Bumblefoot? And do I cut those nails?

[Monika S]

Welcome to BYC, is a vet an option?

I wish we would have a vet around here, but we don't. There's so much I don't know. I would've brought my girls in a few times by now if we had a vet near here. I was really surprised that there is no vet taking care of ANY kind of bird around here when I was looking for one the first time. :-(

 

[Monika S]

If she's older, then the raised scales may be due to age, but raised scales with debris under them a lot of times is SLM. The mites are microscopic so you can't see them, but they live under the scales of the toes, feet and legs - raised scales and debris (mite poop) is usually the evidence that they exist. If left untreated, the debris can accumulate and harden, cause difficulty walking and just make the bird miserable. Treatment is oil (vaseline, castor oil, etc.) or a cream like Nu Stock that is worked into and under the scales of the legs/feet - this smothers the mites and helps heal the legs/feet. Eventually the scales will be replaced.

I was reading the article on how to cure the mites and it talks about gasoline... that sounds so unsafe, but it says it only takes 3 days... any idea how safe this is? I don't wanna hurt my gals in the process of treating them. Got all the stuff I need for the bumblefoot.. gonna start treating her today. I think I have one more gal with the beginning of bumblefoot. They're all gonna have a make over in the next few days..lol.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I was reading the article on how to cure the mites and it talks about gasoline... that sounds so unsafe, but it says it only takes 3 days... any idea how safe this is? I don't wanna hurt my gals in the process of treating them. Got all the stuff I need for the bumblefoot.. gonna start treating her today. I think I have one more gal with the beginning of bumblefoot. They're all gonna have a make over in the next few days..lol.

That would be up to you about the gas treatment - it's an old time remedy that reportedly works very well.

That said - Personally, I would not use the gasoline method if I were treating the bird for anything else like Bumblefoot, I would worry that it might be irritating since the method is repeated.

 

[Monika S]

That would be up to you about the gas treatment - it's an old time remedy that reportedly works very well.

That said - Personally, I would not use the gasoline method if I were treating the bird for anything else like Bumblefoot, I would worry that it might be irritating since the method is repeated.

That makes sense... Vasaline it is. At least until the bumblefoot is healed...if I still have problems then, I can always repeat with the gasoline. Thank you!

 

[Monika S]

Update: I got the one foot all cleared up. The other one is soaking in a wrap and I'll see what I can do in a hour or so. Neither foot looks infected, so I'm hoping I can just get the gunk out and treat it with some Veterecyn spray. I thought maybe one other one of my girls have bumblefoot, but she just has two incredibly fat back toes. I'll have to take some pics and post them to see if that's a disease as well or just normal for her. For the mites I bought some Diatomaceous Earth which will be here Tuesday. Only two of my gals look like they could have scaly leg mites. The rest have nice smooth legs. Not sure if 7 is old for my girls, but maybe it's just age, but I treated both with Vasaline anyway.
Update: I got most of the gunk out.. will dig at it again tomorrow. All just dirt, no infection.

 

[Monika S]

If she's older, then the raised scales may be due to age, but raised scales with debris under them a lot of times is SLM. The mites are microscopic so you can't see them, but they live under the scales of the toes, feet and legs - raised scales and debris (mite poop) is usually the evidence that they exist. If left untreated, the debris can accumulate and harden, cause difficulty walking and just make the bird miserable. Treatment is oil (vaseline, castor oil, etc.) or a cream like Nu Stock that is worked into and under the scales of the legs/feet - this smothers the mites and helps heal the legs/feet. Eventually the scales will be replaced.

I just realized I was off by two years. I was reading my posts from when they were little and she was 15 months old in 2012, so that would make her 9 years old now. She's definitely a senior. I have 3 of them age 9 and the rest are 7 (I think..lol)

 

[Monika S]

Update: I didn't do surgery. I've been digging some stuff out here and there. It still has some in there, but it's getting less. The other foot is completely clean and none of it is infected. I'm pretty confident that with time, I can dig it all out.