Chronic foot infection- trying to avoid second surgery

[muscovylove]

This is very true. And sometimes those masses are farther away from a wound entrance than you’d think they should be. I once had a chicken with a scab in the middle of her foot, but the mass/swelling was up between her toes. I did not think I could get the pus out without cutting into her, which I really did not want to do. One day I had someone hold her wrapped in a towel and I just went to work trying to push that piece of pus towards the open wound. I’ll tell you. Very suddenly that piece of pus shot right out. It bounced off the wall next to my head and I was just shocked.

All this to say, sometimes you don’t get anything but blood out of the open wound and it’ll take a lot to get the infection out. That can be discouraging, but keep soaking and trying to work that pus up to the surface. The prid drawing salve may help, too. That did bring some pus up for me. I’ve recommended @coach723 s sugardine trick to others and they’ve had success with that, too. Keep us posted!

Thank you so much. This morning she wasn't eating much and her foot does look more swollen, but isn't hot or red. I'm not sure what was going on but she's perked up but definitely favoring the foot. I might be messing with her foot too much. I applied the sugardine and wrapped it, not tightly, and will soak tonight and re-dress. Fingers crossed.

 

[citychicks99]

Thank you so much. This morning she wasn't eating much and her foot does look more swollen, but isn't hot or red. I'm not sure what was going on but she's perked up but definitely favoring the foot. I might be messing with her foot too much. I applied the sugardine and wrapped it, not tightly, and will soak tonight and re-dress. Fingers crossed.

How is your chicken doing? Is she still on antibiotics?

 

[muscovylove]

How is your chicken doing? Is she still on antibiotics?

So after doing some looking back at my notes I realized I had treated her with Tiagard, not Tylosin back in the spring- but the result was that the swelling had gone down completely. My guess is that I didn't keep her on the antibiotics long enough.
I did decide to stop the amoxicillin- after 14 days with absolutely no change I don't think it was doing anything but wrecking her gut. It's been 2 days and I'm not seeing any big change from when I wrote the original post. I did start her on Tiagard, and ordered Tylosin which should come in Thursday. I am doing a once a day epsom salt bath followed by sugardine. The opening to her abscess requires me pressing on it, pus is still draining, everything else feels hard and she is very uncomfortable with me pressing on it. I'm wrapping it and keeping her inside at night with a snack after the bath and a snack first thing before I put her with her small flock of older hens. She is not putting weight on it but will use it if she has to. Footpad definitely is bigger than a week ago.
I've decided I just can't do another surgery with her- because it's so expensive, the gassing is pretty tough on the bird, and it's not guaranteed it will be her last- I really was very careful on her aftercare. I'm really praying this works out, she is eating just fine.

 

[citychicks99]

So after doing some looking back at my notes I realized I had treated her with Tiagard, not Tylosin back in the spring- but the result was that the swelling had gone down completely. My guess is that I didn't keep her on the antibiotics long enough.
I did decide to stop the amoxicillin- after 14 days with absolutely no change I don't think it was doing anything but wrecking her gut. It's been 2 days and I'm not seeing any big change from when I wrote the original post. I did start her on Tiagard, and ordered Tylosin which should come in Thursday. I am doing a once a day epsom salt bath followed by sugardine. The opening to her abscess requires me pressing on it, pus is still draining, everything else feels hard and she is very uncomfortable with me pressing on it. I'm wrapping it and keeping her inside at night with a snack after the bath and a snack first thing before I put her with her small flock of older hens. She is not putting weight on it but will use it if she has to. Footpad definitely is bigger than a week ago.
I've decided I just can't do another surgery with her- because it's so expensive, the gassing is pretty tough on the bird, and it's not guaranteed it will be her last- I really was very careful on her aftercare. I'm really praying this works out, she is eating just fine.

Thanks for the update. I hope the Tiagard and Tylosin helps with the swelling again.

 

[alinas2010]

Antibiotics can be tough on them. Anesthesia is, too, I don’t blame you for not wanting to put her through that again. Hopefully if you keep working at it, there will be improvement and the infection will be drawn out. Poor girl.

 

[coach723]

If things are looking worse, updated pictures would be good.
Sugardine is a slow process, so patience and persistence. Hopefully it will at least not be getting worse.

 

[muscovylove]

If things are looking worse, updated pictures would be good.
Sugardine is a slow process, so patience and persistence. Hopefully it will at least not be getting worse.

Hi all, so the swelling has increased. Where I put the sugardine, that abscess is totally healing, so that is great! However, her foot on the other side is swelling, and now around the ankle. She isn't putting any weight on her foot, and definitely is in pain. I am throwing in the towel and taking her in for surgery tomorrow. I was told she will likely do fine during the surgery, and they do financing. Looks like I'll be eating beans and rice for the next 6 months......
She is a sweet hen, just 2 years old. My ladies tend to live a long time here, I want to think that this could be the last time and then we all live happily ever after. I will definitely update tomorrow!

 

[coach723]

So sorry. Hope all goes well and they can finally get things going in the right direction.

 

[alinas2010]

Hi all, so the swelling has increased. Where I put the sugardine, that abscess is totally healing, so that is great! However, her foot on the other side is swelling, and now around the ankle. She isn't putting any weight on her foot, and definitely is in pain. I am throwing in the towel and taking her in for surgery tomorrow. I was told she will likely do fine during the surgery, and they do financing. Looks like I'll be eating beans and rice for the next 6 months......
She is a sweet hen, just 2 years old. My ladies tend to live a long time here, I want to think that this could be the last time and then we all live happily ever after. I will definitely update tomorrow!

I’m so sorry! Great about the healing foot!

I hate that her other foot took a turn, though. I’m glad your vet is working with you. Prayers for swift recovery for her.

 

[muscovylove]

I’m so sorry! Great about the healing foot!

I hate that her other foot took a turn, though. I’m glad your vet is working with you. Prayers for swift recovery for her.

Sorry- I meant the other side of the same foot. But, I'm impressed with the sugardine healing the abscess. Thank you so much- I will keep you posted, I feel like the stress is going through the anesthesia and hopefully the debridement isn't too much.