90 days of an infection with no progress - I need help....

[Enten4life]

I had another post about what we thought was bumblefoot, but it is not. I am desperate for help as euthenasia is now the only course of action I see to prevent her from suffering and getting worse. An now the other chickens are hurting her(she's been separated).

There are pictures on the other post here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/battling-bumblefoot-vet-has-cleaned-it-once-so-far.1533837/

But I've been getting zero responses to the other thread and I just want to see if there is something we can do to save her. I love her so much.

There has been an infection in one of our chicken's foot for almost 3 months now. She's had the following treatments:

- Infection disintegrated one of her toe bones
- 2 rounds of AMZ TMP Suspension (did not help much) which led to amputation of the toe. Infection spread.
-2 rounds of Torbutrol injection. helped very little
- two cultures taken with ZERO results (no bacterial growth)
- one biopsy, negative for cancer, LOTS of imflamation
-Fungal culture (still in progress)
-Itraconazole (intrafungol) antifungal treatment (currently taking)

Doctor and a specialist he's been talking to have never seen this and are out of ideas........ My heart is breaking for her.

Thank you.

 

[SmiYa0126]

Hello! If antibiotics aren't working, can you add raw acv to soak her feet instead of Epsom salt? Also, there's a silver infused salve called emuaid extreme that I used to successfully heal a really infected toe on one of my keets when I first bought them, her nail had been ripped out because of the flooring they were on. If you can't get emuaid, try manuka honey on the wound. Are you cleaning the wound and changing the bandage every day? For her overall immune system, brew echinacea tea...I let mine sit overnight and then give it to her as a water source with a little bit of honey. I also add dried oregano, echinacea, garlic, lavender, and chamomile to my chickens food.

Earlier this year I had a respiratory virus go through my flock, I didn't lose anyone. I also used eucalyptus and peppermint essential oil, think Vicks.

Also, ask your vet about using human grade peroxide (not hydrogen peroxide) orally to treat the infection, its very effective.

 

[Enten4life]

Hello! If antibiotics aren't working, can you add raw acv to soak her feet instead of Epsom salt? Also, there's a silver infused salve called emuaid extreme that I used to successfully heal a really infected toe on one of my keets when I first bought them, her nail had been ripped out because of the flooring they were on. If you can't get emuaid, try manuka honey on the wound. Are you cleaning the wound and changing the bandage every day? For her overall immune system, brew echinacea tea...I let mine sit overnight and then give it to her as a water source with a little bit of honey. I also add dried oregano, echinacea, garlic, lavender, and chamomile to my chickens food.

Earlier this year I had a respiratory virus go through my flock, I didn't lose anyone. I also used eucalyptus and peppermint essential oil, think Vicks.

Also, ask your vet about using human grade peroxide (not hydrogen peroxide) orally to treat the infection, its very effective.

There is no wound. The wounds were created by the dr to drain. I would drain the fluid once a day during an epsom soak and bandage change.

This originally presented without a wound at all. It's been internal to her joint. She was bandaged off and on for the last 10 weeks depending on if a draining wound was present.

The anti-biotics she was on are super strong so I dont' think any other method could work, but I will try anything at this point.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

There has been an infection in one of our chicken's foot for almost 3 months now

Sorry you both face this.

I didn't catch her age and feed routine.

Some virus' cause swelling to joints.. and would not be bacterial..

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/viral-arthritis/viral-arthritis-in-poultry#:~:text=Viral arthritis is a term,and may have ruptured tendons.

Some feed routines (excess treats or excess protein or even excess calcium) coupled with a genetic factor can result in gout. I did think that toe looked broken.. but you say disintegrated. And like the vet said.. no way to know which caused which.

In poultry.. one lancing may not be enough to get rid of the infection. It may need to be drained (or opened) regularly to allow for healing. BUT I may not do that since, there has been no confirmation of infection like puss.

Regarding tumors.. they can still exist without being cancerous. Many of my elder dogs are sporting them. The non usage that indicates possible pain is concerning though. Looking at the pics on the other thread you linked.. ya, that doesn't look like a scab or wound but very much like a tumor seen on skin.

