Help! Is this a feather abscess?

[Hennie love]

I couldn’t find a scab. The dimple on the bottom of her foot was from bumble foot last year, it’s more on the top of her foot.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

It doesn't really look like an abscess to me. Does her foot hurt her to walk on it?

 

[Hennie love]

Yes, she hobbles terribly, not wanting to weight-bare when taped and not taped. Although she protests more when pressure is placed on the top of her foot rather than the bottom of her foot. Just washing in Hibiscrub and re-strapping it daily. No real change in the foot lumps, eating a small amount and drinking water with vitamin drops. Happy to flap up to the low perch and jump down during the day. The other two girls sit with her, not hen peeking her at the moment so keeping her in the coop. This has been a week today.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

Poor girl. Is there more than one lump? And are they localized to the end of a feather? I suppose it could be an abscess, I’ve just never seen one like that before. Are there any scabs or puncture wounds anywhere on the foot?

 

[Hennie love]

I feel it’s all the same mass, but I’m not sure. She’d pulled off the tape and non adhesive dressing and pecked at it today, there was a little blood smear but it hadn’t drained and seems the same. There were no scabs last week-so I thought not bumble foot, just a dimple where it healed from last years bumble foot that had completely healed and cleared up.
Thank you for your help, I’m looking into asking for a vets appointment- but it may be very costly. x

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

I'm going to tag @azygous for help, because she knows a lot more than me about these things. I think if it was a feather abscess there should be a little pin feather sticking out. Have you tried lancing it? That might give you more of an idea of what's going on, though I'm not sure it would be the best way. Also, if there's no open wound I wouldn't continue wrapping it, especially if she pulled it off.

How does the lump feel to the touch? Is it hard or soft? Does the tissue seem to move around when you feel it, or does it stay in one spot?

 

[azygous]

Is the swollen foot pad the object of your concern? Is there any sign of a "pimple" on the top of the foot that looks sort of like a blackhead? That would be what a feather cyst looks like. By taking a sharp razor blade and making a small nick in the center, that usually releases the feather follicle like a jack-in-the-box.

If there is swelling alone and no sign of a pimple or scab from bumblefoot, the swelling may be gout. Feel the swollen tissue, push on it. If it feels like broken glass inside, it's gout.