Post-bumble surgery care advice needed.

[Moomin2]

Thanks for posting these photos. It shows a very serious case of bumblefoot, and it resembles the case I had that took two years to resolve. Like your hen, it involved very swollen foot pads. Several months into my hen's treatment, I decided to put her through a round of cephalexin. It helped.

Daily soaks will greatly assist your hen to heal. I would keep them up. Having the vet oversee her surgical needs is a very good idea. A serious wound needs regular debridement in order to heal, so having your vet do it will save you a lot of work and hassle.

I would still bandage the wound. Even kept in a clean crate, the hen could step in poop and get an unneeded exposure to bacteria that would work at cross purposes to healing.

By the way, my hen with serious bumblefoot came to me as a rescued hen. She was five years old and the lone survivor of a bobcat attack on her flock.

My goodness! Your girl went through a lot. I'm glad you managed to eventually cure her bumblefoot. That gives me hope for our Catherine.

Yes, unfortunately we didn't notice that there was anything wrong with Catherine until her foot became swollen as she has never been lame and was literally running around outside up until Thursday when she was operated on. She still walks normally even after surgery. We had taken her to another vet over a month ago who told us that she must have sprained it... So sadly the treatment has been left very late.

We will definitely be keeping her in the bathroom and be soaking her foot at least once a day plus keeping it bandaged. I will also see about making her a temporary run that we could put on the grass during the day. I highly doubt we'll be able to get access to Cephalexin as the vet is against giving her antibiotics.

 

[Moomin2]

I like to use the Rubbermaid shelf liner with the waffle holes in it for their hospital cage. I get, and cut it to size so I have about 3 days worth, being able to change it out 2 times a day. Rinse it good, and either toss into the washer with soap, and a little bleach, or toss it in a plastic tub, and wash it. Let it dry, and it's ready to go. It's soft on their feet, almost any liquid goes through it, and a lot of the pooh too, so it keeps their feet cleaner, and dryer. Again, I just roll it up, and change it out twice a day. Prior to putting one recovering from bumble surgery back into their clean hospital cage, I pour Betadine in, and on the wound.

This is a good idea. Seeing as she is in it for the long run I think we'll need to build an enclosure for her. Luckily our bathroom is the only room of the house that hasn't been renovated yet, so it's not a big deal that it's now coated in poo! Though I think we'll still need to think of a better solution.

 

[getaclue]

I use a fairly large dog crate, that the tray slides out, and keep it in my house.

 

[redblack10]

When one of my cockerels was recuperating from comb and wattles surgery (frostbite and necrosis), I kept him in an open-wire large dog crate sometimes . . . a large dog solid plastic kennel with front gate at night . . . and all around the house in a chicken diaper sometimes. He liked to watch TV with us! It sounds like you are working hard on Catherine's behalf. I am not a fan of systemic antibiotics for our chickens, but, in this serious case, I would be tempted. Keep updating us and know you have concerned followers.

 

[Kathy Golla]

I get the regular debridement thing.
But what’s the reasoning why the vet has to see her every few days to clean her foot? That seems super stressful on the hen.
My cases of bumblefoot have always been on antibiotics prescribed by the vet.
It protects against secondary infection.
But...sounds like with your location this vet is your only vet option?
Learn to wrap that foot up good and once she is on a good path she can absolutely go back in with her flock. They also make neoprene chicken boots she can wear while she’s healing.
Separating out a hen for the long term that is not critically ill or being preyed upon by the flock does more harm than good. Now of course, I mention her being with the flock may be after you get a handle on this whole thing.

 

[Moomin2]

I get the regular debridement thing.
But what’s the reasoning why the vet has to see her every few days to clean her foot? That seems super stressful on the hen.
My cases of bumblefoot have always been on antibiotics prescribed by the vet.
It protects against secondary infection.
But...sounds like with your location this vet is your only vet option?
Learn to wrap that foot up good and once she is on a good path she can absolutely go back in with her flock. They also make neoprene chicken boots she can wear while she’s healing.
Separating out a hen for the long term that is not critically ill or being preyed upon by the flock does more harm than good. Now of course, I mention her being with the flock may be after you get a handle on this whole thing.

Just looking at those neoprene chicken boots on amazon! They look great but i'm not even sure if we're going to be able to pay the vet for all these surgeries, let alone special chicken shoes. He isn't just cleaning it, he's already debrided it twice since Thursday and seems to be suggesting that he will need to do that very regularly.
Yes, unfortunately we are very limited in our vet choices here though this one is the better option. He's completely useless with dogs (I had a bad experience) but good with cows, horses and other farm animals though I'm sure that almost no one treats their chickens here. Everyone we've spoken to says 'Ahh just cook her'. I met an English woman yesterday who had a chicken with a sore foot and took it to her neighbour asking for help. The neighbour brought it back the next day oven ready!
We are working on padding out the coop and run and making it more accessible for her plus putting in place anti-bumble measures and hope to put her back with the others asap. The bathroom is right next to the coop and they're calling to each other. There are only two other girls in there so it wouldn't be too hard to keep it clean and keep up her treatment. Though I must be sure that her foot is well protected to be able to do that. I feel like I'm going to end up buying chicken shoes...

 

[azygous]

The vet isn't doing anything you couldn't do yourself. Watch carefully the next time the vet debrides. All you need is a sharp scraping tool like an Exacto knife or one-sided razor blade and you scrape out any accumulated pus and dead tissue.

You can also use honey as a natural debriding agent. Just put it on the wound before you bandage and it will help heal and draw out the pus to make debriding easier.

A foot well wrapped in elastic bandage will be well protected against dirt and bacteria. The product Vetrap sticks to itself and makes a very cheap chicken "boot". I have always returned my bumblefoot patients to the flock immediately and their wound has never gotten dirt in it.

 

[redblack10]

The vet isn't doing anything you couldn't do yourself. Watch carefully the next time the vet debrides. All you need is a sharp scraping tool like an Exacto knife or one-sided razor blade and you scrape out any accumulated pus and dead tissue.

You can also use honey as a natural debriding agent. Just put it on the wound before you bandage and it will help heal and draw out the pus to make debriding easier.

A foot well wrapped in elastic bandage will be well protected against dirt and bacteria. The product Vetrap sticks to itself and makes a very cheap chicken "boot". I have always returned my bumblefoot patients to the flock immediately and their wound has never gotten dirt in it.

I really support these ideas for Catherine. You can do the tissue removal yourself. For convenience and confidence, have someone hold her with a towel covering her, so all you are handling is her foot. After a time or two, you will be teaching others!

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Hello,
Vet wrap in the states is the same sort of bandage used to wrap horses legs. If you get it at the feed store as horse leg wrap, it is much cheaper. Basically elasticy bandage that sticks to itself when wrapped around. Look for a store that caters to hunter/jumpers or equine in general and it should be there. Cut it in half down the middle in about 15 cm strips for ease of use.

 

[Moomin2]

Hello,
Vet wrap in the states is the same sort of bandage used to wrap horses legs. If you get it at the feed store as horse leg wrap, it is much cheaper. Basically elasticy bandage that sticks to itself when wrapped around. Look for a store that caters to hunter/jumpers or equine in general and it should be there. Cut it in half down the middle in about 15 cm strips for ease of use.

Ah yes! My mother in law has horses. She must have some of that or know where to buy it. I'm on it!