Large split in foot, not infected but need advice

[MoonHen]

Hi all! Long time lurker here; finally gave in.

I’ve got an injured hen, as the title suggests, and it began about a month ago when I noticed swelling in her foot. She had the classic plug scab for bumblefoot, so I took her to an avian vet. The vet said it looked like there had been an injury and an infection there previously but that the swelling was likely scar tissue and that it would take a long time for it to go down. I got some very expensive antibiotics and decided to wait and see if she needed them out of the desire to keep her eggs edible.

Cut to recently. I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary again until the other day, when I noticed her limping a bit. I got her inside and managed to check her foot out, and oof. It’s not bleeding or infected (no puss, no smell), but it’s definitely not better. She’s actually got an open wound now, probably from scratching and pulling at the skin. But I can’t decide what kind of medical attention she needs, because as I said, I don’t think it’s infected. I’ve rinsed it and just as an in-case I’ve actually begun her on the antibiotics, but a second opinion would really help us out.

Here are a couple pics to show you all what she’s up against:


That black is like a big callus. There’s no bleeding, and if I’m correct the white inside is dead skin. It’s not oozing, it’s just... there, like a big split. She’s eating and drinking and running and jumping, but obviously with a limp there’s pain. And the poor thing’s molting too, so she’s not had a good couple of months.

So that’s that. Any advice on what we can do would be very appreciated! Thanks to everyone!

 

[MysteryChicken]

Looks like a pretty severe case of bumble foot, which is an infected injury on the foot that needs to be treated as soon as it's spotted. If not treated early enough, or at all, it can cause wide spread infection, & death.

 

[MysteryChicken]

@Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive would you agree? What would be the best coarse of action for this case?

 

[azygous]

I agree. It's bumblefoot and needs to be treated. Soaking, debriding, ointment and bandaging. Repeat every other day.

 

[MoonHen]

Update: I decided to hell with it, and I gave her a long soak in some Epsom salt and decided to go exploring. I pulled a massive plug out of the wound that I didn’t even notice the first time around because it’s the same color as the healthy tissue. I gave the pocket a good rinse in peroxide and stuffed it with some safe antibacterial ointment, and she’s happily eating and drinking in a box where she’ll probably stay for at least a day or so, depending on how her foot does. I don’t want to keep her separate for too long, you know?

Anyway THANK YOU for the advice. I feel much better about it now than I did leaving from the veterinarian office, which is frustrating but... whatever now. As long as my girl is doing better, and I believe she will be.

Have a picture for those of us who are curious and don’t have any food.

 

[azygous]

Good job!