Is this bumble foot?

[rooster-red]

Update:

After further inspection if this area on her foot, noting that there was no swelling or redness, I decieded to just remove the top layer of dead skin.
I used sandpaper to gently take a layer off.

It looked fine and she was starting to put more pressure on her foot immeadiately afterward, so I let it go and have kept a close eye on it for a week now. So far so good, but I intend to watch it closely.

 

[speckledhen]

Sounds like a plan. If there is no swelling, then to cut into something like that wouldn't be advisable. Just keep an eye on it and maybe nothing will come of it.
If you think you need to do more, the thing I think works as well as anything is a small piece of gauze soaked in tea tree oil placed on that spot, after removing the black callousy part, and then bandaged. Every couple of days, redo it. Tea tree has antibacterial properties and if an infection is just beginning, that may be enough to nip it in the bud. Normally, you wouldnt put full strength tea tree on their skin, but for this you do. Good luck with her, Lee. Hope she'll be fine now.

 

[dlhunicorn]

One must be extremely careful with teatreeoil ... many use it with good results (mainly in cases of scaley leg mite >a couple of drops in the mineral oil) however toxicity and death have been reported when it has been in contact with open breaks in the skin or ingestion:
if in doubt do not use it >see here warning Gillian Willis (pharmacologist and specialist in avian toxicology):
http://www.exoticbird.com/gillian/teatree.html

 

[speckledhen]

I remember the article, Diana, and they should not ingest it, but in this case, it seems to help quite a bit, as much as any antibiotic ointment. You remember all my troubles with this bumblefoot stuff, I'm sure. I do agree to be cautious with anything used in an unconventional manner. It hasn't seemed to harm any of my birds; in fact, it has helped most of them with their feet tremendously so far. Ivy seems to be over the bumblefoot entirely for now. Perhaps it has to do with the size of the chickens as opposed to the lovebird mentioned in the article or maybe the concentration of the oil used. As always, we sure appreciate your information and your cautions.

 

[dlhunicorn]

I suppose it would indeed depend on how much circulation there still is (degree of abscess...) this is the reason systemic antibiotics (oral) do not work once it has abscessed as it simply doesnt get through to the infection (unless the plug of abscess material has been removed)...
Just like ivomec Eprinex (therapeutic) and Camphor (toxic) , some substances can be absorbed through the skin and teatree oil while less absorbale through the skin as say for instance camphor and ivomec , is still a risk as when it is absorbed then the level tolerated can be very low even in chickens...
My only point is that it is a risk one should be aware of. I use it myself in specific situations where it is very useful but I am careful not to use indiscriminately.

 

[rooster-red]

Thank you all for excellent advise.

 

[panner123]

I have never been one to spend much
energy on an animal with a deadly disease. For I have found it much easier on the animal if it is terminal to put them down. Case in point is that race horse they kept alive for months while he suffered. But to do whatever is possible. Check out avianweb.com they have an ointment that might help. This is suppose to be highly contagious, so think of your others animals and family members.

 

[rooster-red]

I just read an article on bumblefoot, it said "apply hemorrhoid cream to the affected foot."

Has anyone ever heard of this?

 

[speckledhen]

No, can't say I have. I have heard to put DMSO, a linament, on it to increase circulation and I've tried that as well. Wonder what on earth it would do except maybe alleviate some of the pain and swelling. Doubt it would do anything for infection.

 

[dlhunicorn]

The DMSO is used for compounding it together with say penicillin and in less advanced bumblefoot cases the DMSO will help the med get down to the infection (a member at BYC was prescribed this from vet when the bumblefoot was at a stage where it was swollen but not advanced to the cheesy abscess)