Bumblefoot, Baytril, and about to blow my top

[ChickenFajita6]

So several of my girls seemed to be having foot issues lately, that from digging around online seemed to point to bumblefoot.
I was able to follow advice from posts here and do the Epsom salt soak, scrape the scab, squeeze out the nastiness, medicate and wrap. This has been ongoing for a couple weeks now. Most of the girls have made great progress, but 2 of my legbars have not - one even seemed to be getting worse. Those 2 girls, it seemed like even though I was able to scrape the exterior scab, I couldn't really get to anything under it. The tissue just below the scab looked good, and nothing would come out even though their feet are extremely swollen and hot feeling. I was not comfortable being aggressive and cutting into them so I asked locals for recommendations on a chicken vet and they finally got their appointment today.
The vet didn't want to do anything to their feet, he said he didn't feel a bumble so didn't think it was bumblefoot, just swelling from "foot trauma." Even though you can see scabs, and even though the other girls I treated had nasty stuff that came out, he said he thought cutting their feet would just produce a lot of blood and provide no benefit - BUT he would go ahead and prescribe an antibiotic just in case.
He dosed them with the first pill at the office, then told me to finish it off (it's a 5 day prescription). He mentioned nothing about withholding eggs, but I knew enough to get home and look it up. I didn't even know what their script was till he was done with them, and low and behold he gave them Baytril. I am reading that Baytril was banned by the FDA for use in chickens back in 2005, because it can create antibiotic resistance in humans, and their eggs can NEVER be consumed.

I am NOT happy. I felt like the vet didn't really know what to do with the foot issue in the first place and was already thinking it was a waste of my time and money, but now to read what I am reading about the meds he shoved in their mouths has me infuriated.

Would it do any good to stop the meds now? They have already had a dose, so I realize it might be too late anyway. And it seems like it used to be used to treat respiratory issues in chickens - so what good is it for swollen, infected feet anyway?

 

[azygous]

Actually, your vet did the best thing possible. Baytril is an excellent antibiotic and is completely safe for chickens. It's been banned for use in commercial operations because it was being used by commercial growers to prevent infection from filthy operations. Now everyone is prevented from obtaining the drug except from a vet by prescription.

Finish the Baytil as prescribed. Your vet did the right thing by not cutting into feet that show no pus.

 

[ChickenFajita6]

Actually, your vet did the best thing possible. Baytril is an excellent antibiotic and is completely safe for chickens. It's been banned for use in commercial operations because it was being used by commercial growers to prevent infection from filthy operations. Now everyone is prevented from obtaining the drug except from a vet by prescription.

Finish the Baytil as prescribed. Your vet did the right thing by not cutting into feet that show no pus.

I'm not sure I agree that there is no pus...her little feet look like they want to pop.
I just wish the vet had been even a little bit informative with what he wanted to prescribe them, especially before giving it to them without me even knowing the name.
I'm reading some things that say any chicken they are housed with risks exposure by their feces, so everyone's eggs should be off the table (no pun intended).

 

[casportpony]

It's true that Baytril has been banned for use in poultry In the US, but lots of people still use it and eat eggs and meat of birds treated with it. I eat mine, but only after two weeks past last treatment.

 

[casportpony]

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I'm not sure I agree that there is no pus...her little feet look like they want to pop.
I just wish the vet had been even a little bit informative with what he wanted to prescribe them, especially before giving it to them without me even knowing the name.
I'm reading some things that say any chicken they are housed with risks exposure by their feces, so everyone's eggs should be off the table (no pun intended).

That's your hen? Looks like a bumble to me, but I am not a vet.

 

[Folly's place]

Actually the OP's concerns are valid here. Baytril and same- class drugs are off the table for chickens, and it's too bad that the (probably) small animal veterinarian wasn't aware of the issues involved. It may save the lives of your sick birds, which is good. At least, pitch their eggs for a couple of weeks, and then (maybe) eat them yourself? In years gone by, nobody paid attention to many of the drug residues left in eggs. Things are better now, but this still happens, and you have to decide how to move forward.
Send those hens to the vet?
FARAD.org is the best website for US drug information, and at least, let your vet know!!!
Mary

 

[ChickenFajita6]

That's your hen? Looks like a bumble to me, but I am not a vet.

I agree that it does too! And when he explained to me that he thought that it was just likely foot trauma, from landing hard, stepping on something, etc, I said "well isn't that usually what causes bumblefoot? an injury that gets infected?" and he just said "yes but there's no bumble so it's not bumblefoot."

I am very worried about my girls not getting better - worried more about that than having to pitch their eggs!

 

[casportpony]

I agree that it does too! And when he explained to me that he thought that it was just likely foot trauma, from landing hard, stepping on something, etc, I said "well isn't that usually what causes bumblefoot? an injury that gets infected?" and he just said "yes but there's no bumble so it's not bumblefoot."

I am very worried about my girls not getting better - worried more about that than having to pitch their eggs!

Looks like you have a good camera. Can you get a bunch of close up pictures of her foot? Top, bottom, left, right, back, front?

 

[azygous]

I have a hen with chronic swelling on her feet. She came to me three years ago after her entire flock was killed by a bobcat. She had the worst cast of bumblefoot I'd ever seen.

I treated her bumblefoot for two years. Yes, more surgeries than I can recall, and a round of a powerful antibiotic. I would say her feet are improved, and she can now roost where she couldn't before, but she still has swelling. I've cut into the swollen part during two of the surgeries, and I found no pus, just traumatized tissue.

For serious bumblefoot as your hen has, she may need extended treatment, including daily soaks.

 

[Folly's place]

If they aren't improving, try again, either by seeing if your current vet is interested in learning something new, or find someone else. Sorry that this is happening!
Few veterinarians treat chickens, unless they own their own flock, because there's so seldom a call to see a chicken. Try a large animal practice, or an avian practice. Your state vet may know someone in your area too.
Good luck,
Mary