should I pull this scab off?

[Ebony Rose]

Yeah, she had a very pronounced case of bumblefoot back in September. I'm wondering if she picked up a thorn, some of the barbed varieties of thorn could continue to work their way into the tissue, causing recurring bouts of infection, and would be more pronounced without the padding of a bandage as she'd be driving it deeper with each unprotected step.
Short of a veterinarian visit to have this wound thoroughly excised (with the risk of death from anesthesia), I'm uncertain which direction I would advise.

 

[CoriM]

Thanks for your input.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Keeping you and your feathered family in my prayers.

 

[CoriM]

Thanks!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Thanks!

Hi, @CoriM -

How is your duckie doing now? I have a bad case of bumblefoot on one of mine right now, and I've started a similar treatment regimen.

Fingers crossed that it all worked out!

 

[CoriM]

@Aunt Angus My duck is doing well. It was a rough and long road with the bumble. The scab would never go away, and I tried just about every topical as well as pulling the scab many times. I was bandaging her foot almost every day for about 10 months or so. The scab would just about go away and then come raging back. The vet said it wasn't infected, but there was likely calcification built up in her foot pad - which became quite enlarged and never shrunk back entirely. At the beginning of July I decided to just let her go without bandage, partly because I was going on vacation, and it actually looks pretty good now. You will see the brown scab in the photo - it's not infected, it's probably just scabbed from pressure. Sometimes it gets hard and thick and I noticed her walking less, then I gently pull it off and it's nice skin underneath. If it's just thin and brown I leave it as she seems fine. I hope you're able to quickly cure your duck so you don't have to deal with this too long!

 

[Aunt Angus]

@Aunt Angus My duck is doing well. It was a rough and long road with the bumble. The scab would never go away, and I tried just about every topical as well as pulling the scab many times. I was bandaging her foot almost every day for about 10 months or so. The scab would just about go away and then come raging back. The vet said it wasn't infected, but there was likely calcification built up in her foot pad - which became quite enlarged and never shrunk back entirely. At the beginning of July I decided to just let her go without bandage, partly because I was going on vacation, and it actually looks pretty good now. You will see the brown scab in the photo - it's not infected, it's probably just scabbed from pressure. Sometimes it gets hard and thick and I noticed her walking less, then I gently pull it off and it's nice skin underneath. If it's just thin and brown I leave it as she seems fine. I hope you're able to quickly cure your duck so you don't have to deal with this too long! View attachment 2825779

Wow! You did an amazing job! 10 months is a long time, for sure. I've got a chicken who has had this chronically, but it comes and goes. I treat it as it comes up.

My duck has a really bad case. I am glad to know that I will see improvement. I'm in this for the long haul!

Thanks for the update, and I'm glad your duck is doing better!

 

[CoriM]

Well I don't feel like I did an amazing job, but I did put all my efforts into helping her. Ugh, she's 12 pounds, so she's putting a lot of weight on the foot. I hope your duck recovers much more quickly. Sounds like you're determined!