Bumblefoot healed but foot more swollen than ever

[Nickmr]

I’ve been treating Gertrude’s bumblefoot for about a month. I tried surgery but couldn’t find any infection. Then I took her to the vet and got a prescription antibiotic which didn’t help at all. About two weeks ago I started soaking her foot in Tricide Neo which worked. Her bumblefoot looks almost completely healed but her foot has swelled way up and is pink and warm. She also is barely eating. I also started her on Fishmox 7 days ago. Any idea why her foot has swelled and what I can do to help?
First pic was tonight and second pic was from two weeks ago.

 

[SmiYa0126]

@Wyorp Rock @azygous @Eggcessive please help!

 

[azygous]

I have had this in my flock where a bumblefoot case will be so advanced that no matter how much treatment, the swelling just never seems to want to go away, even after a couple of years of constant treatment. I cannot tell you why.

 

[SmiYa0126]

@Nickmr a thought, if you get your antibiotics in capsules, empty a couple, mix in plain antibiotic cream, slather it on her foot and wrap it up. See if that helps bring the infection down.

 

[azygous]

@Nickmr a thought, if you get your antibiotics in capsules, empty a couple, mix in plain antibiotic cream, slather it on her foot and wrap it up. See if that helps bring the infection down.

That's one of the things I had tried when I was treating an adopted hen with serious bumblefoot. After two years of treatment, I tried opening a penicillin capsule and I put it directly on the bumble lesion. I did it for a few weeks, and there was no improvement at all.

 

[SmiYa0126]

I have also used emu aid Max successfully to heal bumblefoot, but it wasn't as bad as yours, it was only on the pad of the foot.

 

[WingsysRoost]

Ouch! Poor Gertrude. That definitely doesn't look comfortable.

I've successfully treated very severe, stubborn bumblefoot infection with essential oils, including infections on two of my birds that were, though not quite as swollen as in these pictures, approaching that point rapidly despite the multitude of other treatments I had tried. I use a mix of 42 drops fractionated coconut oil (the kind that stays liquid all the time), 7 drops tea tree essential oil, 7 drops lavender essential oil, and 7 drops oregano essential oil. This makes enough for my flock of twelve. I pick up the chicken, spread the mixture on the foot, and let them go again, no other treatment required. Essential oils are strong, so it is important to make sure that you are using a carrier oil (like the coconut oil) if you do choose to use this method.

For severe infections like this, I try to treat 2 or 3 times per day, but I've seen amazing progress even with treatment once per day. I will usually soak the chicken's foot in Epsom salts, too. I have the chicken stand in a bowl or dish of some kind, filled with warm water and Epsom salts just enough to cover the infected area, for roughly 10 or 15 minutes. Sometimes, I will add 1 drop each of tea tree, oregano, and lavender to the soak for added strength. It is important to note here that essential oils can cause eye and respiratory irritation, so I do monitor them while soaking just in case. I have never had any issues with that, though.

Wishing you the best of luck with healing her!

 

[Nickmr]

Such great advice! I will be trying some of these methods.