Need Input on Bumblefoot Treatment in Ducks

[vidariffic]

Thanks Amiga. The photos are helpful. The pekin's feet are so nice and bright and easy to see the bumbles! I will get some of the iodine. In the meantime, I'll keep the salt soaks going.

So do most duck owners check feet regularly?! We've had ducks for 4 years, and I've never had this problem and haven't checked their feet! I'm feeling a little negligent and want to avoid them having this problem if I can.

What do most small-scale duck owners do? We only have 20, and I can't imagine checking their feet weekly really...

 

[Amiga]

You are so conscientious! Some of us check feet at intervals, I mainly watch to see how everyone is walking. If there is any clue that they are not trotting along energetically, then I will check the feet. So far, I have caught any bumblefoot cases pretty early.

 

[vidariffic]

What was the oral antibiotics they gave you, do you know the name? And dosage?

 

[vidariffic]

Well we went up to two ducks with bumble foot. #2 is healing quickly and not limping anymore, though I'm still waiting for the bumble to go down in size before letting her back with the flock. but #1 is not getting any better. It's been 5 days. A big concern is she is putting weight on the foot with bumble and not putting weight on her "healthy" foot, yet that foot seems totally fine and doesn't hurt when we palpate or try to move it at the joints...
We tried lancing the bumble today at the part that seemed softest and with the most pus but only a little blood came and then a very VERY thick whitish fluid (though it was thick) came out, just barely if squeezed. It didn't seem like pus though. Here's some photos of the top and bottom.
Any thoughts would be so helpful! I'm debating bringing her into the vet, but around here it's Cornell Vet Hospital and just walking in the door costs $130.

 

[Amiga]

The pus in bumblefoot in ducks is not what one often things of, the very thick but fairly liquid stuff. In ducks, the material inside is more like cottage cheese, at least in many cases.

Here is a method of treatment that has worked well for a number of people.

It was submitted by Haunted55 last year. It involves no surgery, just soaking, applying clear iodine, and gently pulling the scab.

On July 1st, I found one of my Pekin ducks with what I would consider a bad case of Bumblefoot. Both feet were involved and I'm ashamed to say, the only way I found it was she was limping. One foot had 7 and the other had 3. I was able to grab her and bring her into the house and put her into a warm bath to clean and soak. Two water changes later and softened feet, all I had time to do was paint the bumbles with colorless iodine, grabbed the wrong stuff, and put her into a dog crate in my house until I could get everything ready to operate and get them gone. Did I mention the thought of this scared me half to death?

Sad to say it took 6 days before i was able to get everything together and someone to help out with the 'cure'. The following pictures are what we found after the bath we gave before the planned surgery to remove these things.




















As can be seen, there really wasn't much to operate on, even though I was prepared to do just that. No matter how much squeezing or prodding or soaking, there just wasn't anything more to come out, it was all on the scabs that were covering the sores. The swelling was down from the 'marbles' I saw when I first found them. I poured betadine over the ones I had opened and painted the ones that I hadn't again with the iodine and put her back into her crate with clean bedding.

the next pictures are of the same Pekin and anothe duck, Dottie the Mallard, who was also found limping.












As can be seen in the first two pictures, the bumbles have been dramatically reduced on the Pekin with just the iodine application and the smaller ones totally gone. The last four pictures are of the Mallard who is still under going the iodine applications.

As can be seen, this is how the left and right foot look tonight on the Pekin duck. The heels being the worst are still showing infection and need for more treatment. tomorrow, I will again give a bath and pull/cut out the scabbing and treat with straight iodine this time. These spots are now flat or as flat as they should be considering the part of the foot they are on. I will still touch up the places that had the spots before as well.

 

[vidariffic]

FYI we have had a bumblefoot issue on a few birds, to the point of limping. No response from Epsom soaks and Vetericyn sprays. Duramycine and Tetracycline were recommended through several threads and a Cornell animal disease specialist in poultry. Unfortunately, I just spoke to a vet at the Cornell Duck Research Lab and since we sell our eggs - these antibiotics are NOT recommended for chickens or ducks if eggs are consumed by humans.

Resource of interest - Cornell Duck Research Lab. They have a web site.

 

[Amiga]

FYI we have had a bumblefoot issue on a few birds, to the point of limping. No response from Epsom soaks and Vetericyn sprays. Duramycine and Tetracycline were recommended through several threads and a Cornell animal disease specialist in poultry. Unfortunately, I just spoke to a vet at the Cornell Duck Research Lab and since we sell our eggs - these antibiotics are NOT recommended for chickens or ducks if eggs are consumed by humans.

