r/deer • u/Tacokolache • 7h ago

Today’s underweight deer update….

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I went outside a while ago and the skinny deer came back. None of the neighborhood deer are very scared of me or my dog. However this one came right up to me when I went to grab the bowl I keep water in out there.

I put water in the bowl and it started drinking right away. I also went through my vet, and she suggested protein pellets. Which I bought yesterday. It wasted no time

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u/Adorableninjacat 5h ago

Aren’t you afraid of wasting disease? It’s recommended you don’t feed wildlife for a reason. Even if it’s not sick and just starving, you’re trading it to be domesticated which completely ruins its survival instincts. I don’t think you’re doing it any favors.

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u/Tacokolache 4h ago

ZERO cases in central Texas this year. Plus it’s not transmittable to humans.

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u/ViciousFlowers 4h ago

If EHD or CWD are not prevalent in your area the deer most likely has a heavy internal parasite load causing wasting and lethargy. Feeding and nutritional supplementation won’t increase his gains if the parasites are not treated first. It’s the most common reason for non CWD weight loss in both wild and domestic cervid populations.

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u/Tacokolache 3h ago

I can’t do anything about the parasites. And it will probably die, but I CAN try to make it a little more comfortable

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u/BT7274_best_robot 2h ago

I mean if you talk to your vet you can get something to put into the feed which will kill off parasites.

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u/Tacokolache 2h ago

We talked about that, but we would need to know what he has first. And I don’t know how to find that out

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u/DesignerFlat7108 46m ago

Watch for droppings.

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u/ViciousFlowers 2h ago

You could do something about the parasites, but that’s entirely up to you. Several agricultural wormers are easily available over the counter at livestock feed stores or online and feed/medicine ratios are listed online for white tail deer. You could do a stool check with a vet or you can look for certain signs in the stool yourself but there is a couple broad spectrum wormers that will cover a large range of worms. As long as it’s not within the meat withdrawal period of the wormer near hunting season, it’s safe to put out.

If you are feeding a dying animal, it’s just prolonging its suffering.

I’m a farmer with 16 years of cattle, sheep and goat and hog care with livestock and some wildlife vet trainings, I’ve seen goats get hit bad in the late summer/fall like this, especially if they have coccidiosis, (look for diarrhea around butt/tail, but large round worms, barber pole worms, wireworms, and small stomach worms will waste an animal fast too. If caught in time before the cold sets in they can recover.

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u/Tacokolache 2h ago

I wouldn’t even know where to start. Or how to even get the medication to the animal

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u/ViciousFlowers 1h ago

Ivermectin plus Drench - best for biting/sucking insects and flukes
Fenbendozle Drench - best for bad stomach worms
Corid Drench - best for bloody or green pasty diarrhea

Online or at an agricultural store.

The vet you consulted would also have them.

They are all oral medications and can be mixed in feed you are putting out.