Bumblefoot, or just sores?

[coach723]

It might, I'd put lots of neosporin on and wrap well with vet-wrap or co-wrap and then check to see how it's doing. I got my Duoderm CGF on Amazon, I really like using it, even though it's a little pricier. It sticks and seals the wound well so once I know I've got it really cleaned out I can leave bandages for a couple of days between changes (It doesn't seem like it sticks well initially, but once it's wrapped it really sticks). I cut them to size, so they last for quite a long time. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006UOMY4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[55fingers]

So I soaked her feet and got the "plugs" out. The big one came out quite easily after some time, and attached to the bottom of it was what looked like a hardened yellow core. Lots of pus came out of that one. The smaller one didn't come with a yellow core, and no pus was present. I looked inside that wound and noticed that the yellow core that would've been attached to the smaller plug was still inside her foot. I don't think it will be possible to get it out, but as I soak them every day it might come out itself.

The larger one bled a little, and now there is a little red thing inside her wound, I'm not sure if it's blood mixed with pus or something, but it wouldn't wipe away and held its shape.

I've got her feet bandaged with gauze and neosporin. She's having a difficult time walking, but she always does anyway. I just hope she doesn't get them off, and that it isn't effecting her circulation or anything. I hope I did it right, but bandaging a squirming duck while trying to keep everything sanitary is hard.

I'll just have to see how she does and if further soaking will help.

 

[coach723]

I've never had to wrap a ducks foot, but I imagine it's more of a challenge than a chickens foot. I found this thread, maybe it will help: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/duck-has-bumblefoot-how-do-i-wrap-the-foot.547036/

 

[55fingers]

Gave her another soak today. The bigger wound has a red jelly-like substance that holds it's shape sticking out, and I'm hoping it will scab up so I can have another go at the treatment. The smaller one has an opening but it's extremely small and I can still are the plug that's stuck inside it. I was able to get some pus out of it this time, but I think I might have to do some surgery on that foot, or at least cut the opening wider so I can get the stuff out. Both are still as badly swollen as yesterday.

 

[Alaskan]

Gave her another soak today. The bigger wound has a red jelly-like substance that holds it's shape sticking out, and I'm hoping it will scab up so I can have another go at the treatment. The smaller one has an opening but it's extremely small and I can still are the plug that's stuck inside it. I was able to get some pus out of it this time, but I think I might have to do some surgery on that foot, or at least cut the opening wider so I can get the stuff out. Both are still as badly swollen as yesterday.

bummer that the swelling hasn't gone down.

I am sure the soaking is doing lots of good though.

Sounds like you are doing a great job.

 

[55fingers]

Thank you everyone for the help and encouragement.

Today I soaked her feet and then basically did surgery on the "smaller" bumble. I say smaller because it's actually more swollen than the one that had a bigger scab, which I think the swelling might be going down on.

Anyway, I got a pair of sanitized tweezers and stuck it in the tiny opening of the swollen bumble. I worked it around the edges to open the existing wound up larger instead of cutting into her foot with a knife or scalpel to make a new wound.

But doing that meant I had a very hard time accessing the inside, since the opening was only just big enough to fit the tip of the tweezers.

Still, I didn't want to do anymore cutting into her if I could avoid it. Inside her foot I saw the cheese-like substance that everyone describes. I had a hard time doing it, but with some squeezing I managed to get what I would hope was all of it out. A large kernel or plug also came out when we squeezed it. I wiped the blood and pus out with a gauze pad, then bandaged it up with neosporin.

I could be wrong, but I'm feeling hopeful that I did the right thing. Before surgery I would touch her bumble and could feel a hard substance contained in her foot pad, but now I touch it and it feels like soft skin again. It's still swollen, of course, and could swell up more due to the open wound while it heals, but I'm hopeful.

The other foot still has what looks like a large, soft, and dark scab, but the swelling has gone down quite a bit. I might pull the scab off, but the last time I opened it I had gotten the plug out, so it might be okay.

I'll have to see how it looks tomorrow, but I sure hope she improves.

I might see If I can get any pictures soon.

 

[Alaskan]

it sounds like it is going well!

And yeah... hard to do

 

[55fingers]

I really should get some pictures, but I have some good news!

One of her feet (the one I didn't operate on) seems to have healed! The swelling went almost all the way down and the scab fell off to reveal healthy-looking pink skin. I took the bandage off of that foot because I think it was ready to be walked on. I hope I was right.

The other foot that I preformed surgery on around a week ago has a brown-black scab covering the wound, the swelling has not gone down, and I think I can feel more hard stuff forming under her skin. The scab, the last time I checked, seems as if it might fall off soon. Perhaps with a good soak, if it would work instead of another surgery. My poor duckie who used to act so tame is afraid of me when I go to pick her up now she thinks I'm going to cut open her foot every time I touch her. Her trust in me is diminishing, even though I'm doing this for her. I know it's needed, but it still a shame.

Anyway, I've also started changing her bandages every other day and have basically stopped soaking her feet. I was soaking them in the bath tub, when I read that bumblefoot is usually caused by Staph. So now I use a large sour cream tub that I can trap her feet in while her body doesn't fit so she doesn't drink it. Holding her there the whole time, as well as a very small tub (compared to the bath) to work with makes it quite hard to do. Although, I could do it again if needed.

But anyway, I'm really happy that one foot has been cured! Yay!

 

[Alaskan]

excellent news about the one foot!

I am not sure why giving her a bath in the tub would give her staph... just clean the tub both before and after you use it.

Good luck!

As to keeping her happy with you.. you could give her treats.