My turkey is limping can someone with experience please help!!!

[FarmTillURdead]

I am not an expert but they have a heritage bird "build" but the color is that of a Commercial white. They could be a cross. The would be my best guess. I wish I could do it for ya! I like to doctor! You will too after you do it a few times and gain some confidence. If you post a photo tomorrow I can help you pick out a place to make an incision. I am new to this forum... am likely to be around until the sun starts staying up longer. Then the 14 hour days begin! I won't leave you hanging. : ) Having sick critters is NO fun!
You might also consider a medicated feed. If you want to hit this at all angles. If you don't have medicated feed - a table spoon of yogurt each day for a few days will help. Mix it in it's feed. (or raw goat/cow milk if you have access).

 

[chickenlady08]

you are so helpful. i will do my best to get good close ups of the foot for you to see. the preople i got them from said they were standard whites. i just hope they aren't BB as i hear they have health issues. i was thinking White Hollands.

thank you again
Lisa

 

[Frosty]

They do look a bit bulky for White Hollands... Reach underneath and feel where the breast meets the breast bone. If the breast slopes up from there like an oversized chicken, it's probably a heritage. If it feels flat across the bottom and the breast bone feels recessed into the breast meat, it's a BBW. But even if they are Broad Breasted, they don't look large enough to be having leg problems in my opinion. How high do they roost?

 

[chickenlady08]

Ok finally got pictures to upload on here of my turkey's foot:

 

[FarmTillURdead]

Yep, had the exact same thing on my chicken but it got much bigger and it couldn't walk at all. This isn't to a critical point yet. It should make your surgery a little easier. If you totally chicken out you could try a good medicated feed or put medicine in the water.

Or maybe a little lower... as long as it is directly adjacent to the fattest swelling part but in a good place you can tape it up and keep it out of the dirt to heal.
Get your stuff together first. Alcohol, scalpel, peroxide, clean rags, cotton balls (or gauze pads), and tape. I recommend the paper like tape in the 1/4 inch because it can go between the toes.
Panic is a normal human process when it comes to situations like this. Just stop. Sit. Relax for a few minutes and pick up where you left off.
>>>PRETEND YOU ARE A DOCTOR<<< It really helps!!!
Clean both feet with warm soapy water. Wrapping the bird up tight in a towel will keep it still. If you want it really still put a dark sock over it's head.
Clean area with alcohol. A little swipe with the scalpel under the scale should open it right up. You only need to go deep enough to open the wound. Imagine cutting into a very thin skinned lime just enough to squeeze a few drops out. Look at the scalpel, measure out about where it would be 1/8th of an inch from the tip. This is about how deep you want to go.
If you are patient and calm - the bird will be too and you can take your time.
Secure the bird under your arm with it's head out back and the feet to your front. Someone else to hold the bird between their legs while sitting on the ground if you need too.
After the cut is made lymph fluid should be the first thing you see. Apply pressure to get the gook out. Then change your rag and stop the bleeding or slow it down. Hold it for a minute or two to get the blood clotting. Then soak the entire area with peroxide. Getting into the wound cavity is ok. Keep applying the peroxide until fizzing dies down. I use a spray bottle top screwed onto the whole bottle of peroxide.
When the fizzing doesn't look like the foam on top a beer anymore.
Dry the area off. New blood is ok.
Put a gauze pad or a cotton ball over the incision and tape it on. Get crazy with the tape and you want it snug over the entire area that had the infection. The skin is loose and needs to adhere to the flesh underneath. It won't hurt the bird or cut off circulation in two days if you get it a little too tight. You just don't want air in there and to stop any bleeding.
Tape it up like you would do your own knuckle if you got a cut like that and still needed to use it. SO go between toes and around the whole foot.
Birds don't have a lot of circulation in their feet. (so they can stand the weather) That's why this isn't healing.
Watch the bandage. Blood may seep through... you just dont want to see a soaked bandage. Do NOT attempt to change the bandage unless the soaked through area has gotten BIGGER than a half dollar. The size of a quarter is acceptable.
After two or three days GENTLY change the bandage. Snip it off with small scissors going down the leg on the side you didn't make the incision on. You don't want to rip the wound open.
I will still be around if you need help.
Good Luck! But if you pertend your a good doctor - you won't need luck!

 

[FarmTillURdead]

Be sure not to leave any air pockets in the wound. Squeeze those out as you tape up.

 

[FarmTillURdead]

Oh... and I had a BB hen - those feet are no where big enough to be one if they are 6 months old. My BB's legs and feet looked like HUGE THICK twigs! The toes were as round as my thumbs... and when it ran it wattled. Had to hold her wings out to the side to keep from falling down because her legs were to big to get around the enormous breast to run.

 

[chickenlady08]

thank you. the foot looks bigger tonight and i didnt take my phone out for pictures. it kinda looks like in between the toes is bigger. yesterday he/she didnt come out of the house. however today he/she did.
i dont have scapel but i do have an exacto knife that has replaceable blades. would that do the same thing? i have been putting abx in the water for 2 days now also

 

[FarmTillURdead]

Yes, you can use the x-acto but soak it in alcohol and rub it down with cotton balls. They are usually coated with oil to keep from rusting. Try to use the long flat side and not the point. Scalpes have a rounded tip so they don't accidently go too deep. Most farm & feed stores have disposable ones for a buck. But use what you have. I have uses pocket knives to drain cysts on dogs. It's all about being confident, comfortable and taking your time.

 

[chickenlady08]

when i performed bumblefoot surgery i used a blow torch to sterilize the blade. would that work or would alcohol do better. i will go to my local livestock store tomorrow and see if they have scalpels if not i will try the x-acto.

can i use neosporin in the wound