While animals can live without the extra limbs.. all life is finite.. I personally would not subject her to more surgeries and treatments. It's never an easy choice. I also hate forcing meds, it's very stressful for both parties involved.

You have done so much to try and help this gal!

Since the turbutrol had no effect on movement.. it's possible the limping is caused by the new mechanics and not fully indicative of pain.. Pain relief *should* have produced some easier movement and general perking up in MY experience.

Regular eating is a good sign.

Loneliness, being separated from the flock may be an issue. Separation SHOULD take place within sight and interaction of the flock if possible (using a look but don;t touch set up), otherwise ALL pecking order goes out the window and the loner will be treated as a new comer/intruder.

Hope this helps at least to advance the conversation and considerations some, also that she recovers quickly!

 

[Enten4life]

She is almost two years old and they free range in my backyard. They are given a all-flock feed and oyster shell. There are 3 ducks and 4 chickens total. She is eating, and she's actually still trying to assert herself against the others, but she loses.

Dr. did mention a virus, but she has no other symptoms. Just the the food is very warm to the touch like it has been since it started. No other birds exhibit any symptoms, although the mother of the other three does have some diarrhea issues where she poops mostly water. She's still laying and acting normal. Didn't think they were related???

She's currently in their run/coop so they can see her when she's not resting in the coop part. Forcing meds at this point is so easy because I've done it every day for many, many weeks, sometimes twice a day. We actually injected the biotic, which was actually way less stressful on her (she never even flinched).

Her middle tow (now the inside toe) has started to swell up a bit, and if I try to move her tow, she screams. It definitely hurts are to use the foot and she isn't even bending her toes when she roosts. But she's a fighter. She's also the friendliest one we have even from a baby chick. I will do whatever it takes to save her as long as she isn't suffering from the treatment or disease. But I just feel like we're out of options.

The only twinkle of hope we had was after the toe was amputated, she started acting like her old self and started using her foot. But that only lasted 10 days or so before it came back on the other side of her ankle.

 

[SmiYa0126]

There is no wound. The wounds were created by the dr to drain. I would drain the fluid once a day during an epsom soak and bandage change.

This originally presented without a wound at all. It's been internal to her joint. She was bandaged off and on for the last 10 weeks depending on if a draining wound was present.

The anti-biotics she was on are super strong so I dont' think any other method could work, but I will try anything at this point.

I think alternative methods are definitely worth a try. It's not contraindicated with what you're doing with vet, but will strengthen her own immune system. I'm so sorry for you and PatPat

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

Have you looked into Tricide Neo? It's used to treat koi with a variety of issues, like fin rot. I've been treating a stubborn case of bumblefoot with Tri-Neo. After two years, I'm finally seeing the healing progress in a positive way.

 

[Enten4life]

Have you looked into Tricide Neo? It's used to treat koi with a variety of issues, like fin rot. I've been treating a stubborn case of bumblefoot with Tri-Neo. After two years, I'm finally seeing the healing progress in a positive way.

is that an antibiotic cream? If so, her infection is inside her foot, nothing is on the exterior currently. Only when the DR has lanced the swelling to drain it and then for a week after (in which she's been on injectable anti-biotics. I mean, I'll try it! I don't want to lost her!

 

[SmiYa0126]

It doesn't matter if there is a wound or not, the skin will still absorb cream. My roo had a sprain and I used the emuaid cream to bring down the inflammation.

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

is that an antibiotic cream? If so, her infection is inside her foot, nothing is on the exterior currently. Only when the DR has lanced the swelling to drain it and then for a week after (in which she's been on injectable anti-biotics. I mean, I'll try it! I don't want to lost her!

It's a powder you mix with distilled water and soak her feet in twice a day/15 minutes. My vet recommended it.

Here's where I purchased it from. There's a little more information about it listed there as well: https://wholesalekoifarm.net/product/tricide-neo/