check both feet, even when your goose is limping on only one side. Early cases can be easy to miss.

Common signs include:

• Red or irritated skin on the bottom of the foot
• Thickened or hardened footpad
• Swelling
• A round sore or ulcer
• A dark brown or black scab
• Warmth around the affected area
• Limping or reluctance to walk
• Frequently sitting down
• Holding one foot off the ground
• Pain when the foot is touched

As pododermatitis progresses, a localized irritated area can ulcerate and develop into an abscess. Severe cases can eventually cause osteomyelitis—an infection of the bone.

Prevention

The most effective prevention is routine foot and enclosure care: provide dry, reasonably forgiving walking surfaces; eliminate sharp wire, splintered wood, and other hazards; prevent prolonged exposure to filthy or saturated bedding; provide a nutritionally complete waterfowl diet; avoid obesity; and periodically inspect the bottoms of both feet.

Catching a small red pressure spot before it becomes a swollen black-scabbed abscess can make treatment dramatically easier.

Treatment

If you notice only mild redness or irritation and there is no deep wound, significant swelling, or black scab, correcting the underlying problem early is important.

Keep the goose on clean, dry, relatively soft footing and remove anything that could continue rubbing or puncturing the foot. Keep swimming water and bedding clean and check the foot every day.

The primary goal isn’t simply treating the visible sore—the underlying housing, nutritional, weight, or orthopedic problem also needs to be corrected or the condition can return.

What causes it?

Bumblefoot usually develops because something has damaged or chronically irritated the footpad. Common contributing factors include rough or inappropriate flooring, sharp objects or splinters, persistently poor footing, excess body weight, nutritional deficiencies, and abnormal weight-bearing caused by an injured or arthritic opposite leg.

For geese, regularly examine areas where they walk for sharp rocks, wire, nails, splintered wood, rough concrete, and other objects capable of injuring the web or footpad.

When there’s a scab or abscess

A swollen footpad with a firm dark scab is a more advanced problem.

Do not simply pull the scab off or squeeze the foot. Birds often form thick, firm material inside abscesses rather than liquid pus. Digging into the foot at home can cause bleeding, damage healthy tissue, introduce additional bacteria, and potentially make the infection substantially worse.

An avian or poultry veterinarian may need to:

• Examine how deeply the infection extends
• Culture the infection when appropriate
• Clean or surgically debride an abscess
• Provide appropriate pain relief
• Prescribe local or systemic antibiotics when indicated
• Apply a protective dressing
• Take radiographs if joint or bone involvement is suspected

Advanced pododermatitis sometimes requires surgical treatment in addition to antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory therapy.

Egg Binding in Geese: Signs and When It’s an Emergency

Egg binding happens when a female goose cannot pass an egg normally and the egg remains stuck in the reproductive tract. It can become life-threatening, particularly if the goose becomes weak, stops eating, develops breathing difficulty, or prolapses. Veterinary references recommend prompt examination because retained eggs can obstruct the reproductive tract and lead to serious complications.

Signs of an egg-bound goose

• Repeated straining or pushing without producing an egg
• Spending unusually long periods in the nest
• Tail pumping or repeatedly lifting the tail
• A wide-legged or “penguin-like” stance
• Swollen or firm-looking lower abdomen
• Frequently sitting down or reluctance to walk
• Reduced appetite or drinking
• Weakness, lethargy, or isolating herself
• Small, unusual, or absent droppings
• Swollen vent
• An egg sometimes being palpable near the vent
• Difficulty breathing in severe cases
• Tissue protruding from the vent (prolapse)

An impacted reproductive tract can produce the characteristic upright/penguin-like posture, but an egg cannot always be felt from the outside. Imaging such as an X-ray or ultrasound may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.

Common causes

A goose may become egg-bound because of a large or unusually shaped egg, double-yolked egg, low calcium, poor muscle contractions, reproductive-tract injury, obesity, or an obstruction of the oviduct. Calcium is particularly important because the reproductive tract needs proper muscle contractions to expel an egg.

Young first-time layers and birds with nutritional problems may also be at increased risk.

What you can do immediately

Place the goose somewhere quiet, warm, and dimly lit, away from the flock. Stress can make straining worse.

