Bumblefoot surgery Update - RIP Duckie :(

[Tbird84]

Alright. So, I went ahead and tried to work on one foot. I got the 'scab' off, but there was nothing underneath except what looked like living tissue. The 'scab' was more of a callous. It's not warm or hot to the touch, and doesn't hurt him when I mess with it. My thought is that the infection itself is gone, but what is left is scar tissue from healing on it's own. Just a theory. So I just decided to pack both foot pads with antibiotic ointment and bandage them. He is residing in my spare bathroom at the moment so I can keep an eye on him. Thank goodness he is so tame. He was a real trooper. I took some pictures.

before I started.

after I got the top layer off.

after I attempted to find this elusive pus core and gave up before I hurt him.

He didn't have any trouble with walking before, but he might now. Poor guy.

 

[chicks4kids]

I don't know, I think there's something in there.

I took your pic and saved it so that I could enlarge it, and to me it looks like there's really something under there. After I enlarge it, it starts to get blurry...can you post a larger image?

 

[Amiga]

I have read that it's not so much pus, as chunky stuff inside. So it would not ooze out or squeeze out easily. Sorry for the graphic discussion, but this is veterinary medicine.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

I've always been told to GET THE PUS OUT! You're lucky (maybe not lucky, but...) that the hole is large. When this happened with our chickens, our bumble-hole was small so it was like playing operation to get the pus out...it was a struggle not to tweeze the tissue or skin. Try to tweeze the pus out. Bird pus is not the same as human pus, as mentioned above. It's not 'oozey' it's 'cheesey'.

Take a trip to TSC and get him some vet-wrap. (My personal favorite is the hot pink color

) That'll cover up the 'wound' while you're treating it, and keep stuff out. Change often.

Surgery alone never worked for us when our chickens had this. We had to use a combo of several other methods.

 

[Tbird84]

This stuff didn't look like what is described. At least to me. All of it would bleed when I cut it. It was very hard to try to pull anything out. The deeper I went, the more it bothered him. Maybe I'll try again soon. I do have his feet wrapped with a non-stick gauze over the wound then wrapped with vet wrap. I have dogs and horses and a husband. I usually have a stock first aid kit!

Here is one of the pics larger. I can't get the others to do it no matter what I do. Oh well.

 

[EweSheep]

I had a stubborn case of bumblefoot on my Wellie girl, like if it was callused over and I decided to say, to heck with it, I sliced, not a hole but a straight cut about the lengthwise of bumblefoot. OMG! it was a hunk coming out! And I was able to get the "seed" out of it, about the size of an orange seed.

So I cleaned it out with Baytril and put a soft gauze, then wrapped it up with Vetwrap........hubby is an EMT and he wrapped her foot up good!

 

[Tbird84]

So you cut across the 'callous'? How far down before you saw the seed? Everytime I tried to go deeper, the poor guy would stiffen up and then start wiggling trying to get his foot back. I felt so bad.

 

[Amiga]

Did you see the web page about soaking with bactine for about an hour before working the bumble out? From what I have read, there is some variety in the way the stuff presents.

But I see a few references to a core, and to it being waxy or cheesy. I think soaking and applying antibiotic will help in any case with perhaps loosening the core and attacking the bacteria.

 

[chicks4kids]

I know I've said that I have no experience in this...but.....I think everyone else is right. You're not done with this. I think there's a problem there, it's infectious, and it's not going away unless you take it away. You're doing great so far, don't get me wrong, but there's a problem there....it wouldn't be so bulbous if there weren't. I think you should soak it again and dig in so to speak...I think you have a definite case of bumblefoot...it's just evolved over time and I think that what we're seeing in your most recent photos is another layer of callous protection.

It just doesn't look right to me yet. I think the infection is there. I think you'll find there is a reason for his foot looking like this....just keep soaking and cutting....I'm sure it's there. If I were you, I would most defintely not be satisfied with the outcome of those pics. Sorry....but I wouldn't. If it doesn't look like a normal duck foot then it's not normal. You have the opportunity to fix it...and I believe you will.

Good luck

 

[secretquail]

Oh, I feel for you. I wonder if there is something you could soak the foot in to make it a bit numb??? What is the gloop (med term) that the dentist uses to numb up your mouth before stabbing you with the three foot long needle? I wish you luck!

Just make sure the knife is super sharp and go at it quickly and steadily.