Bumblefoot and Hydrocolloid Dressings

[Adey65]

I have been treating one of my hens for bumblefoot for over a month, and while her right foot is slowly healing, I had to remove the scab again on her left foot yesterday as there was more infection. I successfully removed this and applied Vetericyn, filling the hole with Neosporin, placing gauze and vet wrap over the wound, and placing her in a dog crate in the run so she is in sight of her flock mates. I had some Hydrocolloid dressings come in the post yesterday and was wondering what is the best way to use these. I'm sure it would be okay to use them alongside the Vetericyn, as long as I let it dry first, but I've heard it's not suitable to be used together with ointments, such as Neosporin as it would draw the ointment onto the dressing, and probably wouldn't stick.

The main reason, I'm sure, that she has had this for so long is because her dressings were getting wet which delays the healing process. I used waterproof vet wrap, but with the weather we have had, even they would struggle to keep the wet out. The advantage of the Hydrocolloid dressing is its ability to keep both dirt and water out.

I have some of those birdie booties arriving on Thursday, which I want to use in conjunction with the dressings. As we are due about 10 days of dry weather after today (that's a miracle in the UK) I'm hoping that with her booties and dressings, she will be able to free-range with her buddies before the weekend. I am changing her dressings tomorrow and just wanted advice on what is best to apply to the wound if I am using these dressings. I have been speaking to @TwoCrows for a while who has offered invaluable advice and support. Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[TwoCrows]

I had to Google Hydrocolloid however I don't see why you could use this product. It sounds safe enough. After all this time I'd be applying everything I could find. Give her a hug for me!

 

[PopoMyers]

Bumblefoot can be persistent, so we must be as well. Keep treating as you have been. Dry weather will certainly be a plus. Hope your girl gets better soon.

 

[ManueB]

You may have come upon one of my posts about hydrocolloid dressings. I love them for bumblefoot . Yes, they won't stick to the skin with ointment. If your hen is calm enough, it can still work : you will need to hold the dressing in place while putting the vet wrap around it, which will allow it to stay in place, much lile you would do with a piece of gauze. It requires a bit of practice, so if you are on your own, I would prepare some spare dressings and wraps in case you don't get it right the first time.

I use hydrocolloid dressings that can be cut to size. It's much easier to apply if you can get yours in a round shape that covers the scab and a bit more.

 

[Adey65]

You may have come upon one of my posts about hydrocolloid dressings. I love them for bumblefoot . Yes, they won't stick to the skin with ointment. If your hen is calm enough, it can still work : you will need to hold the dressing in place while putting the vet wrap around it, which will allow it to stay in place, much lile you would do with a piece of gauze. It requires a bit of practice, so if you are on your own, I would prepare some spare dressings and wraps in case you don't get it right the first time.

I use hydrocolloid dressings that can be cut to size. It's much easier to apply if you can get yours in a round shape that covers the scab and a bit more.

Would it work if I put ointment on and wrapped her up, then give it a couple of hours to dry, and then put the hydrocolloid dressing on and wrapped her back up.

 

[ManueB]

Would it work if I put ointment on and wrapped her up, then give it a couple of hours to dry, and then put the hydrocolloid dressing on and wrapped her back up.

I suppose it would work, but you would need to make sure it stays really clean in between. I've never tried anything like that, so I'm not certain.

 

[triciayoung]

I have two with bumblefoot right now. I am using a corn pad to keep pressure off the bumble, applying silver sulfadiazine to the bumble, wrapping in vet wrap and then elastikon. One had to have surgery and this is how my vet wrapped. She also wrapped the other foot with no treatment to keep her gait in place and prevent a different foot issue.

 

[Adey65]

I suppose it would work, but you would need to make sure it stays really clean in between. I've never tried anything like that, so I'm not certain.

She will be in her crate which is kept super clean, so that wont be a problem.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have always used Neosporin and a gauze pad and taped with Vet Wrap strips for dressings and have not needed to separate them. Prid drawing salve or sugardine (sugar plus Betadine in a paste) are other dressings used for bumblefoot treatment. Separation from the flock can make it hard to get them back together and accepted later. If I need to separate physically I do it inside a wire dog crate inside the coop or run where they can still be together.

 

[Adey65]

I have always used Neosporin and a gauze pad and taped with Vet Wrap strips for dressings and have not needed to separate them. Prid drawing salve or sugardine (sugar plus Betadine in a paste) are other dressings used for bumblefoot treatment. Separation from the flock can make it hard to get them back together and accepted later. If I need to separate physically I do it inside a wire dog crate inside the coop or run where they can still be together.

Ye, my crate is in the run so they're still by each other, and she's back in the coop at night. No way would I isolate her, because, like tou say, it would be a nightmare reintrodung her later.