Sick goose!

Question
The neighbors have three geese: one male Toulouse and a pair of Canadian geese, who live in the horse pasture with pond.  The female of the pair got into foxtails; she has a lump on the side of her face the size of a golf ball. We lanced it once and got two foxtails but it is still huge.  She has drainage coming out her nose and if we apply pressure, blood comes out of her eye.  She is scheduled for surgery tomorrow but I was told that geese and ducks have trouble with anesthesia, that she may not come out completely.  Is that true?  What exactly does that mean, how will it affect her quality of life?   She is so sweet and we are at our wits' end as to how to help her.  Thanks.

Answer
Well I would think she will either not make it or she will be fine- there usually is no in between. Depending on the gas they give her and how well they monitor her she should be fine.

Most of the time you can blindfold a goose and use a local anesthetic (2% lidocaine) to lance, drain and flush out a foxtail infection. But that also means antibiotics for a few weeks.

Remember that Canada Geese are federally protected so I do hope that  they have a permit for them.

Here is a link to an article about anesthesia and waterfowl, although it may be too technical for a layperson. \

http://books.google.com/books?id=jxpZo6jjFbcC&pg=PA107&lpg=PA107&dq=anesthesia+f...

Ask the vet ahead of time what kind of anesthetic gas he uses and what his/her experience is with waterfowl.