Bumblefoot post-op very slow recovery or getting worse

[clucknscratchn]

My Red star chicken has bumblefoot. I performed surgery myself following instructions from the chicken chick website. Sterilized everything and used betadine solution to wash out the hole after a corn-kernel sized core came out. packed with triple anitbiotic and wrapped with guaze and vetwrap. the troubling part is it's been over 2 weeks and her limping got better, before it got worse in the past 4 days and she now doesn't put any weight on it at all. i've been rewrapping and soaking in epsolm salts about every other day and her leg still feels warmer than the other. I bought duramycin but haven't given her any yet. She and my other 2 birds are currently on a de-wormer (safeguard) after I lost one of my hens last week, and most forums reccommended I do it.
I'm wondering what would be the next best thing to do? She stopped laying for about 4 days but is laying again now. Should I cut back into her foot? there's no black scab, just reddish thin scab that I think looks healthy.
I really don't have money for a vet visit, but if strong antibiotics is what she needs, I'll do it. Please help!

 

[iwiw60]

Well I'm no vet but I would say some antibiotics might just be the ticket at this point...good luck and keep us up-to-date!

 

[Eggcessive]

There could be more infection in there, so you could open it back up. Sometimes you have to really squeeze from many angles to make sure you have got all of the pus out. If I were to choose an antibiotic to use, I would get something from the vet like amoxicillin, clavamox, cephalexin, or baytril. If no vet is possible, then I would use Procaine Penicillin G--give 1/4 ml daily as a shot into the breast muscle 1/4 inch with a 20 gauge needle, and give for 4 days. It is very thick, and some even use an 18 gauge needle.

 

[clucknscratchn]

where would I get procaine penicillin? And duramycin wouldn't do the trick?

 

[clucknscratchn]

i also just remembered i have some leftover amoxicillin 875 mg from when I had a (extra) round. could I crush that up and give it to her in some yogurt or something? it is expired...

 

[Eggcessive]

I've never heard of that dosage, only 125, 250 and 500 mg, but you will need to divide it into smaller doses. An oral antibiotic should be given for 7 days minimum. Look at post 11 of this thread for dosage: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...oxicillin-dose-for-a-five-pound-brahma-hen/10

 

[clucknscratchn]

Ok, judging by what i read is the right dosage, i cut each 875 mg tablet into thirds, approximately 300mg each. I made up some yogurt/pellet/antibiotic cocktails so i can just pull out my peep twice a day and watch her eat it. Thanks for the help! I'll update how she does.

 

[huntseat]

Could a drawing salve, like ichthammol be used to help draw the remaining infection out of the opening?

 

[clucknscratchn]

UPDATE: after 7 days of amoxicillin twice daily, bumble (my chicken) has made a full recovery! the scab completely healed, she limped for a few days after, probably because that leg got a bit weak, but now barely limps at all and is happy and healthy. Thanks byc and all of its helpful members!!!!!

 

[iwiw60]

UPDATE: after 7 days of amoxicillin twice daily, bumble (my chicken) has made a full recovery! the scab completely healed, she limped for a few days after, probably because that leg got a bit weak, but now barely limps at all and is happy and healthy. Thanks byc and all of its helpful members!!!!!

YAY!!

Such great news! And yes, all the folks here at BYC are so helpful...best wishes!