Amputation of back toe due to severe bumblefoot - Advice appreciated.

[QueenMisha]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/236649/bumblefoot-surgery-with-pics-and-how-to Would this be any help...

I appreciate the link, but I don't think that will be useful. Like I've said I've done bumblefoot surgery in the past... but it was typical, a core in the pad of the foot, nothing like this..

 

[allgoaton]

My ducks were prone to bumblefoot for a while (we changed their substrate and it seems to have relented), and in the midst treatment with antibiotics (we did both topical and oral) one duck actually lost her back toe. Obviously this isn't ideal, but she healed totally fine and no worse for wear. I would suggest starting with topical treatments, soaking, wrapping, and isolating before actually cutting off the toe yourself. It may heal or improve in some way without the need to be more drastic.

 

[QueenMisha]

(Warning: post contains graphic description of surgery.)

So, I just did the surgery. I'd forgotten how much I hate bumblefoot surgery. That sounds crazy as I willingly taught myself caponization and blood and guts have never fazed me... but something about going into the tissue of a bird's foot just gives me the heebie-jeebies.

First, he actually DID have it in both back toes. However, in the second toe it had barely started and the core was only perhaps the size of a grain of cracked corn, so removing that was a breeze.

I started by washing and soaking his legs, getting them nice and clean and soft. I didn't have a helper of course so I used bungee cords to restrain him, wrapped him in a large towel, and placed a sock over his head. (Note to any new keepers reading this: ALWAYS keep bungee cords and socks in your chicken first aid kit for this purpose! They are invaluable). Up close, the worse toe did not look quite a bad as I had thought. Still pretty severe, but I decided to at least try to take out the core. I was able to remove some of it, but in the process it became clear most of the tissue on the lower part of the toe was dead or replaced with infection and I had basically hollowed out the last 1/4 inch of the toe to nothing but skin. At this point maybe 75% of the core was out, but some remained directly around and on the tip of the bone. I decided to try amputating the tissue stopping short of the bone. I used a scalpel to remove all the remaining tissue from the tip of the bone down. Once this was out of the way, I very quickly and easily removed the rest of the core, which was encircling the tip of the bone.

The bleeding was not too bad, and for the most part the cockbird - Van Halen - was a model patient. Actually, he didn't make a peep and did not struggle once, which I have never seen before. I think it's probably because he's gamefowl - I imagine they have higher pain tolerances than other breeds, for obvious reasons. I did use peppermint oil as a topical anesthetic - one of the few "natural" treatments I trust, and only because I can feel it for myself - I got plenty on my fingers and now, perhaps thirty minutes later, I still cannot feel them.

I bandaged both legs nice and thick, and Van Halen is already back up eating and drinking. He's now on Clavamox, though I apparently ran out of Metacam so he will have to make do with ibuprofen (which I will start him on tomorrow once the wounds have scabbed over better).

 

[DwayneNLiz]

i would have loved to see pictures of this infection and surgery

oh well

Glad you were able to help him!!!!