Chicken bumblefoot surgery mistake?

[thinkfreee5]

Hi! I'm new here, looking for some insight on a bumblefoot operation performed last night. I have a chicken that had a VERY bad infection. By the time I noticed it, it was pretty far along. I did my best to go the non-invasive route with Epsom salt soaks and Prid drawing salve, but it seemed to only get worse. I decided "surgery" would be the best route to take at this point, so I did that last night. Now she is not closing her foot at all. Obviously it probably hurts like heck and is bandaged up so I thought maybe that would be the reason, but it's looking less like she doesn't want to close it, but that she can't. A little concerned I may have hit something important when I made the incision.

Anyone have thoughts here? Experiences? Advice?

Thanks!

**Can include photos if needed, though they are pretty gruesome.**

 

[AidKD]

Pictures would help! If it had gotten really bad, then it may just hurt just because of the actual surgery and not because you hit anything.

 

[dawg53]

When the foot is wrapped up after the surgery, they simply cant close their feet/toes until the dressing is removed. I recommend that you leave it alone and let the wound heal. Remove the wrapping in about 4 days. You should see that the wound is healing or completely healed if it was minor surgery.
Otherwise, put Neosporin on the gauze and/or the wound and rewrap it. Wait 5 days and remove the gauze and it should be completely healed.

 

[thinkfreee5]

 

[thinkfreee5]

Pictures would help! If it had gotten really bad, then it may just hurt just because of the actual surgery and not because you hit anything.

Thank you! I just posted them. I hope that's the case

 

[thinkfreee5]

When the foot is wrapped up after the surgery, they simply cant close their feet/toes until the dressing is removed. I recommend that you leave it alone and let the wound heal. Remove the wrapping in about 4 days. You should see that the wound is healing or completely healed if it was minor surgery.
Otherwise, put Neosporin on the gauze and/or the wound and rewrap it. Wait 5 days and remove the gauze and it should be completely healed.

Thank you! I would think that too, but the other foot had a scrape so I've been wrapping that one with a little Neosporin to help it heal/not become infected. It has the same amount of dressing but she can close her foot just fine on that side.

When I put a little pressure on the toes on the surgery foot, there is absolutely no push back, just completely relaxed like it's unable to function at all.

 

[AidKD]

View attachment 3535289

Ouch! I would keep the wound filled with a disinfectant cream and change the wrap about once a day. Here is my personal favorite for wounds-
https://www.naturessunshine.com/product/silver-shield-rescue-gel-24-ppm/
It's expensive, but extremely effective. I would also just give the foot time to rest and heal. The more she can stay off of it these first few days the better.

 

[thinkfreee5]

Ouch! I would keep the wound filled with a disinfectant cream and change the wrap about once a day. Here is my personal favorite for wounds-
https://www.naturessunshine.com/product/silver-shield-rescue-gel-24-ppm/
It's expensive, but extremely effective. I would also just give the foot time to rest and heal. The more she can stay off of it these first few days the better.

I will definitely look into that. I have been cleaning with betadine and spraying with Vetericyn, then applying plain Neosporin without the pain relief ingredients. I never thought of Silver or that it would be pet safe, I bet that's a great treatment!

 

[AidKD]

I will definitely look into that. I have been cleaning with betadine and spraying with Vetericyn, then applying plain Neosporin without the pain relief ingredients. I never thought of Silver or that it would be pet safe, I bet that's a great treatment!

It sounds like what you're treating with is good, but I thought I'd just throw it out there. Keep me updated on how she is!

 

[theoldchick]

That's a humdinger for sure! I'm not surprised she's not closing her foot. This kind of wound will take time to heal -maybe a month or two. For optimum healing she needs oral antibiotics along with pain medication. A veterinary visit would be her best option. This wound will need to be kept clean and dry which means she needs to stay in a hospital cage with clean bedding. I've used a nylon puppy playpen to keep injured chickens in and it works quite well. Best of luck!