Bumblefoot, first time treating it

[RJKnott]

So never treated Bumblefoot before. Can’t tell if it’s getting better or worse


These are some before images


and these are some taken today



the left foot the scabs seem like they have gotten thicker but are starting to peel. The right foot, The picture doesn’t really show it well but the scab has gone from black to more of a brownish tint and is also peeling off

 

[HappyDuckie]

What have you been using to treat it?

 

[RJKnott]

What have you been using to treat it?

epsom salt bath a couple times a day with a little iodine Then dry it off and put some first aid spray and neosporin/first aid antibiotic cream on it. I wrap it up but she usually takes the wrappings off during the day. She tends to leave them on at night

 

[HappyDuckie]

It does seem like its getting better. Keep us updated, and good luck

 

[RJKnott]

It does seem like its getting better. Keep us updated, and good luck

I will. This site has been awesome for support with my ducks. The Bumblefoot was my only concern with taking her in as a rescue. I want her to get better and live a happy healthy life. Poor girl has had a rough time

 

[KaleIAm]

What kind of surfaces do you have for her to walk/stand on?

My ducks used to get bumblefoot and I took my ducks to the vet. She stressed that soft surfaces were very important for during healing, and after for prevention. She recommended grass for outside, and as close to grass as possible for inside the barn - 4 inches of hay or straw.

If you have her inside the house I imagine thick layers of towels will be ok. I've done that before when I have to keep someone inside our bathroom after surgery and I haven't had problems.

I actually thought my vet was nuts. I was using wood chips in my barn that seemed quite soft to me. But I decided to do what she recommended anyway, since I was paying her so much money. After having repeated episodes of bumblefoot my ducks haven't had any for years since changing the environment. It was really like flipping a light switch. Constant struggle with bumblefoot for a year. Change the environment. Bumbles heal, no more bumbles for 4 years.

I also used neoprene boots to help with keeping medicine on the foot and providing padding. My ducks were experts at taking their foot wraps off, or I'm really bad at wrapping duck feet.

 

[RJKnott]

What kind of surfaces do you have for her to walk/stand on?

My ducks used to get bumblefoot and I took my ducks to the vet. She stressed that soft surfaces were very important for during healing, and after for prevention. She recommended grass for outside, and as close to grass as possible for inside the barn - 4 inches of hay or straw.

If you have her inside the house I imagine thick layers of towels will be ok. I've done that before when I have to keep someone inside our bathroom after surgery and I haven't had problems.

I actually thought my vet was nuts. I was using wood chips in my barn that seemed quite soft to me. But I decided to do what she recommended anyway, since I was paying her so much money. After having repeated episodes of bumblefoot my ducks haven't had any for years since changing the environment. It was really like flipping a light switch. Constant struggle with bumblefoot for a year. Change the environment. Bumbles heal, no more bumbles for 4 years.

I also used neoprene boots to help with keeping medicine on the foot and providing padding. My ducks were experts at taking their foot wraps off, or I'm really bad at wrapping duck feet.

The pen has a nice layer of straw in the ground that’s nice and soft. I have a drake that has very weak legs and he likes the straw so about 3/5 of the pen has a nice thick layer of straw

the rest is the ground but the dirt is soft in that part of the yard.
We tried keeping her inside for a bit but she just kept honking and was so sad. She wants to be with the other ducks in the worst way.

she keeps her wrappings on at night for the most part so I think the other ducks are helping her take them off during the day

 

[RJKnott]

So her scabs haven’t been getting any worse but they haven’t been coming off really either. A little on her right foot at the front was flaking and peeling a bit but the rest of it just was hard and crusty still. Til this morning when after her Epsom salt foot bath the top part of it came loose. I was afraid to peel it all off cause the bottom was still firmly attached and even after soaking a while longer, it just wouldnt come off.

so I put neosporin and first aid spray on it. Making sure to get it in the wound.

no pus or anything came out. One of her smaller scabs on her left foot fell off and it looked completely healed underneath

when I give her her next epsom salt bath later, how ok, or how bad, would it be to pull the scab?
I don’t want to risk causing more damage to her feet. And she slips her bandages pretty easily. She has regular sized feet but her legs are like tree trunks so no matter how much I tape her bandages she can work her foot out eventually

 

[KaleIAm]

So her scabs haven’t been getting any worse but they haven’t been coming off really either. A little on her right foot at the front was flaking and peeling a bit but the rest of it just was hard and crusty still. Til this morning when after her Epsom salt foot bath the top part of it came loose. I was afraid to peel it all off cause the bottom was still firmly attached and even after soaking a while longer, it just wouldnt come off.

so I put neosporin and first aid spray on it. Making sure to get it in the wound.

no pus or anything came out. One of her smaller scabs on her left foot fell off and it looked completely healed underneath

when I give her her next epsom salt bath later, how ok, or how bad, would it be to pull the scab?
I don’t want to risk causing more damage to her feet. And she slips her bandages pretty easily. She has regular sized feet but her legs are like tree trunks so no matter how much I tape her bandages she can work her foot out eventually

I'm really bad at bandaging duck feet. But I think @CoriM is very good at it. I believe her pekin left her foot wrap on for two days. Maybe Cori can tell you what method she uses.

 

[KaleIAm]

The pen has a nice layer of straw in the ground that’s nice and soft. I have a drake that has very weak legs and he likes the straw so about 3/5 of the pen has a nice thick layer of straw

the rest is the ground but the dirt is soft in that part of the yard.
We tried keeping her inside for a bit but she just kept honking and was so sad. She wants to be with the other ducks in the worst way.

she keeps her wrappings on at night for the most part so I think the other ducks are helping her take them off during the day

Sorry I forgot to respond to your answer! It sounds like you have excellent soft surfaces for her to walk on!