Lyndsay Scott, [09 Jul 2024 at 18:50:08]: Good evening all from a very chilly Namibia. Please may I ask some ostrich advice? A "pet" ostrich (1 of 6) – approximately 1 year old, was presented last week Thursday. It was not able to get up by itself, would get up on heels and shuffle forward, but not able to get up all the way to standing without help. Wing tone, tail tone normal; no signs of trauma/inflammation/bruising on either leg or along spine; eating and drinking normally; some days a bit stronger and would walk when helped up and aided, but some days weaker and would struggle to stand when aided. They are normally fed lucerne pellets and maize (sometimes kikuyu grass), and would go out to "natural" veld (Gobabis area, eastern Namibia) during the day and are housed in small 15m × 25m camps at night with the rest of their buddies and some chickens. My initial thought was botulism as they are not vaccinated - we had 3 botulism cases in turkeys in the same area exactly a year ago. The ostrich hasn’t gotten progressively worse (it still has wing tone and tail tone, still eating/drinking), but hasn’t really improved either. I am providing symptomatic treatment - Kyroligo and Kyrophos (and I also gave some meloxicam for 5 days in case of nerve trauma, but I stopped as no improvement was noted). What else can I do to help?? Or what have I forgotten?? Should I think of some mineral deficiencies??Any advice would be much appreciated. Henry Labuschagne, [09 Jul 2024 at 18:53:10]: Kikuyu roots cause impaction and they get progressively weaker and die unless you remove the impaction. Dose liquid paraffin and pray Lyndsay Scott, [09 Jul 2024 at 19:19:37]: Thanks so much Henry!! It is still passing faeces, so I didn’t consider impaction. I will dose liquid paraffin and hope for the best Willem Burger, [11 Jul 2024 at 16:08:22] Lyndsay. Dose with Coke. The low pH dissolves most obstructions, plus it gives much needed energy. Give Selenium injection as they often get "slipped tendon" as well. Lift and massage the legs every 30 min. Hendrik Hansen, [11 Jul 2024 at 16:17:06]: Willem, do you still consider surgery in these cases? Years ago, we did loads of impaction surgeries.
