My runner has bumblefoot, please help

[skyjams]

I'm pretty sure my runner has bumblefoot. Her leg & foot is very warm, not cool like other leg, she has trouble using it & I see a big callous thing on the bottom.
I dont have any vets around here that will see a duck & I dont know how to treat it. I've read the other messages on here about it & looked on google. Can I buy antibiotics at the feed store (Tylan?) give how much, by mouth or injection? I'm scared to start cutting & digging at it, dont want to hurt her if not helping.
Can anyone tell me what I can do? Thanks in advance for any advise.

 

[CMV]

Do you see a black core in the calloused area? If so, that core is the root of the problem. The only way to resolve bumblefoot is by cutting out the infected core in the foot. Even if you put your bird on a course of antibiotics the bumblefoot is not going to go away without removing that infected core. There are many great posts here dealing with this, and (if I recall correctly) some have photos and step-by-step instructions.

Get an extra set of hands for holding the bird, some razor knives, lots of bandages, and go to work. Bumblefoot is easy to deal with if you just have confidence in your ability to deal with it.

Good luck and let us know how it went.

Edited to add- A closer look through the site has shown that several links to surgical procedures are no longer available. I don't know why. Very inconvenient. Here's a link to a discussion regarding non-surgical means of dealing with bumblefoot.https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=303829&p=1 I hope it helps.

 

[GrannySue]

Quote:
I've just gone through bumblefoot with my runner, Bluebell. I found the surgical advice somewhere on the net, but didn't bookmark it. Sorry about that!
- soaked her foot in warm water and Epsom salts to clean and soften
- poured hydrogen peroxide over everything
- sterilized an exacto knife and took the yucky black centre off the lump
- removed a lot of the horrible white gunk from the centre of that (yucky pus)
- poured rubbing alcohol over it
- blotted with a very clean towel
- covered with Betadine ointment
- bandaged the foot with a strange combination of gauze pad, adhesive tape, self-clinging gauze, duct tape and a cardboard shoe
- put her in isolation for 48 hrs

Then I did it again 2 days later. More digging with the exacto knife plus I scraped awat the dead black tissue around the "bumble". Another day in a small dog crate, then she graduated to a duck pen, outside but no splashing water. She was walking normally by then, despite the crazy new bandage. A couple of days after that the bandage fell off so I just watched her carefully. She was back with the flock within 6 days. That was 2 weeks ago and so far so good.
I have heard that once a bird gets bumblefoot it's likely to happen again.

 

[GrannySue]

Here's a picture of Bluebell's foot. There was another starting on the middle toe as well, I think.

 

[Lesa]

That certainly looks like bumble foot. Check out Ruth's post on bumble foot- lots of pics and great explanation. Good luck!

 

[skyjams]

Thanks you'all! The foot looks like your picture. I cut on it some this am, with exacto knife. There wasnt really anything in it. Did triple a/b ointment & soaks w/ epsom salts.
I had some Penicillin injectable (from my sheep) & gave her a little shot in the thigh. Will the penicillin help cure it? Her foot is very warm & swollen.
Will I need to cut it open again? She was so good thru the "procedure". My drake has stayed by her side, he's so sweet.
I researched the net for info, didnt find out alot. But I knew the ducky lovin' guys & gals at BYC would have the answers.
Thanks

 

[tia]

If it isn't too bad, you may be able to soak it three times a day in a iodine solution, and then put triple antibiotic ointment on it (without pain killer) I would get some of Nettie's shoes to put on her to keep it clean and dry. If it isn't too bad, that seems to work. But if it has that core - I believe it needs to come out. The vet did surgery on one of mine and it is still recovering. I have never done the surgery, but a lot of people on here have. I would still get some of Nettie's shoes - because they are terrific for keeping the foot clean and dry, which is important.

 

[chickensioux]

http://www.avianweb.com/bumblefoot.html
Here is a good bumblefoot website. Good luck.

 

[skyjams]

Quote:
Where do I find Nettie's shoes?

 

[Funky Feathers]

Duck shoes: www.indoorducks.com. I treated 8 of my ducks for it for 2-1/2 months. Check out my posts on other Bumblefoot threads. I put good before & after pics.