Does this bumblefoot need surgery?

[abby hen]

Violetsfeathers, can I please ask what you did for the hen that had it on both feet, where you caught it early on? What did you do you her help instead of surgery? My limping hen has a much smaller spot on her good foot -- maybe I can treat that foot as you did, while I focus on the surgery for her bad foot. Thanks!!

 

[Violetsfeathers]

Well I found something like a liquid solution of Tricide neo at Pet Smart (because I couldnt find tricide neo anywhere). Then I soaked her feet in Epsom salt for as long as I can stand, (getting the poop off her feathers also) then on the bottle it said to mix one tsp of the stuff with ten gallons of water, I did that but it didn't seem to be working so I mixed the smallest measure I had (called a smidgen so I don't know what it was) with a fourth of a gallon of water and soaked her feet in that for 10min.
Then I picked the scab off, if it was dark, and always put triple antibiotic salve/ointment (and it has pain relief stuff in it) on it. Then I cut up some gauze and vet wrap and wrapped her feet up, I tried to do this every day, but mostly I did it every other day. Giving the wound time to heal
This is what her feet look like now

After soaking.
It was difficult to wrap feathered feet at first, but now it's not

 

[abby hen]

Okay, thanks! I think I've convinced my lovely veterinarian friend to come home for the weekend, so we'll go to work on them tomorrow. Just a note, I've been reading up a good bit, and it sounds like you want to be careful with the antibiotic ointment with pain relief in it. Apparently topical anesthetics are toxic to chickens, and can cause heart failure. (Avoid anything ending in "caine".) I keep seeing to be sure to buy it without pain relief. Sadly

 

[Violetsfeathers]

I will check what pain killer is in it

 

[abby hen]

That's been my biggest debate with my vet friend, Stephanie. She and her colleagues thought it sounded pretty cruel to carry this out without any pain relief, but aren't very familiar with chickens as patients, so she's looking into what can possibly be used safely on chickens. A British friend recommended Namoxyclav antibiotics as bumblefoot is a staph infection and NSAIDs ( no steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs depending how progressive it is) for pain. The NSAIDs are what some people here refer to as Metacam, used for pain relief for dogs, are apparently okay for chickens. Sounds like there aren't really studies done on the withdrawal times for eggs afterwards, but waiting a few weeks should be okay. This is also what the "chicken chick" uses - if you're familiar with her blog. She gives it 30 mins before the procedure. I'm hoping Steph will get me some.

 

[Violetsfeathers]

The salve does not have anything "caine" in it. Also Marshmallows feet are MUCH better today, I am thankful God is healing her

 

[abby hen]

All, I thought I would update you on my hen and procedure. My vet friend was able to help me, and in agreement with my British vet connection, thought Amoxclav (UK version) /Clavamox (US version) antibiotics should be administered for ten days, as well at Metacam, an NSAIDs that helps with pain and swelling. We gave her Metacam 30 mins before the procedure. My vet pal was also shocked that the foot procedures are often done at home without serious pain meds, and she injected her with some pretty strong stuff (I think an opiate, but can confirm if anyone's interested). This left my hen nicely stoned for the procedure, and while not loving her foot getting sliced into, she was probably a good bit more comfortable. We didn't remove a kernel, as things looked clean and healthy once we cut the scab off. We then used multiple layers of moleskin to cut a small donut-shaped bandage to place around the wound. This would ensure less pressure was on it while it healed, and could stay on through multiple gauze and vetwrap changes over the days ahead. We put ointment on the wound, some gauze, and as minimal vetwrap as possible, loosely wrapped, to keep it comfortable. The limp immediately went away and so far, a couple weeks later, hasn't returned. I've stopped the vetwrap now, and there's still a scab, but she's walking normally. I'll keep an eye on the scab, which might be more from the procedure at the point.