Bumblefoot or something else? Please!

[3chickken]

My hen has been having foot issues for over a month & a half. Swollen ankle area on both sides. Hurts to stand/walk. No visible bumble/opening/scab. I’ve tried Epsom soaks, aspirin, colloidal silver, essential oils, wraps, antibiotic ointment, rest, vetericyn, enrotex (broad spectrum antibiotic).
She’s been known to occasionally charge/kick our fence in the past-idk it’s an injury or something else.
Unfortunately, I haven’t had good luck in the past with the local avian vet or Iowa state veterinary college. They’ve both charged me hundreds of dollars in the past, without any diagnosis & both prescribed sulpha meds. When birds died, state said a necropsy was $100+. Ugh. Any advice is appreciated. She’s a great hen!

 

[M-H-Fielding]

It looks like a bad case of scaly leg mites to me.

 

[Eggcessive]

If both ankles looked like that, I would wonder if she did’t have mycoplasma synovitis, or another bacterial joint infection. MS can cause swelling of the ankle and knee joints. How does her knee look? Could she have broken or severely sprained the ankle? With the loose scales it appears that there may also be some scaly leg mites as well.

 

[M-H-Fielding]

The mites get up under the scales and start eating away, causing the scales to stand up and the foot to swell.

 

[3chickken]

If both ankles looked like that, I would wonder if she did’t have mycoplasma synovitis, or another bacterial joint infection. MS can cause swelling of the ankle and knee joints. How does her knee look? Could she have broken or severely sprained the ankle? With the loose scales it appears that there may also be some scaly leg mites as well.

It appears to just be the ankle. It’s possible she injured it from charging & kicking the fence. Idk why she does that. Maybe she can’t quite see what’s approaching & it’s defense. She was the “rooster” of the group before I adopted them & gave them a rooster. Thanks for your reply!

 

[Cazook]

Did you try applying vaseline/petroleum jelly to the feet? That is a very swollen foot, poor girl.

 

[3chickken]

I want to thank everyone for their insight! I slathered her legs in Vaseline last night & this morning I thought it would be so amazing if she was off the roost- SHE WAS IN THE LAY BOX! She hasn’t been in there since this started, so she must feel some relief. I’ll keep at it. THANKS AGAIN!

 

[3chickken]

Just an update, I treated with ivermectin & Vaseline. No change in swelling. It’s hot & swollen. I have amoxicillin & enrofloxacin on hand. Not sure what to do next.

 

[Araucana Nest]

Just an update, I treated with ivermectin & Vaseline. No change in swelling. It’s hot & swollen. I have amoxicillin & enrofloxacin on hand. Not sure what to do next.

Is she better? What was the outcome if it was resolved.

 

[Eggcessive]

How has she been doing? Since it could be a sprain, and it only is affecting the one foot, I am not sure that I would treat with antibiotics. Mycoplasma synovitis or MS usually affects both feet, as do other bacterial or viral infections of the joints. MS is diificult to treat, but most drugs in the tetracycline family (chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline, doxycycline) might treat. But, I would rather have your vet withdrawal some fluid from the joint to see exactly what it is first. If she is getting around well enough, I would tend to just treat the scaly leg mites and observe her.