Abscess on foot. **pic** UPDATE

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

My hen's lump was big enough that I could cut a small slice (just one, not an X) right across the top of the lump. She started bleeding so I soaked her and then I was able to see the yellow plug. Rather than poke around with the knife, I reached in with my nail and scooped it out. That's why I'm not sure I got all of it; would have been easier if I had help.

If your lump is smaller than a pea, unless you can see a yellowish spot on the lump, maybe just try to keep soaking. Could just be infection from the thorn and maybe that will cure it

Your list of on-hand items is pretty much all I used except instead of rags I used paper towels. I also placed a gauze pad over the wounds before taping up. Not sure if that was necessary but it made me feel better.

 

[ScoobyRoo]

Thanks Cindy. Right now the lumps do not have yellow in them. I'm hoping we caught it early enough to just do the soaking and wrapping.

Thanks to the O.P. for posting when you did. The timing was perfect when my situation occured. I learned quite a bit of information. I just hope it sticks with me. I tend to forget things after a long period of time goes by.

 

[devora]

Henryschickens--

I'm not sure if this is always true, but I just did this w/ two birds and it was the same: I saw no yellow until I cut and dug in. Sorry to say that!

Of course it might not be bumble, but mine were and I essentially sliced open the foot (on one I took all the bottom skin off her foot, the other was a series of slices) and used tweezers to pull out the yellow. I kept thinking, "Where's the yellow plug?!" It was deeper than I'd expected.

The easiest way, if you need to do it, is to turn her on her back and cover her head w/ a cloth. She'll relax. I was surprised how little they squirmed, but I think it might be that they don't feel the yellow plug. Not sure.

Good luck to any and all going thru this!! I'm still hoping my girls don't get infected despite all the iodine/hydrogen peroxide/bandaging.

 

[ScoobyRoo]

devora, you were right. After taking her bandage off it had turned yellow (between her toes) and the pad had swelled up more but the hole is still open (hole is in bottom of pad) Why isn't it draining if it is open?

I'm sure part of the thorn is still in there. My DH did lance the spot between her toe and it bled a little at first then some pus came out. But that was all. I'm afraid like you said, we didn't dig deep enough. I'm wondering if we should lance from the bottom of the foot this next time or go in the top with a bigger 'X' incision on top of what he did last night and see what is down in there.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

This is just an add-on to all the informative posts in this thread. When lancing any abcess, you want to work with a clean, sharp blade. You always want to slice vertically, not horizontally. Also, you want to slice at the bottom of the abcess, not the top (that way it can drain down).

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Ohhhh thanks for the advice. I did slice horizontally

but she's healing ok. Will definitely do vertical next time. Never gave it a thought.

 

[Chickenaddict]

Man my tummy is turning after reading this thread. I just noticed one of my hens has bumblefoot,I saw a yellow lump the size of a pea in between her toes and immediately looked at the bottom of her foot and noticed the black scab. This is gonna be a big chore considering she is a big girl and doesn't sit still for 5 seconds much less 20 minutes to soak her foot. I have read alot of threads on this but never had to deal with it until now. Thanks again for this post it is helping me alot to gain the courage to do this. I hope it doesn't take 4 months to heal

I'll be deaf from her squaking to beat the band not being able to roam free in the yard .I Guess the rest of the flock will get a foot inspection tomorrow. Ugh why do things like this happen when you already have a overflowing plate?

 

[Toast n Jelly]

Quote:
Wrap her up in a towel to work on her and make sure to cover her eyes and she'll lay pretty quiet for you.

 

[warcard]

Does the Betadine dissolve easily in the Epsom Salt water?

I tried this yesterday with my rooster. I dissolved 2 cups of Epsom salt in about 4 cups of water (according to the box for bruises) and when I tried to add the betadine it really didn't dissolve. It was clumpy and stuck to the tweezers when I tried to stir it and then was sticky of my hand when I tried to get it off the tweezers. I bought the CVS brand stuff (10% something iodine). Did I get the wrong kind?

Thanks.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

The betadine I bought was a liquid