Request for Bumblefoot Advice

[Winderdear]

I have two hens that have been dealing with bumblefoot on both feet for months. We have tried various non-invasive treatments, and have also removed the scabs, expressed the puss, flooded the cavity with betadine, packed the wound with duoderm gel, covered with duoderm bandages, gauze and wrap. We've done this multiple times, maybe once or twice a month per foot. We change the bandages once, sometimes twice a day.

We have tried epsom salt soaks, and twice daily tricide neo dips. We have used durvet epsom salt poultice, and prid as well. Nothing has killed the infection. One of the hens looks like she may now have the infection in the top of her foot.

We are seriously considering an antibiotic at this point.

My husband found this article about using oxytetracycline hydroxide fish flakes to treat chickens with bumblefoot. I'd like to know if anyone has tried this, and if it seems like a viable option. Also, if they would know where to source them, as the company she links no longer sells them.

We are also considering asking our vet to prescribe the oxytetracycline hydroxide, and were thinking to isolate these two hens and put it in their fermented feed. Our vet would probably give us the prescription, but I don't necessarily trust their advice, as they admittedly don't know anything about chickens.

I found this website which explains the dosage as 5 mg/kg SC, IM q12-24h. I have no idea what that means, and if it relates to putting it in food or water. I would really appreciate it if someone knowledgeable could explain it to me.

Any additional, educated advice would be very welcome and appreciated. I just want my girls to get better!

 

[nuthatched]

Hi, sorry you're dealing with this.
Do you have pictures?

 

[Winderdear]

Hi, sorry you're dealing with this.
Do you have pictures?

Thank you, I can get pictures of all four infected feet in the morning if it will be helpful.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The fish flakes that you mention may work.

Some folks like @dawg53 use Tricide-Neo for difficult to treat Bumblefoot.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/treating-bumblefoot-with-tricide-neo.513183/post-6526194

 

[dawg53]

If you properly used Tricide Neo as in the link provided by @Wyorp Rock , in given time it shouldve worked on your birds. Patience is key when using Tricide Neo.
Keep in mind that bumblefoot is a staph infection. You'll have to treat accordingly with proper antibiotics that treat staph if that's the route you're going to take. Personally, I'd stick with Tricide Neo.

 

[Winderdear]

If you properly used Tricide Neo as in the link provided by @Wyorp Rock , in given time it shouldve worked on your birds. Patience is key when using Tricide Neo.
Keep in mind that bumblefoot is a staph infection. You'll have to treat accordingly with proper antibiotics that treat staph if that's the route you're going to take. Personally, I'd stick with Tricide Neo.

Thank you @dawg53 and @Wyorp Rock for responding

I have used Tricide Neo successfully in the past for bumblefoot on a different hen, but this time it seems to be having no effect on these girls. I was willing to continue while it seemed to be keeping the infection from growing, but the situation seeming to be getting worse now. I feel like we may have to go a different route.

Does anyone have any experience with the antibiotic I mentioned?

I will try to upload some pictures today, and maybe you both can advise me if they are at a stage where antibiotics should be used.

 

[kattabelly]

I found this website which explains the dosage as 5 mg/kg SC, IM q12-24h. I have no idea what that means, and if it relates to putting it in food or water. I would really appreciate it if someone knowledgeable could explain it to me.

This is for giving the drug by injection either subcutaneously ("SC" - meaning injected under the skin) or intramuscularly ("IM"). Q12-24h means to give it every 12-24 hours.

The doseages for giving it in feed and water are given just below that on the website you linked.

 

[theoldchick]

I use Durasole (a product for horse hooves). It is a blue liquid that stains so wear gloves. Apply 1-2 drops on the lesion once a day for five days. Do not bandage unless the tissue is severely damaged. This is off label use and I don't know the egg withdrawal. I use this on my chickens' foot lesions with good results.