Bumblefoot and Hydrocolloid Dressings

[triciayoung]

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!

I asked my vet, @TwoCrows is correct, you can use this product with other products including ointments. Don't use when the wound has heavy exudates, or if bone is exposed.

 

[ManueB]

Here is some scientific blurb about how it works for anyone interested:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8568799/

@Adey65 this means you will see the scab evolving a bit differently than using a gauze or just wrap. Instead of drying it will tend to become softer and the skin around it also does.
When I feel the bumblefoot is mostly healed I switch back to just plain wrapping for a week or two so as not to directly put the skin that has become very tender in contact with the ground.

 

[Adey65]

I got the dressings on her, which was easier than I thought. I'll check them on Thursday to see the affect they have had. Fingers crossed it's positive.

 

[Adey65]

Here is some scientific blurb about how it works for anyone interested:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8568799/

@Adey65 this means you will see the scab evolving a bit differently than using a gauze or just wrap. Instead of drying it will tend to become softer and the skin around it also does.
When I feel the bumblefoot is mostly healed I switch back to just plain wrapping for a week or two so as not to directly put the skin that has become very tender in contact with the ground.

When you say mostly healed, what sort of timescale is that normally? I know it can differ from case to case, just a rough estimate would suffice. I just want her back free ranging with her flock, but Im not letting that happen until this thing has healed, I've made that mistake before, hence why I'm still treating it over a month down the line. Also, how often did you change the hydro dressings I see they can be on for up to a week. I was planning on leaving them on for 4 days, then changing them.

 

[ManueB]

When you say mostly healed, what sort of timescale is that normally? I know it can differ from case to case, just a rough estimate would suffice. I just want her back free ranging with her flock, but Im not letting that happen until this thing has healed, I've made that mistake before, hence why I'm still treating it over a month down the line. Also, how often did you change the hydro dressings I see they can be on for up to a week. I was planning on leaving them on for 4 days, then changing them.

I have had six hens with bumblefeet and three of them repeatedly.
It went from two weeks of healing to six months including a vet surgery. There is no average. A month is not uncommonly long at all.
I don't have a scientific knowledge to back this up but I have personally come to believe that it's not only about how you treat and how early you caught the bumblefoot, it also depends on the hen.

I don't isolate my hens and I let them free range with bumblefoot. I have very rocky land and I'm on an old farm where people have dropped pieces of mesh and nails for ages, so the hens get bumble feet a lot and don't heal the quick way.
I have tried all the various types of dressings suggested above and all the ointments and products available where I live (in France OTC antibiotics don't exist). I find hydrocolloid the most convenient but that doesn't mean they are a miracle. Just that they keep the wound cleaner and are easier to apply.
I leave them on for up to four days, but when I feel the bumblefoot is bad I change them daily or every two days, because the bathing in epsom salts really helps with healing.

I don't think there is one ideal remedy. For example sugardine did nothing for me whereas it was a game changer for other BYC members.
My vet's prescription was betadine and a sulfadiazine onguent, but I haven't found that the most efficient either after several tries. I also did not like using betadine long term so now I use it the first two weeks and switch to diluted tea tree oil.
I use a drawing salve when the bumblefoot is on top and there is no scab.
I still sometimes use corn dressings for my heavier hens or when the climate is really dry and I don't feel it's necessary to keep the scab as clean.

Unfortunately I think @PopoMyers is right and you just need to be consistent if it takes a long time.

I can't say what it's worth as I did not try this : there was a post recently that said to gently brush in the neosporin with a toothbrush, so as to get more of it through the scab, and that it really helped heal quicker.

 

[Adey65]

I have had six hens with bumblefeet and three of them repeatedly.
It went from two weeks of healing to six months including a vet surgery. There is no average. A month is not uncommonly long at all.
I don't have a scientific knowledge to back this up but I have personally come to believe that it's not only about how you treat and how early you caught the bumblefoot, it also depends on the hen.

I don't isolate my hens and I let them free range with bumblefoot. I have very rocky land and I'm on an old farm where people have dropped pieces of mesh and nails for ages, so the hens get bumble feet a lot and don't heal the quick way.
I have tried all the various types of dressings suggested above and all the ointments and products available where I live (in France OTC antibiotics don't exist). I find hydrocolloid the most convenient but that doesn't mean they are a miracle. Just that they keep the wound cleaner and are easier to apply.
I leave them on for up to four days, but when I feel the bumblefoot is bad I change them daily or every two days, because the bathing in epsom salts really helps with healing.

I don't think there is one ideal remedy. For example sugardine did nothing for me whereas it was a game changer for other BYC members.
My vet's prescription was betadine and a sulfadiazine onguent, but I haven't found that the most efficient either after several tries. I also did not like using betadine long term so now I use it the first two weeks and switch to diluted tea tree oil.
I use a drawing salve when the bumblefoot is on top and there is no scab.
I still sometimes use corn dressings for my heavier hens or when the climate is really dry and I don't feel it's necessary to keep the scab as clean.

