Does this look like the start of bumblefoot?

[Ellyhutch]

One of my little girls is limping and avoiding standing on her left foot. The bottom looks a bit swollen but no open sores or scabs. I checked all my other birds and they look fine, as does her other foot. Thoughts? What could I do at this early stage (if it is bumblefoot) or if it's something else entirely?

 

[ruthhope]

Yes, it looks like an early wound that could develop into bumblefoot. You can use epsom salt soaks and keep the wound clean and dry with a non-stick dressing and a bootie [either purpose made or fashioned from Duct tape] and the wound might heal up without developing the actual bumble which is inspissated pus.

 

[Ellyhutch]

Yes, it looks like an early wound that could develop into bumblefoot. You can use epsom salt soaks and keep the wound clean and dry with a non-stick dressing and a bootie [either purpose made or fashioned from Duct tape] and the wound might heal up without developing the actual bumble which is inspissated pus.

Thanks. I'm soaking now with sea salt / ACV and will pick up Epsom salt tomorrow. I don't know how I'll keep her from getting the dressing wet in the pond...

 

[ruthhope]

Thanks. I'm soaking now with sea salt / ACV and will pick up Epsom salt tomorrow. I don't know how I'll keep her from getting the dressing wet in the pond...

Duct tape and ensure it is sealed all round -- duct tape is amazing in that it stays stuck together in water!! If it were a bumble, particularly one that had to be cut out, I would say no pond -- keep in the coop until healed. But if you can keep the dressing dry, this one should be ok.

 

[Ellyhutch]

A brief update: her little scrape has healed fine with no sign of scabbing or pus or anything that looks like an infection. I pulled off what I thought could be a tiny scab but I think it was just a foot pad. I'm now thinking this might have been a break in one of her tarsal bones. The only time she reacts painfully is when I bend the toe area joint. It feels different than the other toe, for sure. We're still soaking and have a little foot covering for her but I don't think it's an infection. She's behaving completely normally still, the foot is warm to the touch but the leg feels normal, no scabbing... It's odd. She is our escape artist so I honestly wouldn't be surprised if she broke it breaking out one day.

 

[ruthhope]

Ellyhutch Be super careful with that puncture wound until it has fully healed and sealed off. If she has a fracture underneath it, the puncture wound is a way for infection to get from the outside to the bone.

"We're still soaking and have a little foot covering for her " is good.

 

[Ellyhutch]

She ended up getting full blown bumblefoot, so I did surgery today. And... Holy crap. I can't even believe what I pulled out of there. It looks like a bone or a stick or something and had completely fused with her foot. It took about an hour to get out. It doesn't look much like the other bumblefoot infection I have looked up. Hopefully she heals up really soon. I could see the relief on her face when I pulled it out!

 

[ruthhope]

She ended up getting full blown bumblefoot, so I did surgery today. And... Holy crap. I can't even believe what I pulled out of there. It looks like a bone or a stick or something and had completely fused with her foot. It took about an hour to get out. It doesn't look much like the other bumblefoot infection I have looked up. Hopefully she heals up really soon. I could see the relief on her face when I pulled it out!

My goodness, Ellyhutch: how did you keep her still for so long?
It is possible she had a foreign body in the wound and that was the source of the infection. Whatever it is, continuing to keep the wound clean and dry will allow it to heal up from inside, now it is gone. Good luck and give her a hug from me

 

[Ellyhutch]

My goodness, Ellyhutch: how did you keep her still for so long?
It is possible she had a foreign body it he wound and that was the source of the infection. Whatever it is, continuing to keep the wound clean and dry will allow it to heal up from inside, now it is gone. Good luck and give her a hug from me

My sister held her down. She's got a great temperament as it is but she was antsy for sure. I do think she knew we were helping her. It is so weird because the initial scrape was teeny tiny, so I don't know how anything could have gotten in there. We will keep it wrapped up tight, no pool time and daily bandage changes!

 

[ruthhope]

My sister held her down. She's got a great temperament as it is but she was antsy for sure. I do think she knew we were helping her. It is so weird because the initial scrape was teeny tiny, so I don't know how anything could have gotten in there. We will keep it wrapped up tight, no pool time and daily bandage changes!

I just had a muscovy drake with a small cut on his foot: a puncture wound like your ducks but without swelling. He was limping and standing on one foot as much as possible, but it was difficult enough to get him to have 5 minute epsom salt foot soaks. He does not like baths and he does not like foot soaks!! He let that be well known.