HELP! Is this Bumblefoot or something else?

[katieducklady]

This is my Muscovy drake, he has been limping and I noticed blood on the roost.

 

[katieducklady]

Anyone? I originally thought it was bumble foot, the first night I looked at it with my husband it was dirty and in a semi dark coop by flash light. I had myself convinced thats what it was, researched what to do, and then the next night we got our stuff together and when we cleaned it up it didn't look like I expected it but I started cutting into it and when I started cutting it didn't look like I expected bumble foot to look. So I washed it up, put neosporin on it and wrapped it up and now I feel AWFUL that I did what I did and its probably not bumble foot!!! I am so scared that I caused more harm to him. Should I just keep soaking/cleaning it and wrapping it every few days? Any idea what it is? The big round part with scabby looking stuff around it back by his heel (his other foot doesn't look like that). And then I wondered about that circle with the crack on it on his middle toe, is that normal? I think the other foot kind of has that too? he is also missing toenails on the outside of both feet!! I feel so bad for this guy. We have 2 drakes and the other one has really been picking on him and now this. I feel like an awful duck owner Help!!

 

[katieducklady]

Anyone???

 

[Gigglebox]

I'm really not sure as my experience is extremely limited but want to bump your post--hope someone more knowledgable jumps in!

 

[katieducklady]

Thank you! I wish someone more knowledgeable than me had some advice! Last night I soaked his foot for a few mins in warm water w/ epsom salts and then put neosporin on it. I didn't rewrap it because it seemed to be aggravating the foot more It was scabbed over pretty good but today he has hung out in the coop all day from what I've seen. I've been out there twice and he is up on the roost (he thinks he's a chicken) and I'm not sure if he's been down to eat or drink or anything? I put a small bowl of water on the roost near him so I hope he at least drinks something from that. I'm getting pretty worried about him.

 

[Gigglebox]

Hmm, really not sure you may want to cross post in the regular chicken disease forum, might have luck there

 

[katieducklady]

Thank you, I did cross post it! Hopefully I'll get some answers

 

[Amiga]

You are starting out well - there is something there -

Epsom salt soaks followed by antibiotic ointment is an approach I have used with my Runners - I have caught the bumblefoot early, and it has taken several weeks to completely resolve, but that worked for me.

If this is a more advanced case, and anyway you may want to try the clear iodine (clear, not brown) method that Haunted55 discovered by accident.

Haunted55:
On July 1st, I found one of my Pekin ducks with what I would consider a bad case of Bumblefoot. Both feet were involved and I'm ashamed to say, the only way I found it was she was limping. One foot had 7 and the other had 3. I was able to grab her and bring her into the house and put her into a warm bath to clean and soak. Two water changes later and softened feet, all I had time to do was paint the bumbles with colorless iodine, grabbed the wrong stuff, and put her into a dog crate in my house until I could get everything ready to operate and get them gone. Did I mention the thought of this scared me half to death?

Sad to say it took 6 days before i was able to get everything together and someone to help out with the 'cure'.

There really wasn't much to operate on, even though I was prepared to do just that. No matter how much squeezing or prodding or soaking, there just wasn't anything more to come out, it was all on the scabs that were covering the sores. The swelling was down from the 'marbles' I saw when I first found them. I poured betadine over the ones I had opened and painted the ones that I hadn't again with the iodine and put her back into her crate with clean bedding.

The bumbles have been dramatically reduced on the Pekin with just the iodine application and the smaller ones totally gone.

The heels being the worst are still showing infection and need for more treatment. tomorrow, I will again give a bath and pull/cut out the scabbing and treat with straight iodine this time. These spots are now flat or as flat as they should be considering the part of the foot they are on. I will still touch up the places that had the spots before as well.

(end of report by Haunted55)

If the leg seems rather warm, it may indicate that infection is spreading. In that case, oral or injectable antibiotics are needed. A good duck vet is always best. But if that is not an option, please look into where you can find an appropriate systemic antibiotic in case you need it.

 

[katieducklady]

THANK YOU so much for you reply and helpful information!!! I will get some clear iodine and try this method! Much easier than cutting the poor foot! Wish I would've posted before I did that

The duck is outside with the others this morning which makes me happy that he is feeling well enough for that!