Bumblefoot

[ElleMc]

I just picked up a new duck. She is a year old and appears to have bumblefoot on both of her feet. It looks like she has two on one foot and one on the other. Neither are swollen and they don't seem to bother her at all. They are flat, but have that black spot scab. I'm wondering if I should surgery them, or is there a more benign treatment? I have a pair of neoprene duck boots. Maybe an Epsom salt soak? What if I put Neosporin on them and then had her wear the boots? I also have some hydrocolloid dressings. Maybe I could put those on with the boots? I just hate to start digging in her foot when she doesn't seem to be in pain. Thoughts?

 

[ElleMc]

I could also do antibiotic if necessary. My understanding though is that ducks don't have a lot of blood flow in their feet so the antibiotic isn't really effective?

Thanks for any and all recommendations.

 

[onaharley]

Hi!!! Could you post a picture of what the feet look like 1st? I always do epsom salt soaks 1st.

 

[ElleMc]

These are pictures you f both her feet. She's soaking in Epsom salts now. Should I just soak her feet every day? She's not limping and doesn't seem to be in pain

 

[Miss Lydia]

If you have Epsom salts start by soaking her feet at least 1X a day in warm water with ES mixed in I usually use a pretty strong solution of 1 cup to a gal of warm water place the duck into the bucket feet first hold onto said duck try to keep in as long as you can then dry feet and apply "decolorized" [clear iodine] over all the bumbles let it dry , do this daily till you can easily remove the scab with your finger nail once the scab if removed there may or may not be a kernel that needs removed the pus will be cheesy consistency after you get it out I use sterile tweezers then apply antibiotic ointment you can wrap or not up to you but you'll need to keep the open wound as clean as possible till it's closed and check daily to make sure you got all the bumble out.

 

[onaharley]

 

[naf_appaz]

Hey to a fellow Mississippian.... with it at the end of the toes and little weight on that point of the foot it probably wont bother her much. On the other hand it is less stressful to treat early when it is small...I would watch it closely, possible it could clear on its own. But if it grows any or she starts to limp treat it. I just did one of my hens that had it on both pads of the foot. The Epsom salt soak (at least 10 minutes) really helps to poof it up, you may need a scalpel or razor blade to cut a bit of the edge of the scab so you can get a tweezer grip on it, as long as you can get a good grip the whole plug should come out pretty easy. then some antibiotic. I taped her foot and kept her in pet crate for just 2 days and she was ready to roll. Good luck duck

 

[Miss Lydia]

That's why we say wait to let the clear iodine do it's work that way usually no need to cut just use your nail to gently pull up the scab.

 

[naf_appaz]

I will try that next time...good to know! My hen showed no symptoms at all until one morning she came out of the coop in the initial rush and just sat down despite the rain and didn't want to get up...that's when I saw the bumbles on both feet. They were not big and did not have much of any kind of puss but they did clear right up and she seems fine now a week later...was not sure if I kept her isolated in pet carrier long enough but so far all good. Will have to pick up some iodine just in case.

 

[ElleMc]

Lots of good information. I soaked her for 30 minutes this morning in an Epsom salt solution. Then put her in boots with a Iodopovidone soaked cotton ball directly on the bumble. I'll check it again tomorrow and see how she's doing. And for those of you interested, these things are SO MUCH EASIER than taping the foot.
http://www.hensaver.com/Birdy-Bootie.html