Slobber/drool

I’m not sure if this is a problem but my gosling whose about a month and two weeks old will shake his head several times a day and either slobber or water comes slinging out. And it’s not a small amount, and he can do it a couple times in a row. Is this something that’s normal?

It might be a respiratory infection or a gastrointestinal infection.

If something is causing his digestion to slow it can cause him to regurgitate, of Candida is the issue he’ll vomit a yellow membrain like slime with it.

If it’s always clear mucous it’s mlre likely a respiratory problem.

Is he eating and drinking normally?

Has he had any changes in vocalization other than the normal changes that come with getting older? In particular have you heard his voice became faint or hoarse?

Does his tail bob a little as he breaths?

Goosebaby said:

It might be a respiratory infection or a gastrointestinal infection.

If something is causing his digestion to slow it can cause him to regurgitate, of Candida is the issue he’ll vomit a yellow membrain like slime with it.

If it’s always clear mucous it’s mlre likely a respiratory problem.

Is he eating and drinking normally?

Has he had any changes in vocalization other than the normal changes that come with getting older? In particular have you heard his voice became faint or hoarse?

Does his tail bob a little as he breaths?

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Nothing is discolored, or slimy. He still has the same appetite and drinks plenty of water. He mainly does it right at night time or when he’s been chewing on something like my tank top strap. But there are times that I’ve noticed him do it after he’s groomed himself as well. Oh, and no tail bob, is that good or bad?

Not tail bobbing is a good thing. Tail bobbing is caused by three possible problems, a mass inside the body “gas, fluid, enlarged organ or a tumor” pressing on the lungs and air sacks causing labored breathing, Shock/ cardiac event, or a lung infection like asper, mycoplasma, or some other bacteria or virus causing air sacculitis.

The fact that he’s not doing that is a good sign but it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have an issue that may be starting that could lead to that.

From my personal expierience with two of mine that were regurgitating:
one was caused by an intestinal infection “giardia + clostridium” causing the goose equivalent of slow crop which also later turned into a Candida infection. He would regurgitate water and food, then later Candida biofilm a disgusting yellow membrain/slime.

The other goose that I had that hacked up thick strings of clear mucous was because of asper. Asper is easier to treat the earlier it’s diagnosed, but I won’t sugar coat it, it is one of the hardest diseases to cure in birds and sadly the current drugs used to kill the fungus are incredibly toxic to birds.

There are of course other possibilities. He could have another form of respiratory infection, or he could be reacting to something environmentally, like an allergy.

Have you noticed any sneezing or snicking? Snicking is a subtle little snort with a slight shake of the head.

Have you noticed any bubbles in his eyes or slight swelling around the face?

Has he been favoring either of his legs?

What do his droppings look like? Runny? Bubbly? Slime? Weird coloration?

Also what feed and bedding does he have?

No sneezing or snorts. Hisis kinda different per day. I’m not sure what his poop is supposed to look like but sometimes it can be runny, sometimes it will be a solid brownish green or completely green solid. He is on Purina duck pellets with oats and he has grit in a bowl. I also put lettuce in a bowl with a little water. He gets apple pieces for treats. But that seems to give him runny pop. He use’s both legs equally, he runs and runs through the house and outside constantly. Oh, and no bubbles in his eyes or swelling.
His bedding is my bed. He sleeps with me🫣
I’ll attach a picture of his just recent

KristieM75 said:

No sneezing or snorts. Hisis kinda different per day. I’m not sure what his poop is supposed to look like but sometimes it can be runny, sometimes it will be a solid brownish green or completely green solid. He is on Purina duck pellets with oats and he has grit in a bowl. I also put lettuce in a bowl with a little water. He gets apple pieces for treats. But that seems to give him runny pop. He use’s both legs equally, he runs and runs through the house and outside constantly. Oh, and no bubbles in his eyes or swelling.
His bedding is my bed. He sleeps with me🫣
I’ll attach a picture of his just recent

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The dropping looks normal, it’s normal for it to be runny after eating fruit so that checks out.

When he’s drooling can you describe exactly how much he’s spitting up?
Spitting and flicking water can be normal when they’ve had a bath or just drank, it’s excess amounts that are concerning so I’m trying to figure out if this is just the usual thing or if he does have an issue.

Is it liquid that he’s flinging out or is it viscous mucous? Is it a few drops or is it strings that he’s flinging out or hanging out of his mouth?

Goosebaby said:

The dropping looks normal, it’s normal for it to be runny after eating fruit so that checks out.

When he’s drooling can you describe exactly how much he’s spitting up?
Spitting and flicking water can be normal when they’ve had a bath or just drank, it’s excess amounts that are concerning so I’m trying to figure out if this is just the usual thing or if he does have an issue.

Is it liquid that he’s flinging out or is it viscous mucous? Is it a few drops or is it strings that he’s flinging out or hanging out of his mouth?

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It’s always been clear and not thick, just feels like water or maybe drool maybe? Can geese drool? It’s usually after he’s been playing with the tank top strap I’m wearing, and he gets that pretty wet..he will shake his head and it’s either water or drool that comes out. He does it sometimes after he grooms himself as well. Is this normal for them to do? Could he be drinking too many ch water and he’s trying to get it out? But it’s not ever discolored or mucus like and definitely not slimy. Oh and I’ve never seen strings of anything coming out his nose…that would probably be the thing that would turn my stomachI can deal with goose but snot would have me losing my cookies!
I do want to say thank you to you for so much help, and information. You have been really amazing and I’ve actually learned a great deal. Im so very new, 7 weeks new..and know basically “zip”, except what I’ve picked up here.
I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate all the help you are giving me.

Geese don’t naturally drool, so if they are drooling it’s always a symptom of illness.

Healthy geese will flick and spit excess water out if they have need of it, but it will be watery in appearance, not viscous. Chewing on your clothing could cause him to salivate more which is normal.

I don’t know what ch water is, I’m guessing chlorinated? I don’t think you can help that much if that’s what’s coming out of the tap but do not restrict his access to water, free access to water is important to health.

Geese can get runny noses from illness, but sometimes it can be just water from when they took a bath and not a sign of illness.
Most of the time if they have an upper repiratory illness the strings of mucous will come out of their mouth more often than their nose as the illness progresses, depending on the illness.


At this stage it’s hard to say if your gosling has an issue, he may just be doing the normal things geese do, if you notice any changes of voice, coughing, sneezing, snicking, or him spitting up mucous I would suggest getting him seen by a vet to determine what he caught.

I’m sorry, I meant to say “too much water” but instead my fat thumbs had a different idea I’ll keep an eye on him and look for anything you mentioned. Here lately he hasn’t done it, it’s not an everyday thing to begin with but I haven’t even noticed it at all. He does have access to as much water as he wants, he has two water big bowls throughout the house that he uses.