Limping hen, swollen foot, drained it today

[BirdsOfAnarchy]

I am getting a pack of new razor blades today. I'm afraid I have to lacerate her poor foot. If there is no scab or plug, how should I start? I assume back to front, slicing open the entire foot pad? The swelling is on the side and underneath. I read through the surgery link several times but it doesn't have the obvious entry point for the infection site. I hate that it has come to this.

 

[Sjisty]

I would start at the point where you said it came to a peak before. Good luck!

 

[BirdsOfAnarchy]

I just attempted the surgery, all I got was blood. I soaked it with iodine and neosporin & wrapped her up. I feel horrible I think it was a failure.

I have a bird rescue nearby I will try to call them tomorrow get some advice.


Heart = broken. I'm going to shop around for that koi-neo stuff.

I would start at the point where you said it came to a peak before.  Good luck!

 

[Sjisty]

Well, you tried. Maybe you already got it all and it just needs a chance to heal. Keep the dressings clean and dry for a couple of days.

 

[BirdsOfAnarchy]

Thanks sjisty. I called the bird rescue they are closed til memorial day but they said they check their messages. So I left a voicemail inquiring for advice, hope they call back. Ill try to find tricide neo, there is a local fish store maybe I can pick it up same day. Ill keep up with the epsom baths and dressings. Fingers crossed

 

[Sjisty]

See if they have Fish Mox. That's amoxicillin.

 

[BirdsOfAnarchy]

I just called they do have fish amoxicillin! 12 tablets for $12.Thanks for the recommendation! Are you familiar with administration if it to a chicken? Ill look on here for instructions on dosage etc. just in case. Not sure how to give her a tablet maybe if I crush it up she'll eat it from my hand, if I dissolve it in water do you think it will weaken it?

See if they have Fish Mox.  That's amoxicillin.

 

[BirdsOfAnarchy]

After much reading online I am under the impression this is Articular Gout. Based on the drainage (clear then streams of yellow/chalky fluids), the swelling texture and her constant thirst. She is also much smaller in size than her original flock. Looking into topical and ingestible treatments (suggestions welcome), and also including cherries & vitamin A in her regular diet (such as cooked sweet potatoes and carrots). I hear barberry is helpful to relieve pain. I plan to continue with the warm epsom baths and electrolytes. I was considering perhaps a week of amoxicillan and probiotics (yogurt) but I'm afraid it will stress her already malfunctioning kidneys.

Has anyone here ever successfully treated articular gout? From my understanding it never goes away but is treatable.

 

[Crazie Eddie]

Anarchy - have you had any results with your patient? I have a hen who had a foot injury - I had to amputate the tip of her toe - and a few weeks after what I thought was a successful surgery, her foot was badly swollen. We lanced it, drained it, bandaged it with Neosporin, and I've been giving her Tetracyline, but when I took off the wraps today, it was as swollen as before. There was no trace of the bumblefoot scab either.

 

[BirdsOfAnarchy]

Hi crazy eddie, I give Tootsie 20minute epsom salt baths daily, I then make a paste of tumeric, lemon, and honey and spread that on her foot and then put neosporin on a cotton ball and wrap that with vet wrap. This is based on my friends advice on how she helped treat her husbands gout. I did try making a slice in the swollen side of her foot, but I was so scared I didn't go deep all I got was some blood flow and I stopped. I contacted a bird sanctuary and explained her symptoms he said it's trial and error especially when there isn't an obvious wound (in my case at least). She fits all the symptoms of articular gout with excessive thirst, small size and so on, he said if it is gout which he agreed it sounded like, then swelling may never go away completely.

I have found that she is much more confident and energetic since the treatments. I also adjusted her diet adding fruits and veggies with high vitamin A. The swelling may have decreased a little but it is still swollen. She does put pressure on it more often now though which is a good sign. I'm afraid she will never be at 100% but hopefully she is happy.