Bumblefoot second opinions requested

[starystoryteller]

I have a chicken battling bumblefoot for nearly 2 months now. I initially tried hands off soaking and conservative Treatments but ultimately was forced to treat it surgically at home because no vet within 500 miles of my home would look at a chicken....a hospital would for 2000 but they are practically in another state and i cant really afford that.

She gets weekly debridement, soaks every other day, and antibiotic ointment along with high protein treats everytime i do anything with the foot.
There was the initial infection which produced a pea sized blob of thick infection puss. There was a little side shoot of pus i extracted two weeks after the first but didnt get pictures, just the aftermath. The most recent picture is the one taken outside in sunshine. I find she doesn't get as nervous if she can hear the rest of the flock.
I feel it is healing but I may be too close to the project...I need a second opinion on if you think its healing or should I be digging deeper.

Need advice.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I don't think it looks too bad. I would do daily warm Epsom salt baths (two a day if you can).
It would help to keep it dry and clean (other than the soaks) so some gauze and vet wrap is in order.

 

[starystoryteller]

I don't think it looks too bad. I would do daily warm Epsom salt baths (two a day if you can).
It would help to keep it dry and clean (other than the soaks) so some gauze and vet wrap is in order.

She is an escape artist when it comes to the bandage, I count it a win if she keeps it on 24hrs. The yard is usually pretty moist and since i used to float them like a duck to cool them off as chicks(it was over a hundred degrees most days with no shade at first so I would hold them and gradually lower them in until they calmly floated like six chicken/ducks in the tote three times a day....I never left them alone, not stupid.) they have all got a habit of walking or standing in the water pan when its too hot( warm fuzzy "you remember" feelings, probably miss placed...but still.) So keeping the foot dry is a feat.


But yes, i try to keep it covered.

I don't think it looks too bad. I would do daily warm Epsom salt baths (two a day if you can).
It would help to keep it dry and clean (other than the soaks) so some gauze and vet wrap is in order.

 

[InterestingChickens]

Let it heal for the moment. Keep doing the Epson salt bathes and use triple antibiotic cream, if you can get some. Best of luck with her!

 

[Lizzy733]

What are you using to bandage?

Vet wrap is the best as it sticks to itself.

My wrap consists of: betadine-packed wound, gauze, then two long thin strips of vet wrap around the toes, crossed over the gauze and up the leg and one thick strip wrapped around the leg to hold the long ends in place.

The bumble is in an odd position for wrapping; I'd wrap the entire foot as above and also an additional thin strip and some gauze under the middle toe, crossed on the top and wrapped behind and up the leg so it can be held in place by the thicker top wrap. That way the pad height will be consistent across the foot too.

With bumblefoot in my flock, it was always the usual suspects, who were avid scratchers.

After the above, they never kicked another bandage. Change often if it's fresh or wet outdoors, but you can leave it longer once the wound has started to heal over.

 

[starystoryteller]

Let it heal for the moment. Keep doing the Epson salt bathes and use triple antibiotic cream, if you can get some. Best of luck with her!

She gets it. But i find if i dont debride the wound, the pus returns. I rarely get blood, just the dead tissue which rings the scab and i thin down the scab so the medication can soak in.

 

[starystoryteller]

What are you using to bandage?

Vet wrap is the best as it sticks to itself.

My wrap consists of: betadine-packed wound, gauze, then two long thin strips of vet wrap around the toes, crossed over the gauze and up the leg and one thick strip wrapped around the leg to hold the long ends in place.

The bumble is in an odd position for wrapping; I'd wrap the entire foot as above and also an additional thin strip and some gauze under the middle toe, crossed on the top and wrapped behind and up the leg so it can be held in place by the thicker top wrap. That way the pad height will be consistent across the foot too.

With bumblefoot in my flock, it was always the usual suspects, who were avid scratchers.

After the above, they never kicked another bandage. Change often if it's fresh or wet outdoors, but you can leave it longer once the wound has started to heal over.

My whole flock puts my roto tiller to shame. And they fertilize and debug.
I use coban with a strip of waterproof medical tape ringed around the outer end like a snug bracelet. I cut four inches longwise down the end of the coban and wrap the toe acebandage style till the gauze is covered and then wrapback to bring the end around the ankle. Then I take the other half of the cut end and wrap it counter clockwise around the toe so the tape is forked around the toe and the end wraps around the ankle in a similar fashion to the first but in opposite directions. Than i take the full width end of tape and go straight up the sole of the foot with a slight counter angle to the second half strip, i wrap around the ankle and lock in the two half ends. I wrap arond the foot and half way up and down the leg ace wrap style so you get that pretty patern that holds the ace so well....a band of waterproof tape like a white bracelet to lock down the coban. Lastly, I bring down her year band and the color band which helps me know her name.....this acts as an additional hinderence to bandage shedding.

 

[starystoryteller]

Let it heal for the moment. Keep doing the Epson salt bathes and use triple antibiotic cream, if you can get some. Best of luck with her!

I am doing my best, thanks