Bumblefoot - non-surgical options?

[MilesFluffybutt]

It's okay to loosen the edges of the scab, but try not to pull it off until it's naturally ready to come off. It can take a while. Treating Bumblefoot non-surgically requires a lot of patience.

I'm treating my recent case non-surgically as well. We're on day ten and the scab isn't ready yet.

 

[CurlyQuail]

Oh I forgot to add:

it can progress quickly but it can also progress slowly. It really depends on the individual bird. Watch for limping, scab color and size, and the hardness of the bumble. If any of those get worse that’s how you can tell it’s progressing

 

[Sarahh_Janeyy]

If it’s not moving towards the top of their foot or looking green/extremely infected, it can be treated at home.

I’d try to soak and pull for about a week (unless it starts to look worse). Once a week goes by and the scab isn’t coming off, grab some tweezers and see if you can pull. If there’s still no success take a clean safety pin or x-acto knife to the very edge of the scab and pull from there.

Thank you! I received my vetrap so I made little neosporin boots last night. Going to take them off today and soak again with epsom salts and see. Scabs just on the bottom of the feet, they don't seem to be getting worse.

 

[Sarahh_Janeyy]

It's okay to loosen the edges of the scab, but try not to pull it off until it's naturally ready to come off. It can take a while. Treating Bumblefoot non-surgically requires a lot of patience.

I'm treating my recent case non-surgically as well. We're on day ten and the scab isn't ready yet.

Oh, thank you! That's really helpful and reassuring!!!

 

[Sarahh_Janeyy]

Update, we have 3 with bumble. We've been treating every day. Did tricide neo every day 5mins for about a week and a half. Just got prid salve to try that. We got the scabs off, put neosporin, but they scabbed over again :/ the one case I caught later is currently the worst, I lifted a scab and there was that pus stuff, but I couldn't get it out. Rinsed with veterycin and put neosporin and wrapped it. I'm not sure if that's enough to get rid of it... We have a vet appointment for Monday.

One question.... One of the three had stopped laying. Her feet look the best out of all of them, but I'm a bit concerned since she stopped laying. Any thoughts? Have any of your bumble cases stopped laying? Or is it just the change of weather?

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

I'm still working on a stubborn case of Bumblefoot, too. I am losing my patience and may take him back to the vet.

I have never used tricide neo. That's the fish stuff, right?

I tried PRID, but I cannot say it did anything. I was told you need to apply it liberally, wrap the foot, and change the bandage after 3 to 5 days instead of doing it daily.

If it's stubborn, you may need to take the scab off, give her an epsom foot soak, and then try to work out as much of the infection as you can by pressing it out.

If you think of it, try to post an updated photo of the wound. That'll give me a better sense of what you're dealing it.

The vet will likely prescribe an anti-inflammatory (meloxicam) and antibiotic like baytril or clavamox. I prefer Baytril as the other gives my boys diarrhea. Though, you're treating hens so there's probably an egg withdrawal period you have to ask about.

Unfortunately, I don't have any hens right now so I can't comment on the egg issue. If she's feeling lousy enough, sure, she might stop laying, but I suspect she's slowing down because of the weather or maybe she's laying in a different spot.

EDITED to add the photo:
This is what the inside of my boy's foot looks like. The gunk is hard and firmly attached. And it smells.

 

[Sarahh_Janeyy]

Thanks so much for your response!

Yeah, the tricide neo is the fish stuff. I have no idea if it helped- I kinda just threw the kitchen sink at the issue since I've never dealt with it before and now I have 3 with it.

I'll take pics of the worse ones. The one that went off laying just has very small, not dark scabs right now. I did another epsom salt soak for 45 mins but the little scabs won't come off, so I put more prid on it and wrapped her up and sent her back outside.

None seem to be in pain until I am squishing their feet. :/ So I've been trying to just clean them up and wrap them every day.

The inside of the foot on the ones that had gunk, the gunk kinda was like snot consistency but was white. When I tried to pull it out/squeeze, the foot bled, so I washed it out with veterycin before using more neosporin and wrapping with non-stick gauze pads. They seemed pretty uncomfortable so I didn't want to make it worse.

I haven't done the other two today, I was waiting on more vetrap to come in the mail. I just got some so I'll be doing them this afternoon and I'll try for pics.

 

[Sarahh_Janeyy]

Pics from yesterday. (after soaking in Epsom salts and betadine)

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

Regarding the smaller scab, if there's no swelling or signs of infection, it could be an abrasion - like she skinned it or maybe a callous is forming. The Silkie I'm treating has that on his other foot. There's no swelling or infection so I'm leaving it be.

As uncomfortable as the squishing is, it's important get as much gunk out as you can. It will bleed a little as you're working it. It's totally normal and shouldn't be too much.

I have another roo with chronic bumblefoot, and his gunk is always the snotty kind. I think it's easier to treat with daily soaking, expressing, cleaning/flushing, and wrapping.

Are their feet hot? If so, an antibiotic would help. I imagine you're vet will have a recommendation on the type.

Looking at the photos, I'd switch to a topical antibiotic - like Neosporin w/out pain relief. You're making good progress!