Oceanrose
Well-known member
A month ago, I was given an almost 4 year old buck who wasn't holding condition on his current diet.
He is registered to weigh 8.08#, and when I got him he weighed 7.0 flat. I have not reweighed him, but I can no longer feel his backbone, I would guess he's gained a pound in the month. He is still being freefed pellets, and hay with some oats and he has a mineral block (that he uses).
However, when I got him, I noticed when I picked him up he seemed wheezy and he still does. No discharge from the nose or eyes, no sneezing, but when he gets excited you can hear him wheeze. Activity wise, he seems fine, he sprays, bounces around, and definitely eats. I did notice he drank a ton of water at first, almost 1/2 bottle a day, but he is now down to the more normal 1/3 bottle like the other ones. Today, for example, I let him out in an exercise pen and he dug a hole, raced around, ate grass and generally had a great time.
I am wondering if he might have a touch of pneumonia, or is this just him? I have a vet who is fairly good I could take him too, but I hate to run an antibiotic through him and upset his system if I don't need to. I am wondering if I am best off to just monitor it, watch his weight, and keep him on a good diet (I am trying to make sure he gets fresh greens to help with vitamins) and so on, or do you think he needs a course of antibiotics?
He is registered to weigh 8.08#, and when I got him he weighed 7.0 flat. I have not reweighed him, but I can no longer feel his backbone, I would guess he's gained a pound in the month. He is still being freefed pellets, and hay with some oats and he has a mineral block (that he uses).
However, when I got him, I noticed when I picked him up he seemed wheezy and he still does. No discharge from the nose or eyes, no sneezing, but when he gets excited you can hear him wheeze. Activity wise, he seems fine, he sprays, bounces around, and definitely eats. I did notice he drank a ton of water at first, almost 1/2 bottle a day, but he is now down to the more normal 1/3 bottle like the other ones. Today, for example, I let him out in an exercise pen and he dug a hole, raced around, ate grass and generally had a great time.
I am wondering if he might have a touch of pneumonia, or is this just him? I have a vet who is fairly good I could take him too, but I hate to run an antibiotic through him and upset his system if I don't need to. I am wondering if I am best off to just monitor it, watch his weight, and keep him on a good diet (I am trying to make sure he gets fresh greens to help with vitamins) and so on, or do you think he needs a course of antibiotics?
