Bumble foot not better after surgery attempt. What next?!!!!!

[Puddin Fluff]

I have a 2 year old red sex-link hen. I attempted bumblefoot surgery on her Sunday but the foot is still swolen. I don't think I cleared out all the infection. What do I do now? Any adivice appreciated.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Bumping this up. Her foot is no better and I am hopeing someone out there can give me advice before I dive in and do more damage than good. Any help? Please?

 

[Michael Apple]

It is important to use iodine of Staphoseptic to fill the wound once the scunge is squeezed out of it. It's also important to change the foot dressing 2-3 times a week if kept on a clean floor. Be sure the foot dressing isn't too tight. Keep the floor soft and don't allow any roosting for a week or until it looks healed. Injecting 1/2 cc of Duramycin directly into the swollen area will assist in killing the staph bacteria.

 

[MagicMarcy66]

Just hang in there...this is what I do for my girls when they have bumble foot from time to time. I first soak the foot in Epsom salts and warm water for as long as my hen will tolerate it and don't let them drink it. It can cause diarrhea. So moving on I go through the whole cleaning process using a surgical scrub pad with iodine and if you can't get one a toenail brush will do the job or even an old toothbrush can be used in a pinch with the iodine. Clean the foot well and remove the core with tweezers and squeeze as much of the core out as possible and it will bleed too so don't be alarmed. The core will probably have a whitish strand attached to it. Don't be alarmed its not a tendon, its just the way the core looks and that is how it was explained to me. As soon as you are done removing all or 98% of the core apply pressure to the foot pad to stop the bleeding. I then use a 2X2 gauze pad and soak it in Chlorahexadine. Fold it in a small square about the approximate size of her foot pad. I then use narrow strips of vet wrap(purchased at vet supply store) or self grip self adhering tape (I purchased it at Walgreens). Either work great, wrap the foot in a sort of weave between the toes careful not to wrap to tight because if you decrease the circulation it will inhibit the healing process and actually promote bacterial growth.

I then separate the hen from the flock for a few days to give her foot a chance to rest and also I can keep a closer eye on her and change her bandages over the next few days. Keep applying the Chlorahexadine on the 2X2 daily and if you can't get Chlorahexadine then you can use the Neosporin without the pain reliever in it. Depending on the severity and swelling of the foot it can take a couple of weeks to fully recover. The Epsom salt soak will help with the healing process as well over the next few days so you can soak her foot again once a day to help boost the healing process but be sure to follow up with the Neosporin and wrap foot again. I never leave the foot or wound open or uncovered during the healing process. After a few days she can return to the flock sporting her new bandage booty and the other girls may gawk for a few minutes but really they never give it a second look and besides it gives her cushion while walking and her foot continues to heal. Change bandage daily or every other day til it is completely healed. With one chicken my sister gave me I had to actually give Pen G injections because the infection was so severe and swollen.

I know this is long winded but these are the steps I followed from another poster here on BYC. Oh and you will definitely need an assistant to hold your hen for you. My son gently wrapped her in a towel because the last thing you want is staph being flung in your face or all over the kitchen or where ever your cleaning area is when she decides she's had enough.

Be strong...your going to be a Pro at this whole chicken thing once you get past this. I was shaking the first time I had to do this and just panicked stricken. She survived and so did I.

I hope this helps. It just takes time to heal and it doesn't happen over night.

Good Luck and hang in there, your doing a great job!

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Thanks for the info. My concern is that I already did the surgery ( cut the scab out, didn't get an intact plug but "dug" out chunks of stuff, squeezed, soaked, massaged, got whiteish fluid and very little blood, put neosporin in the hole, wrapped and released the hen). I didn't do any follow up soaks as I wasn't aware of doing that. It has been a week and a half since I did this and her foot looks swollen unwrapped it.

I am unsure if I should re-do the same surgery steps or just try a daily soak now?

Suggestions?

Thanks!