Spirit - the amazing grey dewlap toulouse gander!

[Miss Lydia]

Actually, in the first pic... that is the joint and bone cored out, just hard to tell with the blood. Chlorhexidine can be bought in small bottles over the counter for humans in pre-diluted solution. The brand name is Hibiclens. Chlorhexidine in the animal world is known as Nolvasan and can be purchased at the feed store in concentrated solution. Dilute 1 tbsp. of solution to 1 cup water.

Iain gets to inject Spirit (in the breast) while I hold him. Same with the wound flushing and repacking job.

Spirit is doing really well. He is still being kept in the dog kennel to force rest, but when I take him out, he is eating great and already starting to test using foot.

Actually, in the first pic... that is the joint and bone cored out, just hard to tell with the blood. Chlorhexidine can be bought in small bottles over the counter for humans in pre-diluted solution. The brand name is Hibiclens. Chlorhexidine in the animal world is known as Nolvasan and can be purchased at the feed store in concentrated solution. Dilute 1 tbsp. of solution to 1 cup water.

Iain gets to inject Spirit (in the breast) while I hold him. Same with the wound flushing and repacking job.

Spirit is doing really well. He is still being kept in the dog kennel to force rest, but when I take him out, he is eating great and already starting to test using foot.

So great to hear how well he is doing, bless his heart he's a trooper. Thanks for the info too. give him a hug for me.

did Scott give you an idea how long it will take to heal?

 

[flockman]

Actually, in the first pic... that is the joint and bone cored out, just hard to tell with the blood. Chlorhexidine can be bought in small bottles over the counter for humans in pre-diluted solution.  The brand name is Hibiclens.  Chlorhexidine in the animal world is known as Nolvasan and can be purchased at the feed store in concentrated solution.  Dilute 1 tbsp. of solution to 1 cup water.

Iain gets to inject Spirit (in the breast) while I hold him.  Same with the wound flushing and repacking job.

Spirit is doing really well.  He is still being kept in the dog kennel to force rest, but when I take him out, he is eating great and already starting to test using foot.

Great news!

 

[Iain Utah]

Thanks!! If all goes well, it will take 3-4 weeks.

 

[psue]

I agree not something for the normal person, but a great learning tool for everyone. Glad he's doing as well as he is already.

 

[ChristineR]

Thanks for posting the pics. That "shoe" is a good idea. That might be good to know how to make at some point in the future. I'm glad the procedure went well and hope he recovers quickly.

 

[RURU]

J, thank you for posting the operation on Spirits foot it was extremely interesting and educational for me.......
I pray that Spirit heals well and fast.

Was that still called bumble foot or was it another type problem?

 

[Iain Utah]

Thanks, guys. I'm glad you all appreciate the pictures. I feel extremely optimistic for Spirit. Even though it will take a while for him to walk again, he is doing so much better already!

Ruru, it is still commonly called bumblefoot, just at an advanced stage.

 

[livininbrazil]

So what did your vet reckon, then, as to why it was at an advanced stage, yet a short while ago you felt it was really on the mend? Did he put it down to the way he uses it, or what?

 

[Iain Utah]

By late spring, I became hands-off with Spirit, as he was feeling strong and acting like a typical gander who was raising babies with his mate. So, it wasn't until he showed lameness in October that I first discovered the bumble and Scott had me soak daily in diluted betadine. Then Scott examined him in November and said Spirit did not appear to be in any pain and the bumble was soft. At that point, Scott felt it was healing well without further treatment. And Spirit looked to be moving pretty well with large grassy uneven ground and daily long baths in kiddy pool. But when the bitter storm arrived and he was moved inside garage pen with hard flat surface and no kiddy pool, he had to bear his weight directly on hard flat surface, and the true extent of the pain from joint/bone infection became obvious.

Spirit definitely is susceptible to bumblefoot since he cannot bear weight across the entire bottom foot surface. Scott says he sees it most often in zoos and other small pens with hard-pack non-grassy surface. Although Spirit has always lived on grass, there was a bald spot in main hanging area that developed in late summer which we think caused it, but we moved his yard to a different location in backyard with deeper grass in October.

Spirit is also susceptible to frostbite since he has no circulation to the outer extremities of his foot.

SO....... Spirit will live indoors for the rest of winter (unless we have nice days without snowpack). He will also be taken inside at night whenever below freezing. With him living at least part-time inside, I will be able to keep a better eye on his foot and be more proactive if issues arise in the future.

 

[livininbrazil]

By late spring, I became hands-off with Spirit, as he was feeling strong and acting like a typical gander who was raising babies with his mate. So, it wasn't until he showed lameness in October that I first discovered the bumble and Scott had me soak daily in diluted betadine. Then Scott examined him in November and said Spirit did not appear to be in any pain and the bumble was soft. At that point, Scott felt it was healing well without further treatment. And Spirit looked to be moving pretty well with large grassy uneven ground and daily long baths in kiddy pool. But when the bitter storm arrived and he was moved inside garage pen with hard flat surface and no kiddy pool, he had to bear his weight directly on hard flat surface, and the true extent of the pain from joint/bone infection became obvious.

Spirit definitely is susceptible to bumblefoot since he cannot bear weight across the entire bottom foot surface. Scott says he sees it most often in zoos and other small pens with hard-pack non-grassy surface. Although Spirit has always lived on grass, there was a bald spot in main hanging area that developed in late summer which we think caused it, but we moved his yard to a different location in backyard with deeper grass in October.

Spirit is also susceptible to frostbite since he has no circulation to the outer extremities of his foot.

SO....... Spirit will live indoors for the rest of winter (unless we have nice days without snowpack). He will also be taken inside at night whenever below freezing. With him living at least part-time inside, I will be able to keep a better eye on his foot and be more proactive if issues arise in the future.

Makes sense, sounds good. Congrats to your team!

Nice outcome.