Bumblefoot, or just sores?

[55fingers]

I have a Golden 300 Hybrid mix that comes inside at night and goes out to her pen during the day.

She was hatched with defected feet, toes crooked and feet twisted inwards sometimes. She manages to walk, although very clumsily. She falls about quite a lot as well, and stands on her feet differently than other ducks.

She lives with it pretty well, but recently I've noticed her sitting down more, walking clumsier, almost limping sometimes, and in pain when she gets up and puts weight on her feet.

I looked at her feet and have noticed three or four swollen bumps on each foot, one large one on the heels, and a few on the toes. I've been thinking it might be bumblefoot, but the scabs on them are small and brown, not large and black, and it seems different than bumblefoot. Although it could just be in the early stages.

I think that because she walks so different, putting her weight on parts of her feet that it shouldn't be, her feet have been worn out and become swollen, almost like blisters.

It is pretty unlikely that she has cut both her feet on anything, as I have trouble imagining anything that could do that in her pen or inside. She is kept on straw when inside, so it is possible her feet would be infected.

Either way, do you think it is better to be safe than sorry and treat it as bumblefoot? If so, what's the best way to treat it?

Because she seems to be in pain when putting weight back on them, I was thinking I could make some sort of shoes for her to help cushion her walk. Anyone know the best way to do that?

And does anyone know if it might be something else other than bumblefoot? Maybe because she walks on different parts of her foot?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Dawnclucks22]

I advise posting pictures, that would help a lot!
You could try giving the feet a good soak and see if that helps.

 

[55fingers]

I might try posting pictures tomorrow when I have access to a computer.
She had a bath in warm water today, that helped clear the scabs a bit, but I think I might try soaking them in epsom salts. At first I was convinced they were just swollen from walking, but as I read up on bumblefoot more I become more convinced that's what it is. I should post pictures tomorrow, though, just to be sure.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

X2 on the pics

 

[55fingers]

I managed to get some pictures, but they are pretty bad quality due to both my terrible camera and the squirming duck. Really the only noticeable bumps are the ones on the heels. One of her feet has a fairly large scap on the swollen part, and the other foot has a very tiny one. I'm thinking if this is bumblefoot, these are the plugs. If it is bumblefoot, should I try soaking it in epsom salts and wrapping it in honey, or just go straight to trying to operate? Sorry, this is my first time treating bumblefoot, and I'm worried about her. Thanks for all the help!

 

[coach723]

It does look like bumblefoot, the lesions appear to be relatively small so should be fairly easy to treat. I'm going to give you a couple of links for non-surgical methods that you may want to try. I often will do a combination of things depending on the size and how it looks when you remove the plug. A good soak initially will help soften it up to help removal, alternately you can apply decolorized iodine (get at the drug store or walmart) and wrap it up for about 24 hours and that will often help soften it also. Just try to remove as much of the 'stuff' as possible or it will come back. The smaller of the two lesions may heal with treatment and wrapping alone, sometimes the very small ones will- no way to know for sure, the larger of the two, IMHO needs to be removed for sure.
https://www.tillysnest.com/2015/12/non-surgical-bumblefoot-treatment-html/
http://ouroneacrefarm.com/bumblefoot-treatment-tricideneo/

 

[55fingers]

Thank you for the help!

I think I'll try what the first link said for both feet. What it says about ducks that get less niacin get bumblefoot more often makes sense in my duck's case. She's kind of what you would call an "indoor" duck, so she doesn't get many insects. And even when she's in her pen, I think she's fairly blind (another defect we think) and unaware of her surroundings and therefor catching bugs is an extremely hard task for her. I do try to supplement her diet with dried mealworms and other things that contain niacin, but it seems she will be prone to bumblefoot. I guess I better find the best way to treat it if she'll get it a lot.

I'll pick up Neosporin, Duoderm GFC, and Vet Wrap/gauze tonight. I'll update with progress as soon as I can.

 

[Alaskan]

The best niacin suppliment IMO is nutritional yeast.

Good stuff. Farm/animal grade at the feed store doesn't cost much and you can sprinkle it on her feed.

(human grade, also often called brewers yeast, costs much more)

 

[55fingers]

I have actually been giving her nutritional yeast sometimes, but I wasn't sure if it was the same thing as brewer's yeast. I knew brewer's yeast was full of niacin, but I should make sure to give her more nutritional yeast. Thanks!

 

[55fingers]

I need help- I wasn't able to get Duroderm GFC, but I have gauze pads. Would that work instead? They are made to soak up moisture from wounds, would that mean it would soak up the neosporin?