Limping.. not sure best approach

[Jenbirdee]

I was wondering since the scab is so small if I could avoid cutting it to not risk infection.. I have seen through research that lots of people bandage with drawing salve?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KIQ55IC/ref=ewc_pr_img_2?smid=A57J80H4P5HE0&psc=1

that’s a nice drawing salve
i use this

so you soak with regular Epson salt and warm water first then apply this stuff, then gauze pad and wrap , the next day do it again and then the next or the day after do it again , and the scab should be soft enough to peel off easily without having to cut. Then get all the kernel out and then spray with vetericyn and then fill it with the antibiotic ointment. and gauze pad and wrap. change bandage the next day etc etc
that’s what i do and i’m actually in the middle of doing with one of my chickens

 

[Jenbirdee]

so which spot you think is a bumble scab? 1 or 2 or other?

two of my ducks, when they were young, had swollen toe joints that were not Bumblefoot. I did take them to the vet and he gave them an antibiotic that worked.
he said it was an infection inside the joint and at first he wanted to do surgery, but I couldn’t afford it so he gave me the antibiotic, hoping for the best and they lived eight more years without limping.

by the way, does it feel warm to the touch?

 

[Whitsr]

View attachment 3960157so which spot you think is a bumble scab? 1 or 2 or other?

two of my ducks, when they were young, had swollen toe joints that were not Bumblefoot. I did take them to the vet and he gave them an antibiotic that worked.
he said it was an infection inside the joint and at first he wanted to do surgery, but I couldn’t afford it so he gave me the antibiotic, hoping for the best and they lived eight more years without limping.

by the way, does it feel warm to the touch?

I am actually not sure.. I was thinking 1 because I had read that category 2 bumblefoot was shiny and they could be losing texture as she is in the photo. But you can also (barely) see on the bottom left of her foot she is also a bit shiny and swollen so I'm perplexed.

It didn't seem warm to touch but she is favoring the other leg pretty heavily.

I don't want to cut into her because it's nothing horrible yet even though I'm reading you need to remove the scab to drain it (assuming it is bumblefoot), although some have been able to get rid of it if it's not bad.

I could try the salve tomorrow and see if anything happens from it or if it changes... I could also buy the epsom salt if I had to.

 

[Whitsr]

that’s a nice drawing salve
i use this
View attachment 3960149so you soak with regular Epson salt and warm water first then apply this stuff, then gauze pad and wrap , the next day do it again and then the next or the day after do it again , and the scab should be soft enough to peel off easily without having to cut. Then get all the kernel out and then spray with vetericyn and then fill it with the antibiotic ointment. and gauze pad and wrap. change bandage the next day etc etc
that’s what i do and i’m actually in the middle of doing with one of my chickens

This isn't a salve is it? Have you had any luck with a salve? I did read about this when researching.

 

[Jenbirdee]

This isn't a salve is it? Have you had any luck with a salve? I did read about this when researching.

it’s a poultice .
read this thread
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/found-bumblefoot-cure.1588589/

 

[Jenbirdee]

also i did try prid drawing salve a few years ago and it didn’t do anything. It was like too thick, not moist enough. The Epson salt poultice softens the scab and loosen. It helps with pain and swelling too.

 

[Whitsr]

it’s a poultice .
read this thread
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/found-bumblefoot-cure.1588589/

This sounds really promising I may switch and buy this is I can get it to my place tomorrow. Thanks for the article!!

 

[Quatie]

I don't want to cut into her because it's nothing horrible yet even though I'm reading you need to remove the scab to drain it (assuming it is bumblefoot), although some have been able to get rid of it if it's not bad.

I have personally never cut into my duck's foot. And you are right to cautious doing it. Anytime opening up a wound you do have a potential for causing an infection. Especially for that injury, it hardly looks like anything to really be worried about. But honestly, you have to do what you feel is best.

If it were my duck, I treat bumblefoot with enrofloxacin (baytril) for bumblefoot to kill any infection inside. Enrofloxacin is one of the most effective antibiotic for bacterial infections. It does has it potential downsides, as the FDA does want people using it on poultry anymore. Certain amounts of antibiotics end up in the eggs, so it as has the potential to led to antibiotic resistance bacteria. However, a month after the last dose for most antibiotics, you wont find them in eggs anymore. And at this time in the year, most ducks have started to stop laying for the year. So as long as you don't eat the eggs and follow through on the full treatment, the risk is low.

You can treat it on the surface with bacitracin found at any local pharmacy. I have also found from people in other countries that don't have access too topical antiseptics, that medicinal honey works quite well. A lot of people treat minor bumblefoot issues this way without any antibiotic.

From my experience with bumblefoot, I am uncertain that such a minor bumble would necessarily such a limping issues. Its not impossible, but just to fully cover your basis, I would fully examined the leg. I would compare it to the other one and feel for any differences. Any noticeable swelling or warming on the rest of the leg?

 

[Whitsr]

I have personally never cut into my duck's foot. And you are right to cautious doing it. Anytime opening up a wound you do have a potential for causing an infection. Especially for that injury, it hardly looks like anything to really be worried about. But honestly, you have to do what you feel is best.

If it were my duck, I treat bumblefoot with enrofloxacin (baytril) for bumblefoot to kill any infection inside. Enrofloxacin is one of the most effective antibiotic for bacterial infections. It does has it potential downsides, as the FDA does want people using it on poultry anymore. Certain amounts of antibiotics end up in the eggs, so it as has the potential to led to antibiotic resistance bacteria. However, a month after the last dose for most antibiotics, you wont find them in eggs anymore. And at this time in the year, most ducks have started to stop laying for the year. So as long as you don't eat the eggs and follow through on the full treatment, the risk is low.

You can treat it on the surface with bacitracin found at any local pharmacy. I have also found from people in other countries that don't have access too topical antiseptics, that medicinal honey works quite well. A lot of people treat minor bumblefoot issues this way without any antibiotic.

From my experience with bumblefoot, I am uncertain that such a minor bumble would necessarily such a limping issues. Its not impossible, but just to fully cover your basis, I would fully examined the leg. I would compare it to the other one and feel for any differences. Any noticeable swelling or warming on the rest of the leg?

Thank you for all this! You know it wasn't warm today but I will check tomorrow a bit better after I unwrap her and update. I absolutely love my ducks so worry a bit too much about them!

 

[Quatie]

Thank you for all this! You know it wasn't warm today but I will check tomorrow a bit better after I unwrap her and update. I absolutely love my ducks so worry a bit too much about them!

I wouldn't say you worry too much. They are prey animals, so sometimes subtle changes can be important signs of an illness. So can be better to be over cautious with them