Bumblefoot - Calling All Crunchy Natural Folks

Oregano Oil? Tea Tree Oil?

I have a drake with a marble-sized bumble on his "heel". I have read all the suggestions on this site for treating bumblefoot, but wanted to see if there's anyone out there who has used the oils mentioned above as I have them on-hand and I know they are effective anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-septics. I have read these arer safe for ducks, but would like to know how others have administerd using them? I am thinking soaking in warm water using one of the oils then applying topically with coconut oil?

Epsom salt is pretty natural, and I prefer that for soaking.

I would get a reputable reference for the proper ratio of essential oil and carrier - then use that on the bumble. And if it does not seem to help after several days, I would go with the clear (clear, not brown) iodine.

I would also lean more toward oregano than tea tree. Oregano is being used in poultry farms to help prevent bacterial infections in large flocks, so I am fairly confident it should do no harm, as long as it's in the proper ratio with a carrier oil.

Amiga said:

Epsom salt is pretty natural, and I prefer that for soaking.

I would get a reputable reference for the proper ratio of essential oil and carrier - then use that on the bumble.  And if it does not seem to help after several days, I would go with the clear (clear, not brown) iodine.  

I would also lean more toward oregano than tea tree.  Oregano is being used in poultry farms to help prevent bacterial infections in large flocks, so I am fairly confident it should do no harm, as long as it's in the proper ratio with a carrier oil.

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Ah, epsom salt! I'll go dig that out of the cabinet. And I will definitely get some clear iodine, I don't have that yet.

I was kind of leaning more towards oregano oil as well. I will be sure to figure out proper ratios - I know essential oils can be too aggressive if not used properly.

Thank you for the helpful advice!

By the way, what is the difference between clear iodine and brown iodine anyway? I've honestly never used either. Is clear better for people, too?

Here are the ingredients in each -

brown iodine - Active Ingredients: Iodine (2%), Alcohol (47% by volume), Purified Water, and Sodium Iodine (2.4%).

clear iodine - Active Ingredients: Alcohol (45%), Ammonium and, Potassium Iodides (6.7 - 7.1%). Inactive Ingredient: Purified Water.

I can only guess, but I think there is something about the ammonium that helps the iodine get through the skin and start killing germs better than the brown iodine. Haunted55 discovered, by accident, that putting clear iodine on a soaked bumblefoot causes a dark scab to form and when soaked again several days later, it can usually be pulled gently off, carrying a chunk of pus with it. Sometimes just once clears the bumble, sometimes it needs to be done again.

@Miss Lydia has used this method, as have others.

And it's fairly natural - I mean, it's iodine, an element. An element that needs to be handled with respect, but unlike antibiotics, I don't think bacteria have developed resistance to it.

I use the clear stuff for myself, it seems to work well.

I used the clear iodine on 2 of my hens[chickens] who had bumble and it really cleared it up quicker that the reg iodine That I was using I was able to pull off the scab and pull the bumble out then continue using the c iodine till healed. If the Bumble is pretty big and infection is spread it will of course take longer. I have also used Derma gel spray{amazon] after the clear iodine pulled the bumble to the surface.I like both for helping to heal once the bumble is removed.

That's so interesting. Okay, so what would you say is the water-to-iodine ratio for the soak? Should I do epsom with the iodine in the water? Is soaking with iodine better than just applying it straight? Do I need to do that whole duct-shape-shoe thing? I have seen pics of bad bumblefoot and I don't think this guy's is terrible yet but it's a good-sized knot amd he's really limping around.

Thank you both, by the way!

Homesteadin said:

That's so interesting. Okay, so what would you say is the water-to-iodine ratio for the soak? Should I do epsom with the iodine in the water? Is soaking with iodine better than just applying it straight? Do I need to do that whole duct-shape-shoe thing? I have seen pics of bad bumblefoot and I don't think this guy's is terrible yet but it's a good-sized knot amd he's really limping around.

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You soak the foot I actually soak both feet just easier for me to stick both feet into the bucket of warm water and Epsom salt. I try to hold them there at least 5-10 mins but at least 5 then I dry off the foot that has the bumble take the clear iodine I use a q tip to spread it all over the bumble top and bottom of foot. The dabber that comes in the bottle I don't like. Soak then use the Clear iodine then wait a few days and soak again and use the clear iodine you may have to do this 3-5 times before the scab will pull off easily. there will be a yellow pus that is thick inside under the scab. pull it out with sterile tweezers then pack the hole with neo or spread the C iodine all over inside and out then you can wrap using the non stick gauze and vet wrap or just keep the duck on clean bedding in other words don't let him run around out in the muck and mire until the foot has healed. Try too keep him from using the foot alot till you start working on getting the bumble out to try and keep the pain down.

Thank you, Miss Lydia. I'll get started with that regimen. I am going to have to find a better way to keep him confined to keep him from using the foot too much - I had him in a small portable pen that's a couple feet tall and none of my ducks have ever gotten out of it, but he missed his ladies so much he made his way out over the side. I may just keep him locked in the run and put his favorite gal in there with him while the others continue roaming.

I'll let you know how it all goes.