Help: what to do when bumblefoot removal doesn't go as planned?

[sierraforest]

We've never had a case of bumblefoot before one of our girls came down with it recently. We read countless blog posts, watched YT videos, and posted here on BYC asking for help, then decided to try to treat it without surgery and avoid causing potentially unnecessary pain. Non-surgery didn't work so we attempted to cut out the infection but didn't see any sign of a corn or anything abnormal (no puss or liquid besides blood). What do we do now? We've been warned against seeing the (only) avian vet in our area since they have a history of losing chickens and ducks during procedures. We're in the process of asking family and friends nearby if they know of anyone who's dealt with it and now I'm posting here to ask for any advice. Our girl is eating, drinking, and even laying as usual (she's amazing) and walks as best as she can in her little bootie. She's in regular spirits, though she is napping a bit more than normal. The photo with a gloss over the wound is a topical antibiotic.

 

[Weeg]

@Wyorp Rock @Isaac 0 @Eggcessive

 

[Weeg]

@Isaac 0 @Overo Mare

 

[sierraforest]

@Wyorp Rock @Isaac 0 @Eggcessive

Thank you to anyone who has experience and thoughts! We're also reaching out to the local Audubon Society today. Steps we've been taking the day of and since "surgery":

• Cleaning the wound 3 to 4x daily with Manna Pro Theracyn and/or hydrogen peroxide
• Alternating between applying Vetericyn Plus and Polysporin topical antibiotic
• Wrapping the wound in a bandage, securing with medical tape, and fitting a duck bootie over the foot
• Adding Probios Dispersible Powder (probiotic) and extra nutritional yeast to her food
• Adding apple cider vinegar to her water
• Not allowing her access to the pond

 

[Weeg]

I wouldn’t use the hydrogens peroxide. I’ve heard it’s to strong and can be painful. Good lob with the rest of the treatment. How long has it been since surgery? Have you been picking any scab that formed afterwards?

 

[Weeg]

I wish it could help more

 

[Justso]

This is what I was directed to do about bumblefoot by my vet.
1. Soak the foot three to four times a day for a good period of time in warm water with Epsom salts. You can also use a small dot of dishwashing detergent which helps soften the tissue. I used a bucket and sat down with the bucket between my feet, hands holding the bird, feet and lower body in the bucket. Eventually she calmed down and relaxed.
2. Clean the wound out removing any dead tissue or puss, gauze works. Use an antibiotic cream with no painkiller or bag balm, make sure it really gets in there, and wrap.
It took about a week of good soaks for things to calm down and start to heal over. It takes patience and time depending on how bad the bumble is.

Personally I'm not convinced of the benefits of ACV. Everybody tells it, but I have not seen any real evidence of exactly what it's supposed to do. If it's medicinal, it should be dosed IMHO.
Make sure your bird has access to clean water as well if you're going to use it.
I agree that peroxide can be pretty caustic. I'd stop with it.

 

[sierraforest]

I wouldn’t use the hydrogens peroxide. I’ve heard it’s to strong and can be painful. Good lob with the rest of the treatment. How long has it been since surgery? Have you been picking any scab that formed afterwards?

I appreciate the tip—I hadn't read that about HP but I don't doubt it, so we'll stop using it. We tried on Thursday and after more research, again yesterday, but we're done cutting. We didn't get very invasive, opting instead to be conservative since this was our first experience. We haven't seen a scab forming yet but I've read that the scab that appears is a good thing...is that not true?

 

[sierraforest]

This is what I was directed to do about bumblefoot by my vet.
1. Soak the foot three to four times a day for a good period of time in warm water with Epsom salts. You can also use a small dot of dishwashing detergent which helps soften the tissue. I used a bucket and sat down with the bucket between my feet, hands holding the bird, feet and lower body in the bucket. Eventually she calmed down and relaxed.
2. Clean the wound out removing any dead tissue or puss, gauze works. Use an antibiotic cream with no painkiller or bag balm, make sure it really gets in there, and wrap.
It took about a week of good soaks for things to calm down and start to heal over. It takes patience and time depending on how bad the bumble is.

Personally I'm not convinced of the benefits of ACV. Everybody tells it, but I have not seen any real evidence of exactly what it's supposed to do. If it's medicinal, it should be dosed IMHO.
Make sure your bird has access to clean water as well if you're going to use it.
I agree that peroxide can be pretty caustic. I'd stop with it.

Thank you for posting! We did step 1 for over a month as part of a wider regimen to try to coax the infection out without cutting, but after such a long time, we decided to attempt a cut. Now we're on step 2, and I forgot to include that we're doing 1x daily tepid water soaks, no salt added. But the big question I have is, did we do the cutting approach correctly? I know it's hard to say from the perspective of not having been there in person or me being able to take lots of good photos, but judging by the fact that no corn kernel or puss or any other liquid came out, I don't know what to think. Basically, all we were able to do was remove the black layer you see in the photo IMG_1492; beneath that looks like tissue. The area doesn't feel hard but it is swollen and looks like a small ball, compared to what it should look like.

 

[RainbowHen]

You have to cut around that entire scab and get it out.