Resource of interest - Cornell Duck Research Lab. They have a web site.

A number of us have had good success with either triple antibiotic ointment or clear iodine.

Here are the details on the iodine (posted by Haunted55)
On July 1st, I found one of my Pekin ducks with what I would consider a bad case of Bumblefoot. Both feet were involved and I'm ashamed to say, the only way I found it was she was limping. One foot had 7 and the other had 3. I was able to grab her and bring her into the house and put her into a warm bath to clean and soak. Two water changes later and softened feet, all I had time to do was paint the bumbles with colorless iodine, grabbed the wrong stuff, and put her into a dog crate in my house until I could get everything ready to operate and get them gone. Did I mention the thought of this scared me half to death?

Sad to say it took 6 days before i was able to get everything together and someone to help out with the 'cure'. The following pictures are what we found after the bath we gave before the planned surgery to remove these things.




















As can be seen, there really wasn't much to operate on, even though I was prepared to do just that. No matter how much squeezing or prodding or soaking, there just wasn't anything more to come out, it was all on the scabs that were covering the sores. The swelling was down from the 'marbles' I saw when I first found them. I poured betadine over the ones I had opened and painted the ones that I hadn't again with the iodine and put her back into her crate with clean bedding.

the next pictures are of the same Pekin and anothe duck, Dottie the Mallard, who was also found limping.












As can be seen in the first two pictures, the bumbles have been dramatically reduced on the Pekin with just the iodine application and the smaller ones totally gone. The last four pictures are of the Mallard who is still under going the iodine applications.

As can be seen, this is how the left and right foot look tonight on the Pekin duck. The heels being the worst are still showing infection and need for more treatment. tomorrow, I will again give a bath and pull/cut out the scabbing and treat with straight iodine this time. These spots are now flat or as flat as they should be considering the part of the foot they are on. I will still touch up the places that had the spots before as well.

 

[ilovebirds2010]

A few weeks ago, I noticed my duck's bumblefoot was starting to form again. When I went to the vet for her yearly check up recently, I showed him the new bumps. He prescribed "Healx Soother Cream Plus." This cream greatly reduced the bumps already and if I continue to follow through by applying twice a day, I know they will disappear. There is no need to slice or wrap the foot. The description on the website reads as follows: "A nontoxic topical antimicrobial cream with immediate anti-inflammatory and antipruritic relief for all animals." It is really good stuff and I highly recommend it. You can buy it online without a prescription. It can be used for all kinds of wounds and is great to have on hand.

This Healx treatment method is far easier than the method I posted earlier in this thread. It is best to catch the bumblefoot right when it starts for this method to be truly effective.

As far as more advanced cases of bumblefoot, I was told by a friend just yesterday, her vet advised hemorrhoid cream. There is no need to slice the foot either. He told her if applied twice a day (no matter how severe a case), it will disappear in three weeks.

If anyone tries one of these methods, please share your success in this thread. Would love to hear how it works on other babies

 

[Amiga]

A few weeks ago, I noticed my duck's bumblefoot was starting to form again. When I went to the vet for her yearly check up recently, I showed him the new bumps. He prescribed "Healx Soother Cream Plus." This cream greatly reduced the bumps already and if I continue to follow through by applying twice a day, I know they will disappear. There is no need to slice or wrap the foot. The description on the website reads as follows: "A nontoxic topical antimicrobial cream with immediate anti-inflammatory and antipruritic relief for all animals." It is really good stuff and I highly recommend it. You can buy it online without a prescription. It can be used for all kinds of wounds and is great to have on hand.

This Healx treatment method is far easier than the method I posted earlier in this thread. It is best to catch the bumblefoot right when it starts for this method to be truly effective.

As far as more advanced cases of bumblefoot, I was told by a friend just yesterday, her vet advised hemorrhoid cream. There is no need to slice the foot either. He told her if applied twice a day (no matter how severe a case), it will disappear in three weeks.

If anyone tries one of these methods, please share your success in this thread. Would love to hear how it works on other babies

Thanks for passing this along!

 

[duckfanatic01]

Can I get an update as to how the vet-prescribed things, the iodine, antibiotics, and/or the tricide neo has worked for anyone? I know I'm a year late, but some advice would be great as my ducks have bumblefoot and I can't afford to see a vet. So, are any of these medications compatible for better results, such as the vet prescribed things and the iodine or something? I really want my ducks to get better. Also, Amiga, you were talking about both the antibiotics and the iodine, which do you prefer or should they be used together? And if I were to use the prescription medication, should I also still be soaking in saltwater? Thanks! Sorry for being a year late, I hope you guys are still out there!