Bumblefoot surgery... best way?

[Clairemarie1982]

Hey this is the first time one of my chickens appear to have bumblefoot. I have watched a bunch of videos and I’ve seen both cutting a straight line around the scab with a scalpel. I have also seen popping it out more or less with tweezers. Obviously I would prefer to do the second but will do whatever I have to, to successfully remove this. The surface is flat and doesn’t look too complex. I am hoping I am able to pop it out and then scrape it all out that way but I wanted to check before doing so. I attached a picture below. Any advice is much appreciated!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That may not be bad enough to need surgery. That was always the approach for years but you can try something homeopathic. Keep it clean, do daily or twice a day foot baths in a warm Epsom salt bath. Wrap the foot and keep the bird on clean dry bedding.
Better yet, after the foot bath, apply a CEH cream if you can find it. That is calendula, echinacea and hypericum. The combination is available overseas. But if you can find two or three of them whether in an essential oil or a cream, use that.

 

[Weeg]

Please try this before surgery!!!!!!!
If I were you, I would clean her foot, and see if you can get a better look. I have been treating my chickens for bumble foot for the last month and have seen great results. The first thing I would do is soak the foot for a good 10-20 minuets in an epsom salt bath, than find a way to flip her on her back. I would suggest putting a towel over her head and holding her wings to flip her. This calms my chickens but have never done it with a duck so you might need two people. ounce she is on her back, you should try and remove the plug. The plug is the black scab on her foot. Try and wiggle the plug and see if it will move at all. If it seems to be coming free from the foot, than continue two soak her in 5-10 minuet intervals to loosen it. Some times this works to remove the plug quickly. There should be no blood.

If the plug doesn't want to come out, that is fine. I would than, apply Vetrycin on top of the plug, cover it in a bit of cotton ball, or cotton pad, and wrap it in vet wrap, preferably no chew. Continue to check your ducks foot every other day, eventually the vetrycin will loosen the plug and you can remove it. If the plug does come out there will be a hole in your ducks pad, either squirt Vetrycin or Neosporin in the hole, than wrap tightly with vet wrap, and secure with a piece of duck tape.
PS. You do not need to soak her foot ever time. If you are applying Vetrycin to the plug than each time, see if it is any looser, you should see improvement. If the plug is removed, than each time check for a scab that might form. Pick it off and reapply Vetrycin or Neosporin. If you don't have Vetrycin, you can purchase it from amazon in two day shipping. You will need it if you do not get he plug out.
Hope this helps, and good luck,
Avery

 

[Weeg]

I also love the calendula and essential oil idea! You could do Vetrycin and that, I know mine has worked for 5 of my chickens in the past.

 

[Clairemarie1982]

That may not be bad enough to need surgery. That was always the approach for years but you can try something homeopathic. Keep it clean, do daily or twice a day foot baths in a warm Epsom salt bath. Wrap the foot and keep the bird on clean dry bedding.
Better yet, after the foot bath, apply a CEH cream if you can find it. That is calendula, echinacea and hypericum. The combination is available overseas. But if you can find two or three of them whether in an essential oil or a cream, use that.

Thank you! I found and ordered the cream. I will try it =)

 

[Clairemarie1982]

Please try this before surgery!!!!!!!
If I were you, I would clean her foot, and see if you can get a better look. I have been treating my chickens for bumble foot for the last month and have seen great results. The first thing I would do is soak the foot for a good 10-20 minuets in an epsom salt bath, than find a way to flip her on her back. I would suggest putting a towel over her head and holding her wings to flip her. This calms my chickens but have never done it with a duck so you might need two people. ounce she is on her back, you should try and remove the plug. The plug is the black scab on her foot. Try and wiggle the plug and see if it will move at all. If it seems to be coming free from the foot, than continue two soak her in 5-10 minuet intervals to loosen it. Some times this works to remove the plug quickly. There should be no blood.

If the plug doesn't want to come out, that is fine. I would than, apply Vetrycin on top of the plug, cover it in a bit of cotton ball, or cotton pad, and wrap it in vet wrap, preferably no chew. Continue to check your ducks foot every other day, eventually the vetrycin will loosen the plug and you can remove it. If the plug does come out there will be a hole in your ducks pad, either squirt Vetrycin or Neosporin in the hole, than wrap tightly with vet wrap, and secure with a piece of duck tape.
PS. You do not need to soak her foot ever time. If you are applying Vetrycin to the plug than each time, see if it is any looser, you should see improvement. If the plug is removed, than each time check for a scab that might form. Pick it off and reapply Vetrycin or Neosporin. If you don't have Vetrycin, you can purchase it from amazon in two day shipping. You will need it if you do not get he plug out.
Hope this helps, and good luck,
Avery

Hi Avery thanks for your lengthy reply I appreciate it! I am seeing this message after the fact. So today I soaked my chicken’s foot in epsom salt for 15 minutes. Wrapped her up in a towel and had my daughter holding her. After cleaning the foot I was able to remove the black scab and some stuff attached to it as well with tweezers. I did notice there was more “stuff” at the bottom of the hole I was left with. I could not get it out. I chose not to use a scalpel- not for my sake but hers. When I would try to squeeze it out of the foot she was yelling. She’s normally a super mellow and sweet girl so I knew this was hurting her. I tried soaking it for another 10 minutes and it was still in there at the bottom of the hole. I ended up giving up for the time being because it was clearly hurting her. I sprayed some Vetrycin put a little piece of gauze and taped it up with VetWrap. I imagine since there is more stuff in there it must be removed to truly heal up properly and get over this? I also ordered the cream you both had mentioned in this thread. Thanks in advance!!

 

[Weeg]

I wouldn't worry about the rest of the stuff at the bottom of the hole. The Vetrycin and calendula will deal with it for you as long a you keep an eye on it. I hope she heals up nicely and good luck! Sorry for the langthy reply, I just didn't want to be confusing, but thank you for the feed back. I am 12 and am excited to help out since I am very experienced with bumble foot.

 

[Clairemarie1982]

I wouldn't worry about the rest of the stuff at the bottom of the hole. The Vetrycin and calendula will deal with it for you as long a you keep an eye on it. I hope she heals up nicely and good luck! Sorry for the langthy reply, I just didn't want to be confusing, but thank you for the feed back. I am 12 and am excited to help out since I am very experienced with bumble foot.

Aww how sweet, thanks so much for your help! I have a daughter who just turned 13. You sure do know a lot about chickens! =)

 

[Weeg]

Thanks so much! Good luck, and keep us posted!