How to Treat Bumblefoot

[Natalie65]

I have a hen who has bumblefoot and is limping. Can anyone advise me on how to treat this please.

Thank you.
Natalie

 

[DobieLover]

Hello Natalie, and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.

Can you please post pictures of her foot while standing and then good photos of the bottom of her foot?

If it's a relatively minor case you can soak her foot in a warm Epsom salt bath for 15 to 20 minutes a day and then apply a disinfectant. Then apply some PRID drawing salve and a clean gauze pad and very carefully wrap the foot with vet wrap. Make sure it's not so tight that it will restrict blood circulation to the foot. There are some good videos online on how to do this. Try searching under the Poultry doc for a good video on wrapping a foot. Continue with this daily treatment for at least a week to help soften the bumblefoot scab. Once it's been softened you should be able to pull it out. Then pack the cavity with a disinfectant / antibiotics have and wrap the foot again. Continue with daily bandage changes for several days until the hole closes up. After that I would probably restrict her to staying in a wire dog crate with the flock so that you can keep her on clean shavings until the bare foot pad heals further. When she is not favoring the foot, she should be ready to release.

A more severe bumble may require surgery earlier on.