Duck Bumblefoot - how long?

[jaykayhuff]

Good question...we don't know if we should or not. The Vet didn't mention us trying any more surgery on her. He also didn't condemn us...or praise us for the two surgeries we already did.

I'm going to examine again here in a few hours and make a call. I might at least wrap it again with a liberal dose of ointment over night.

So far that is all I have done is the Vetericyn spray and a wrap with ointment and the soaks. I was under the impression that you do surgery once you see a scab but maybe I am just reading too many blogs and posts on treatment approaches. I don’t understand how the smaller one is getting worse though fOr you if she is on antibiotics and anti inflammatory....

 

[McChics]

So far that is all I have done is the Vetericyn spray and a wrap with ointment and the soaks. I was under the impression that you do surgery once you see a scab but maybe I am just reading too many blogs and posts on treatment approaches. I don’t understand how the smaller one is getting worse though fOr you if she is on antibiotics and anti inflammatory....

I thought the scab was an issue if it was/is black. Again - I got that from blog after blog - on her other one we really never saw a black one. I'll post again tomorrow with pics and see how it changes - if at all.

 

[CoriM]

Yes, you did...and we have done it. However, it has been tricky. I've had to do it solo due to other schedules around the house and I've struggled even with help. I think we are both paranoid of pumping it down the wind tube. And, we have spilled it more than we got in her. I may not be forceful enough to pry the bill open either. In any event - the peas have been working amazing. It takes less time and way less stress (no stress) to do it this way.

I take 10-12 or so and use a nail. I poke the nail in a thawed pea and squeeze the juice out - then put the tip of the syringe (no needle) to the hole and pump some in - I get them all ready...pick her up on my lap and pop them in until it is all done - I slip in some non-spiked ones in between because I know these have a bitter taste (don't ask me how I know that).

But, if I had a better veggie/fruit that would hold more meds I could do it faster...with the best part of her never knowing she just got medicated.

Wow, you have great patience and love for your ducks!

 

[McChics]

Wow, you have great patience and love for your ducks!

Thank you - If we could only convince Ms. Stripes...that I'm doing all this for her own good. She is very compliant and has been a joy to work with overall, but she's not happy with this. It is funny how they are truly creatures of habit and she knows the routine so well, you can tell she is prepared for me now each time I approach.

Here is the pic this morning. She got a good cleaning spray, dry, and ointment last night with a wrap. I pulled it off this morning and will let her air out all day. The one on her right little toe is puffy still. The middle one I believe is showing VERY slow progress.

 

[CoriM]

The middle toe looks really good and I bet the swelling will just slowly go away. I had a couple ducks with bumble recently and when the skin got healed over I finally just started ignoring it because there wasn't much else I could do as it had healed. A few weeks later they were back to normal. The one on the outside toe does look like something's still going on. Hopefully your vet can guide you. Unless there's open wound you don't need to wrap it.

 

[McChics]

Just a photo essay update - here she is as of 6/17 - meds go through the 23rd...so there are a few more days to see it turn. She is showing NO signs of pain or discomfort. But...the swelling is still present.

 

[Miss Lydia]

And the bumble doesn’t feel hard like the kernel is still in there?

 

[McChics]

And the bumble doesn’t feel hard like the kernel is still in there?

It is squishy feeling - but as you guys that have been through this know...not squishy like a big human zit/boil/ingrown hair/cyst...because it won't just "POP" when you really squeeze it probably due to how their foot skin is compared to human. But unlike any skin layer infection spot that I've seen in my life with other animals and humans.

There is this thought that I could just really squeeze it and "POOF" it should just squirt out and start healing faster. But...it won't. Even when we cut the first one (middle one) open weeks ago, you had to dig out the hard stuff - it did just squeeze.

So, I "THINK" there is no kernel in the small one...but I'm sooo far out of my league and comfort/knowledge zone here.

 

[jaykayhuff]

It is squishy feeling - but as you guys that have been through this know...not squishy like a big human zit/boil/ingrown hair/cyst...because it won't just "POP" when you really squeeze it probably due to how their foot skin is compared to human. But unlike any skin layer infection spot that I've seen in my life with other animals and humans.

There is this thought that I could just really squeeze it and "POOF" it should just squirt out and start healing faster. But...it won't. Even when we cut the first one (middle one) open weeks ago, you had to dig out the hard stuff - it did just squeeze.

So, I "THINK" there is no kernel in the small one...but I'm sooo far out of my league and comfort/knowledge zone here.

Did the one on the right never really form a scab?

 

[McChics]

nothing really - just a little scab/plug at what appeared to be a puncture point . You see it in the pics - that's about all it ever has become in terms of a scab on her right toe area.