Possible loss of circulation...what should I do?

[krystine819]

I have a 2 year old Cuckoo Maran that I have been treating what I believed to be bumblefoot on. I had applied tea tree oil to the pad, put a band aid on, and then wrapped in that stretchy wound wrap that sticks to itself. The bandage was staying on fine so I left it on for a few days to keep the area clean and give the tea tree time to really work. Yesterday, I removed the bandage, and my poor girls whole foot looked just terrible. It was dark colored, stiff, and there appeared to be no feeling anywhere on the foot. I was so shocked because I didn’t apply the bandage any tighter than I have any other of my birds I have treated bumblefoot on, but I am not eliminating the possibility it could have been to tight. I panicked and left the foot unbandaged overnight to see if it would lighten up and go back to normal. It did not. It almost looks worse than yesterday, and now it appears to be draining liquid from in between the toes, or maybe out of the original bumblefoot wound. The photos I included are of the foot this morning. It is supposed to be the light color of the upperleg. The dark area on her pad is where I treated the bumblefoot, although I am pretty sure it isn’t healed, I don’t want to cut into her or anything if she has lost circulation and make the situation worse. When I went out to check on her this morning, she was sitting down, but when I tried to grab her she got up and ran. So she is still using the foot at this point if she HAS to, but obviously would rather not. I have soaked her foot in warm water this a.m. with epsom salt and antibacterial soap and put her into a large tote (with food and water) to try to get her to stay off of it. I’m not sure what to do at this point, and I don’t want her to suffer. I will soak the foot again this afternoon, but if you have any recommendations please let me know. Do you think she will lose her foot? If so, are chicken prosthetics (possibly 3D printed) available anywhere? She is just so sweet of a girl, and I am feeling so guilty for being the one who probably did this to her with the bandage, I am willing to do anything I can afford to help her.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I'm no expert, but that does look like bumble foot, and from what I've read, if you don't get it out as soon as possible, it can cause an infection that goes up the leg. I wonder if that's not what is going on here.
I would wager a guess that she needs antibiotics as soon as possible.

 

[ChickenyChickeny]

Is the foot/leg cold? If it is warm, there is still circulation. If it is cold, there is no circulation.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would assume the bandage became too tight and has caused some tissue damage. Can she move her toes or bend her foot at all? I would begin soaking her foot in warm Epsom salts water once a day for 15 minutes, then drying the leg thoroughly. Paint some iodine or plain neosporin on the bumble foot scab only. Keep her on a clean towel or puppy pad in a dog crate for a couple of days until the scabs seals.

Her skin may slough off(peel) in places or she may possibly lose some toe tips and nails. It looks like she might keep the leg though. With severe frostbite cases the dead skin shrivels, turn black, and the dead part falls off in weeks.

Hopefully, she will regain some of the feeling in her leg and foot. Good luck eith her snd let us know what, happens.

 

[Kiki]

Could the tea tree oil be too strong/irritating the foot more?

I do not know...I am just wondering.

 

[krystine819]

The foot is cold . What should I do now? I’m guessing this means that she’s going to lose her foot. Is it healthy to just wait until it falls off? Man, I hate that I did this to her.

 

[Eggcessive]

Does she have any movement of toes when you stroke her foot? Can you prick her foot with a sterilized pin? If it bleeds, it is alive. That doesn’t mean she can move it, though.

 

[ronott1]

You are getting good help here!

 

[krystine819]

The foot does still bleed, I tried to remove the top scab of the bumblefoot after soaking it this afternoon, so that I could put antibiotic cream on it, and it did bleed. Is that a good sign?

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes, it means the foot is still getting circulation. I would continue the daily warm foot soaks, stop the tea tree oil, since it can be harmful full strength in chickens, and use plain neosporin or betadine on it. I really think that time will tell. Don’t be surprised if her skin peels, but she may keep her foot and hopefully there may be some regaining of feeling or movement.