This weekend I was looking at my Tom turkey (my old boy is about 5 years old) and I noticed that he had a raised scab the size of a dime on top of his foot. At first it looked like it was filled with puss or something. I felt on it but it didn't feel as if it was filled with anything. So, I went inside and got the surgery area together and went back out to get him. I brought him in and placed him sideways on the counter (feet hanging over into the sink). I placed a towel over his head. He is always so calm. I never have any problem with him and he lets me poke and prod and probe him all over. He is such a sweet boy. Anyway, I washed his feet real good with antibacterial soap and warm water, so I could get a better look at this scab. See pic of dry scab below:
Dry Raised Scab Before Cutting it Open
I initially got a syringe to see if I could withdraw any drainage that may have been in there. I tried 3 times but nothing was sucked up in the syringe. So the next step was getting a razor and cutting around it. See next pic.
Scab After Cutting It Open
I carefully sliced the scab open (circular motion) with a razor. I could not see anything at first. It appeared to be hollow. I had to look deep down into the hole and I saw something that looked dried up. It was black in color. I dug that out with tweezers. After digging out the black stuff, I saw something that looked like a thick white substance similar to cottage cheese. I dug as much of that out as I could. It bled a little.
Inside Of Hole
Pic Of Hole After Trying To Get Yucky Stuff Out
There was a little bleeding but not much. I also cut away and removed all of that dead skin that you see around the hole. It pulled away very easily.
Pic of stuff that was dug out. Included is some stuff from underneath his foot as well. He had bumble foot AGAIN, so I had to dig that stuff out AGAIN.
After cleaning out the hole and removing more stuff out from the bottom of his foot (definitely bumble foot underneath), I cleaned him up real good, did a saline solution rinse, sprayed blue kote and wrapped foot with bandage. I put him in the garage for now. I don't want him to walk in the chicken yard right now because I want the open wounds to remain clean.
As of this morning, he is doing just fine. I know he is ready to get back in the yard. The girls came looking for him this weekend. I had the garage door open and they found him and jumped into the enclosure that I have him in. I have him placed in a VERY large area that is cornered off with a lot of pet carriers so he will remain contained.
Dry Raised Scab Before Cutting it Open
I initially got a syringe to see if I could withdraw any drainage that may have been in there. I tried 3 times but nothing was sucked up in the syringe. So the next step was getting a razor and cutting around it. See next pic.
Scab After Cutting It Open
I carefully sliced the scab open (circular motion) with a razor. I could not see anything at first. It appeared to be hollow. I had to look deep down into the hole and I saw something that looked dried up. It was black in color. I dug that out with tweezers. After digging out the black stuff, I saw something that looked like a thick white substance similar to cottage cheese. I dug as much of that out as I could. It bled a little.
Inside Of Hole
Pic Of Hole After Trying To Get Yucky Stuff Out
There was a little bleeding but not much. I also cut away and removed all of that dead skin that you see around the hole. It pulled away very easily.
Pic of stuff that was dug out. Included is some stuff from underneath his foot as well. He had bumble foot AGAIN, so I had to dig that stuff out AGAIN.
After cleaning out the hole and removing more stuff out from the bottom of his foot (definitely bumble foot underneath), I cleaned him up real good, did a saline solution rinse, sprayed blue kote and wrapped foot with bandage. I put him in the garage for now. I don't want him to walk in the chicken yard right now because I want the open wounds to remain clean.
As of this morning, he is doing just fine. I know he is ready to get back in the yard. The girls came looking for him this weekend. I had the garage door open and they found him and jumped into the enclosure that I have him in. I have him placed in a VERY large area that is cornered off with a lot of pet carriers so he will remain contained.
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