Unfortunately I think @PopoMyers is right and you just need to be consistent if it takes a long time.

I can't say what it's worth as I did not try this : there was a post recently that said to gently brush in the neosporin with a toothbrush, so as to get more of it through the scab, and that it really helped heal quicker.

Than you for all the advice. During this time of year the ground here gets really muddy when we have rain, as the girls have dug up all the grass. I put grass seed down a section at a time in the middle of march through to the end of September. Because it's muddy now Im worried she would get her bumblefoot dirty or wet, even with the hydro on if I let her out of her crate. Am I being paranoid, considering these type of dressings are supposed to be excellent at keeping the water and dirt out? She will also have the added protection of birdie booties by the end of the week. Image attached. I'll continue with the vetericyn and neosporin along with the hydro dressing, because as you say, consistency is key.

 

[Adey65]

Ive just realised the booties are made of neoprene which is entirely waterproof, so she will be fine free ranging. Roll on Friday when they arrive.

 

[ManueB]

Ive just realised the booties are made of neoprene which is entirely waterproof, so she will be fine free ranging. Roll on Friday when they arrive.

Yes, I think there will be no risk at all with the booties. I'm curious to know how she adjusts to them, let us know.

I rarely get mud for more than two days in a row in my mediterranean climate, but the dressings have always kept the skin underneath totally clean. It does get moist, but that is how they work.

Once or twice I thought the skin was a bit too moist, like when your skin has been in water for too long. In that case I switched back to a corn dressing until the next bath, or changed the dressing more often.

 

[Adey65]

She has the booties on after what seemed like an age and loads of stress. I'm surprised to say she is walking around without any problem. That's not to say she was entirely happy about them, as she did try on numerous occasions to get them off in the beginning.

I found them a nightmare to get on as you don't put the foot in straight, you sort of go at an angle holding the toes together, then let the toes go and get them into the appropriate toe slots. Of course, I ended up getting two toes in the same slot time after time, until I eventually got it right. And then the little swine yanked her foot away, and I had to start again.

Even though my girl isn't the biggest, I thought the booties were a bit on the large side. I wasn't happy that her toenails didn't protrude out the end of the toe slots. I was concerned she would damage or break her toenails so I cut some of the material to allow them to be on show.

I have no doubt they'll keep the water and dirt out, but when I saw how well the hydrocolloid dressing adhered to my girl's foot, I would have been better off sticking with those dressings and vet wrap.

Nothing is getting passed through those hydrocolloid dressings. They're also a lot cheaper for me, as I paid just as much in postage for the booties as I did for the booties themselves as I had to get them from the States, which cost me £40.00 in total.

She's had a good dust bath and is now on one of the roosting bars in the run. I'll keep the booties on her for 5 days which is when I'll change the hydro dressings again. Now I can destress.

 

[ManueB]

She has the booties on after what seemed like an age and loads of stress. I'm surprised to say she is walking around without any problem. That's not to say she was entirely happy about them, as she did try on numerous occasions to get them off in the beginning.

I found them a nightmare to get on as you don't put the foot in straight, you sort of go at an angle holding the toes together, then let the toes go and get them into the appropriate toe slots. Of course, I ended up getting two toes in the same slot time after time, until I eventually got it right. And then the little swine yanked her foot away, and I had to start again.

Even though my girl isn't the biggest, I thought the booties were a bit on the large side. I wasn't happy that her toenails didn't protrude out the end of the toe slots. I was concerned she would damage or break her toenails so I cut some of the material to allow them to be on show.

I have no doubt they'll keep the water and dirt out, but when I saw how well the hydrocolloid dressing adhered to my girl's foot, I would have been better off sticking with those dressings and vet wrap.

Nothing is getting passed through those hydrocolloid dressings. They're also a lot cheaper for me, as I paid just as much in postage for the booties as I did for the booties themselves as I had to get them from the States, which cost me £40.00 in total.

She's had a good dust bath and is now on one of the roosting bars in the run. I'll keep the booties on her for 5 days which is when I'll change the hydro dressings again. Now I can destress.

Thank you for the feedback ! That's really helpful.

It's good in a sense that the booties are slightly too big because otherwise they would have been extremely difficult to put on and off. I remembered after I posted last time what a nightmare it was when I was into triathlon ten years ago to put my wetsuit on and off. And, not to frighten you, but taking it off was even worse !

I would not be 100% affirmative that the hydrocolloid dressing really helps to heal much faster, but it's definitely the most convenient of all the dressings I've tried.
I hope your girl will heal in good time and I'm sure she's very happy to be back outside.