Provide water within easy reach. A warm, humid environment may help relax the reproductive tract; warmth, hydration, humidity, and calcium are among the supportive treatments veterinarians use for egg-bound birds.

If the goose is alert and drinking normally, make sure she has access to an appropriate calcium source, such as oyster shell, but don’t rely on dietary calcium to solve a serious obstruction. Veterinary treatment may involve injectable calcium and fluids when hypocalcemia is contributing to the problem.

Do not:

• Squeeze or strongly massage the abdomen.
• Try to force the egg out.
• Insert instruments into the vent.
• Intentionally break the egg inside her.
• Pull on an egg that is partially visible.
• Give injectable calcium, oxytocin, or other reproductive medications without veterinary direction.

A broken egg can injure the oviduct and introduce infection, and aggressive manipulation can cause internal damage.

When it is an emergency

Seek an avian/poultry veterinarian urgently if the goose is repeatedly straining without laying, cannot stand, is extremely weak, is breathing hard, has blood coming from the vent, has a visibly stuck egg, or has red/pink tissue protruding from the vent. Egg binding is considered an avian emergency and veterinarians may use X-rays, fluids, calcium, lubrication, controlled extraction, or surgery depending on where the egg is located.

If a prolapse is present, separate her immediately so other geese cannot peck the exposed tissue. Prolapsed reproductive tissue can swell, bleed, and become severely damaged.

Heavy Metal Poisoning in Geese

Heavy metal poisoning can occur in geese when they swallow lead, zinc, or other metal objects while grazing or picking up grit. Lead poisoning is particularly important in waterfowl, because geese may accidentally swallow small lead objects as if they were stones or food.

Common sources

Lead

• Old lead shotgun pellets
• Fishing sinkers and weights
• Lead-containing paint or paint chips
• Lead solder
• Bullets or fragments
• Contaminated soil or sediment
• Pieces of old batteries or other discarded metal

Waterfowl can swallow lead pellets while searching for grit. Once in the gizzard, grinding and stomach acids gradually dissolve the lead, allowing it to enter the bloodstream.

Zinc

• Galvanized fencing or hardware cloth
• Galvanized feeders or water containers
• Metal clips, chains, screws, bolts, or wire
• Zinc-coated hardware
• Some metal objects left around the enclosure

Galvanized metal is coated with zinc and is a recognized source of zinc poisoning in birds.

Signs of heavy metal poisoning

• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Weakness or extreme tiredness
• Sitting or lying down more than normal
• Difficulty standing or walking
• Stumbling or poor coordination
• Drooping wings
• Trembling
• Abnormal head or neck position
• Leg or wing paralysis
• Excessive thirst
• Increased urination
• Regurgitation
• Diarrhea, sometimes green
• Pale tissues from anemia
• Seizures
• Blindness
• Collapse

Lead poisoning commonly causes neurological problems, including weakness, ataxia, tremors and seizures. Severely affected Canada geese have also been observed with abnormal head and neck posture and weak flight.

Zinc poisoning may cause gastrointestinal illness, weakness, excessive drinking and urination, anemia, and damage to the liver, kidneys and pancreas.

Diagnosis

An avian or poultry veterinarian may perform:

X-rays. Metal pieces or pellets may be visible in the gizzard or gastrointestinal tract, although paint and some other sources will not necessarily show.

Blood tests. Blood lead or zinc concentrations can confirm exposure. A CBC and chemistry panel can also identify anemia and liver or kidney damage.

Sometimes the history and environmental inspection are extremely important because the metal object may already have passed while significant metal remains in the bird’s body.

Treatment

Heavy metal poisoning requires veterinary treatment.

Treatment depends on the metal and severity but may include:

• Chelation therapy to bind the metal and allow the body to eliminate it
• IV or other fluid therapy
• Treatment for seizures
• Nutritional and supportive care
• Treatment of anemia
• Removal of metal objects from the digestive tract
• Endoscopy, flushing, or occasionally surgery when an object cannot pass

Chelating medications used in birds may include calcium EDTA, DMSA (succimer), or D-penicillamine, depending on the circumstances. These medications should be administered under veterinary supervision because treatment varies according to the metal involved and the bird’s condition.

With zinc poisoning, removing an ingested zinc object can be especially important because the object may continue releasing zinc while it remains in the digestive tract.

