Duck has bumblefoot - how do I wrap the foot??

[sadies chicks]

I discovered one of my ducks has bumblefoot. How do you wrap the ducks feet once you have treated the infection? I know how to wrap a chicken's foot, but a duck??

edited cause I can't type

 

[Amiga]

How bad is it? What did you do to treat it? I haven't needed to wrap so far (a year and a half with the ducks), just slather ointment on three times a day for several weeks.

I have wrapped their precious little feet, though.

I cleaned off the foot, wiped triple antibiotic on the bottom of the foot, put a gauze pad under the foot, then used vet wrap.

I started around the leg (trying to keep the halux out of it), then somewhat loosely over the foot a few times, trying not to squeeze the toes together. I let the vet wrap go to just about the ends of the toenail.

Then back around the leg, taping at the leg. I taped the vet wrap together between the toes.

And sometimes the vet wrap stayed on overnight!

 

[sadies chicks]

This is my first experience with it, but in my opinion...it could be worse. I have not treated it yet, we just discovered it on Sunday and I needed to get the supplies. It is about a quarter in size and not too swollen yet.

You just slather the ointment on top of the wound? Do you open and clean/drain the wound like you do with a chicken? I will work on getting pics when I clean it tonight.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
I've also read that soaking the foot often during the day with epsom salt water will help with healing.

 

[Amiga]

I don't like opening ducks' feet - have you seen what they WALK in?!

Really, if you can avoid breaking the skin and use topical treatment, that's the way to go. Now, if it's advanced, and could begin to go systemic, then you're talking more invasive, but then I'd get some oral antibiotics going. Opening a foot risks infection.

So, quarter size. Hmm. I'd give the duck a nice long lukewarm bath, to loosen things up and help clean it off.

Then dry off and clean with something like hydrogen peroxide, or povidone iodine (betadyne) but I'd rinse that off - I was recently told that leaving iodine solution on can be very irritating to the tissue. Then I'd put the triple antibiotic on and keep the duck overnight in a (relatively) clean dry place. I'd do that for the first night or two only, and I say this due to the size of the bumble you describe.

Baby socks can be used over the foot, Nettie makes and sells neoprene booties, which I have used, some use those corn patches (you know, for people's foot problems, because they have an adhesive side).

It takes a long time for a bumble to go away treating it topically, but it does go away. Once it's on the run, the duck can live normally (the isolation at night shouldn't have to be for long), just get picked up a few times a day for an ointment rub-down on its food. I also put ointment on the top of the foot - anywhere near the bumble so the medicine can soak into the skin.

Again, since this one sounds larger than what I've treated, you may need to seriously consider whether opening it will reduce risk of systemic infection, but it's a tradeoff. When you open the foot, you're potentially inviting more trouble.

 

[sadies chicks]

I am definitely hesitant on opening the foot, which is why I was interested that you put the ointment on topically. I will look more in to it tonight, soak the foot, etc to see exactly what I am dealing with. I would much prefer to not open the foot (it is just scary) and take a more long-term approach. The other issue is that the ducks HATE IT when I come in to their pen. They are very scared (due to lack of socializing by my DFIL who had them when they were babies) so I try to not mess with them too much. So, it will be interesting for sure

I will keep you posted and thanks as always for your help Amiga!!

 

[Amiga]

Are you trying to bribe them with peas? Sometimes that can help. Peas or some of the other treats (they're listed on a sticky)

 

[Amiga]

I don't like opening ducks' feet - have you seen what they WALK in?!

Really, if you can avoid breaking the skin and use topical treatment, that's the way to go. Now, if it's advanced, and could begin to go systemic, then you're talking more invasive, but then I'd get some oral antibiotics going. Opening a foot risks infection.

So, quarter size. Hmm. I'd give the duck a nice long lukewarm bath, to loosen things up and help clean it off.

Then dry off and clean with something like hydrogen peroxide, or povidone iodine (betadyne) but I'd rinse that off - I was recently told that leaving iodine solution on can be very irritating to the tissue. Then I'd put the triple antibiotic on and keep the duck overnight in a (relatively) clean dry place. I'd do that for the first night or two only, and I say this due to the size of the bumble you describe.

Baby socks can be used over the foot, Nettie makes and sells neoprene booties, which I have used, some use those corn patches (you know, for people's foot problems, because they have an adhesive side).

It takes a long time for a bumble to go away treating it topically, but it does go away. Once it's on the run, the duck can live normally (the isolation at night shouldn't have to be for long), just get picked up a few times a day for an ointment rub-down on its food. I also put ointment on the top of the foot - anywhere near the bumble so the medicine can soak into the skin.

Again, since this one sounds larger than what I've treated, you may need to seriously consider whether opening it will reduce risk of systemic infection, but it's a tradeoff. When you open the foot, you're potentially inviting more trouble.

I wrote this before Haunted55 came across the properties of clear - clear - clear iodine. Did I mention clear, not brown?

After a good soaking, a few drops of clear iodine on the bumble usually causes a scab to form after several days (just soak, clear iodine, then wait - do not reapply for several days). The black scab can then be soaked again and if it's done its job, the scab will come off easily and carry nasty stuff out with it. If there is more in there, reapply the iodine, and wait again.