Making Bumblefoot Worse

[scollier]

I tried my first Bumblefoot surgery the other day and thought I was successful. (The hen was not limping before surgery, but her foot was getting more swollen everyday.) No gruesome hard kernel was found at the time of the surgery. I applied vetricyn, bandaged her up, and kept her in a grassy area, away from the other hens.
Next day, foot is WORSE. I realized there seemed to be infect tissue around the original removal sight, so I worked at getting that off with a scalpel sprayed vetricyn liberally, slathered antibiotic gel on gauze, and bandaged her up.
Now my hen won't put any weight on her foot and her foot has doubled in size from swelling. It smells gross, still looks infected in the incision area, and no gruesome chunks of infection have been found.
What do I do?? I'm afraid I'm going to kill her in my attempts to make her better
I have been using Epsom salt soaks, vetricyn spray, and triple antibiotic ointment. I was able to pen her up last night to make sure she did not roost.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Keep giving her Epsom soaks and rewrapping it. I would recommend not digging anymore for awhile. I am sure it is pretty painful. You can also give her a children’s aspirin to help with the pain. Good luck. Keep us posted on her progress. Sometimes it takes a long time for Bumblefoot to heal. I have been treating one of my hens since June and she is just about Bumble Free!!!
Feed your hen some mash with Nutrí-Drench. That will give her a boost of vitamins and electrolytes. I give that to the hens after BF surgery.

 

[scollier]

Keep giving her Epsom soaks and rewrapping it. I would recommend not digging anymore for awhile. I am sure it is pretty painful. You can also give her a children’s aspirin to help with the pain. Good luck. Keep us posted on her progress. Sometimes it takes a long time for Bumblefoot to heal. I have been treating one of my hens since June and she is just about Bumble Free!!!
Feed your hen some mash with Nutrí-Drench. That will give her a boost of vitamins and electrolytes. I give that to the hens after BF surgery.

Should I keep her penned up at night to be sure she doesn't try roosting? She's the lead hen and will try to get up there if left to her own devices.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

As long as her foot is wrapped she will be fine.....

 

[scollier]

Also, odd observation, whenever I am working on soaking/wrapping/etc, she seems to do this anxiety pee kind of thing. Clear fluid leaves her body through her vent area and trickles to the ground. What is that about?

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

My hen does that too....watery poo.....probably stress related.....but also the epsom soaks relax them. No worries. She will be back to herself soon!

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Good luck! Keep us posted........

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

@KikisGirls

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

@scollier How is she feeling this morning?? When you remove her bandage today, can u please take a picture of her foot and post it here? Also, be sure when u pack her scab hole with antibiotic ointment that you are NOT using one with Painkillers (anything that ends is Cain). They are deadly to chickens!!!! I would suggest using vet wrap to secure sterile cotton and wrap her foot. Be sure it is not too tight!
Good luck! Keep us posted with her progress.

 

[coach723]

Agreed, pictures would be very helpful. Sometimes when digging or cutting for bumblefoot a secondary infection can happen, and you may need to add an antibiotic for that, though it won't likely help with the bumblefoot itself. Pictures would help in seeing what's going on. Some bumblefoot is straightforward and easily resolved. Some are not, are more difficult and take more time. I also have one I've been working on for over 4 months at this point.