Do not give activated charcoal for suspected metal poisoning.

Activated charcoal does not bind zinc, and heavy-metal poisoning generally requires specific veterinary treatment rather than routine home poisoning remedies.

Prevention

Regularly inspect the goose’s enclosure and grazing area for metal. Pay particular attention to old fishing tackle, shotgun pellets, paint flakes, construction debris, screws, wire and galvanized hardware. Geese investigate their surroundings with their bills and can swallow surprisingly small pieces.

Early treatment can make a major difference, particularly before severe neurological or organ damage occurs.

Mold Poisoning in Geese — Mycotoxicosis

Mold poisoning (mycotoxicosis) occurs when a goose eats feed, grain, treats, or sometimes bedding contaminated with toxins produced by molds. Common poultry mycotoxins include aflatoxins, ochratoxins, fumonisins, and trichothecenes. These toxins can injure the liver, kidneys, digestive tract, immune system, and nervous system.

Importantly, mold poisoning is not the same thing as aspergillosis. Mold poisoning comes primarily from ingesting toxins, whereas aspergillosis is an infection caused by inhaling large numbers of fungal spores.

Symptoms

Signs depend on the toxin, amount consumed, and how long the goose has been exposed. Watch for:

• Loss of appetite or suddenly refusing a particular feed
• Lethargy, weakness, or depression
• Weight loss or poor growth
• Diarrhea or other digestive problems
• Increased thirst in some cases
• Pale appearance or poor condition
• Mouth or tongue sores with certain mycotoxins
• Poor feather condition
• Reduced egg production or reproductive problems
• Increased susceptibility to infections
• Bruising or abnormal bleeding
• Poor coordination or difficulty walking
• Tremors or seizures in severe poisoning
• Sudden death

Treatment

There is no universal antidote for mycotoxin poisoning. The most important action is stopping exposure immediately.

1. Remove the suspected feed immediately. Do not feed any more from the same bag or batch.
2. Provide fresh, clean water and uncontaminated complete waterfowl/poultry feed.
3. Remove wet or moldy bedding and clean contaminated feeders and storage containers.
4. Keep the goose somewhere quiet, clean, dry, and comfortably warm while it is ill.
5. Contact an avian or poultry veterinarian, particularly if there are neurological signs, bleeding, severe weakness, respiratory distress, inability to eat or drink, or multiple birds becoming sick.
6. Veterinary supportive treatment may include fluids, nutritional support, vitamins/minerals, management of liver or kidney complications, and treatment of secondary infections when present.

Mycotoxin-binding products and activated charcoal are sometimes used in poultry management, but effectiveness varies greatly depending on the toxin. They should not be considered a substitute for removing contaminated feed, and I would not give a sick goose a charcoal or binder dose without veterinary guidance.

Mold poisoning vs. aspergillosis

Mold poisoning / Mycotoxicosis	Aspergillosis
Usually caused by eating mycotoxins	Caused primarily by inhaling Aspergillus spores
Liver/GI/kidney/neurological problems common	Primarily respiratory disease
Weakness, appetite loss, diarrhea, neurological signs, bleeding	Labored breathing, gasping, voice changes, weight loss
Remove contaminated feed	Remove bird from moldy/spore-contaminated environment
Antifungals do not neutralize mycotoxins	Antifungal treatment may be considered in individual birds under veterinary care

Prevention

Keep feed cool and completely dry, use sealed storage containers, regularly empty and clean feeders rather than continually topping them off, discard wet or musty feed, replace damp bedding promptly, and don’t give geese moldy bread or spoiled foods. Good ventilation is especially important because damp bedding can also produce large numbers of airborne fungal spores.

If a goose has just eaten moldy feed, removing access to it immediately is worthwhile even if the bird currently looks normal—some effects may not be obvious at first.

Avian Flu : is becoming more and more widespred. If you need information about this disease, or suspect your bird might have it, I strongly suggest you read my post on the Avian Flu.

https://nadiamarieusa.com/the-avian-flu-virus-that-affect-our-birds/

Written by Nadia Marie — based on my experience raising pet geese.

Last reviewed: September 2026
Author: Nadia Marie
Sources: Food And Agriculture Organization