Bumblefoot without scab?

[Eggcessive]

Whoa, there's a scab for sure. In the Chicken Chick link above, there is a good video on how deep to cut. I think you will need to go deeper, but it won't matter if you wait a couple of days and soak it before attacking it again. Every case is different. I used to do surgery on all of mine, but now I ignore it unless they are really red and swollen, or limping.

Edited for spelling

 

[SavageDestiny]

Whoa, there a scab for sure. In the Chicken Chick link above, there is a good video on how deep to cut. I think you will need to go deeper, but it won't matter if you wait a couple of days and soak it before attacking it again. Every case is different. I used to do surgery on all of mine, but now I ignore it unless they are really red and swollen, or limping.

I basically cut around the scab and then just enough underneath it in order to lift it off. I couldn't see any pus at all though. I even picked around in there with tweezers, but I didn't want to cut deeper because despite reading a bazillion articles and watching videos, I feel really out of my depth and don't know what I'm doing.

I was planning on doing Vetericyn daily and re-bandaging, but I can do Epsom salt soaks too. What should I do if the swelling doesn't go down? I'm afraid to try surgery on my own again since I just got so lost the first time around.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have found that help is a good thing, just having someone hold the chicken wrapped in a towel, to free up your hands is best. The swelling may not go down if the infection stays in there. It usually isn't an emergency either unless it is a red, hot, swollen thing, so you have time to plan this out. I would give it another sot when you can get another pair o hands. A good disposable scalpel and blades from TSC cattle and sheep dept. are very handy--if your blade isn't sharp or new, it is very difficult to get it done.

 

[SavageDestiny]

I have found that help is a good thing, just having someone hold the chicken wrapped in a towel, to free up your hands is best. The swelling may not go down if the infection stays in there. It usually isn't an emergency either unless it is a red, hot, swollen thing, so you have time to plan this out. I would give it another sot when you can get another pair o hands. A good disposable scalpel and blades from TSC cattle and sheep dept. are very handy--if your blade isn't sharp or new, it is very difficult to get it done.

Thankfully Tillie was a complete angel, she laid on her back in my lap and didn't try to move once. I had everything on the bathroom counter next to me and I sat on the toilet with the lid down, haha. Unfortunately my husband is useless at this stuff, both dealing with blood and holding animals for... anything.

I did order some disposable scalpels, they should be here in the next few days.

 

[SavageDestiny]

Thought I'd update. Tillie got another foot soak and Vetericyn spray along with a fresh bandage today. She's rockin' the pink.

 

[SavageDestiny]

Update: So Tillie's foot swelling is not going down. I picked up some Penicillin today and I'm going to give her injections for 4-5 days. Hate using antibiotics but that just seems to be where we are headed.

 

[Eggcessive]

Procaine Penicillin G can be given daily for 4 days. Dosage is 1/10 to 1/4 ml daily injected 1/4 inch into the breast muscle. Alternate sides daily. Use a 20 gauge needle since it is very thick. Warm the penicillin out of the refrigerator before injecting.

 

[SavageDestiny]

Procaine Penicillin G can be given daily for 4 days. Dosage is 1/10 to 1/4 ml daily injected 1/4 inch into the breast muscle. Alternate sides daily. Use a 20 gauge needle since it is very thick. Warm the penicillin out of the refrigerator before injecting.

This is exactly what I am doing. Tillie was excellent for her injection, just sat there like a good girl in my lap. Thankfully I know how to administer injections thanks to a dog with a lot of health problems!

This seems ridiculous but I swear Tillie was feeling better just a few hours after her injection. She's been barely able to scratch with her bad foot, but this evening she was enthusiastically dust bathing and really digging the bad foot into the dirt! Hopefully this continues. I plan on still doing fresh bandages and reapplying the Vetericyn daily as well, can't hurt!

 

[SavageDestiny]

So, today her foot looks WORSE. The side of the foot that faces her other foot is hugely swollen now. And red looking.

Plus during her injection today she kicked my hand right at the end, and I'm pretty sure the last bit of the penicillin went in sub-q. Don't want to give her more since I'm not sure how much!

My stress level is through the roof right now. I feel like I'm having an anxiety attack. WHY does her foot look worse?

 

[seminolewind]

Sometimes there's more than one lump of infection, sometimes I find them between the toes. I think you're doing the right thing with the antibiotics. I will have to check the dosage for myself because I've always given 0.5 ml.

Soak the foot several times a day. Sometimes what I do is put a wet dressing with Epsom salt water, and leave it on overnight. Then a dry dressing during the day. I guess you are putting ointment on it as well?