Small pebble embedded under chicken's foot!

[Canine and Co]

Hi,

I am looking for advice regarding a discovery on one of my hens (I seem to be experiencing a lot of different conditions with different hens!). I was checking her feet (she has the kind of feet where mud gets stuck in the skin in between her toes and every now and then, I flip it out. This time I noticed a small pebble embedded in the centre of her foot. I tried to pick it out, but it seems like the tissue is connecting to the stone making it firmly stuck. When I picked at the stone, it started to bleed a little on one side. So I sprayed her with purple spray and let it be.

She (Jean) isn't bothered with it and walks fine. So my question is - if I left it - will it do her any harm if she is walking ok on it? If I use a scalpel and pick it out - there will be a big hole, which I can treat and bandage up, but am I leaving her open to infection by messing with it and ending up with a big hole that keeps getting impacted with mud or stones. My instinct is to leave it if it doesn't bother her. Would that be ok? Would welcome anyone's thoughts on this.

Please excuse the muddy feet - it's wet here at the moment!

 

[azygous]

I see a bumblefoot scab but no embedded stones. Either would benefit from a long soak in warm Epsom salts. That will soften the scab or mud or whatever. Then scrape it out, even if it bleeds. Bleeding is cleansing, not something to be worried over.

If you encounter a waxy kernel when removing that scabby thing, you will know it's bumblefoot, an infection from a small wound on the foot pad. It may require continuing soaking and wound dressing to heal properly.

 

[Canine and Co]

Thank you @azygous

She has had bumblefoot a year or two ago and there was a scab, but what you see (and looks like a scab) is actually a small pebble embedded in the area where her bumblefoot was. It was hard to photograph it whilst holding her so I appreciate it is difficult to see in a picture.

Hence my dilemma - do you think I should leave the stone or soak it in epson salts and try and remove it and then spray and bandage?

 

[azygous]

Definitely soak and remove the stone. If left untreated, it will surely create another bumblefoot.

 

[Canine and Co]

Ok - I will do that and see how I get on. Thank you.

 

[Canine and Co]

Definitely soak and remove the stone. If left untreated, it will surely create another bumblefoot.

@azygous - I stand corrected - you were spot on - it is Bumblefoot and not a pebble/stone at all! Sorry - I should have listened to the voice of experience!

I gave her a soaking for about 15mins in warm water and Epsom salts. Then I started to scrape away at it (that's when I realised you were right). Anyhow it is a stubborn one, I scraped the top off and it is yellow and hard underneath (see pic). I continued to try and remove any plug - but could not get it out - it just seems too deep and it did start bleeding. I've not been successful at all - feel pretty useless. I've put some magnesium sulphate on it - to see if it will help draw anything out (just thought it was worth a try), then sprayed it and bandaged it up! I was hoping to clear it out properly today to save her going through it again - but sadly I've failed to do that. Do you know of any tips to remove the hard yellow substance that seems stuck inside it foot?

I've used the last of my Epsom salts and the soonest I can get some more delivered is two weeks (I do have Himalayan Pink Rock Salt - I know it's not the same, but ....).

Many thanks in advance!

 

[azygous]

Epsom salt, magnesium sulfate, is totally different from salt, sodium chloride. Salt water would toughen the tissue and dry it out. I don't know if that would benefit your patient.

Use dish detergent until you get your Epsom salt. The surfactants will soften the tissue and make it easier to debride. Serious bumblefoot may require every day soaks to get all the dead and dying tissue removed. You'll know when it's accomplished when the wound starts healing.

Just keep plugging away at it.

 

[Canine and Co]

Epsom salt, magnesium sulfate, is totally different from salt, sodium chloride. Salt water would toughen the tissue and dry it out. I don't know if that would benefit your patient.

Use dish detergent until you get your Epsom salt. The surfactants will soften the tissue and make it easier to debride. Serious bumblefoot may require every day soaks to get all the dead and dying tissue removed. You'll know when it's accomplished when the wound starts healing.

Just keep plugging away at it.

How do I know that what I am scraping away at - is ok to scrape (ie that I am not doing more damage?). What is the best tool to debride? A Scalpel? Would you give any aspirin before to make the job of debriding easier for her?

 

[azygous]

Aspirin would take the edge of the pain. You are removing anything that doesn't look like pink living tissue. Scabby or black necrotic tissue, and anything waxy and yellow (pus) is to be removed. Sometimes you might encounter a stringy white-yellow substance, and you can ignore that. It's almost impossible to scrape out, anyway. I use a fingernail to scrape. It's one of my favorite most useful tools. My nails won't win any grooming contests, needless to admit, but they are always handy when I need them.

 

[Canine and Co]

Thank you so much that’s really helpful!