Swollen foot

[Sarajobe]

We have a hen that we thought had bumble foot, so we took it off and cleaned it, but it just seemed to be a big callus. We have kept it clean and wrapped, but now her whole foot is swollen. We soaked her in epsom salt and applied some silvex because antibiotic ointment wasn't doing anything. We gave her the recommended dose of amoxicillin and plan to give her some ibuprofen in a bit. I don't want to unwrap her foot to take pictures, but will the next time we do it. The wound actually doesn't look bad, but the foot is swollen. What else can we do? Thank you!

 

[coach723]

Pictures would be helpful, when you can get them. Did you maybe wrap the foot too tight, that could cause swelling also?

 

[Sarajobe]

Pictures would be helpful, when you can get them. Did you maybe wrap the foot too tight, that could cause swelling also?

Here's both feet then just the one. The other has a scab too so we bandaged that too after her soak so it doesn't allow germs in the softened skin.

 

[coach723]

It looks to me like there is still infection in there. When you removed the scab before, did you do any squeezing or manipulating to see if anything would come out? What did the tissue underneath look like? The top foot (darker lesion) in particular, that looks like a bumble lesion to me, not a normal healing scab. Pus underneath can look white or creamy colored, and can adhere to the tissue, making it take some manipulation to get it all out. I would remove that scab again, and really work on cleaning it out, see if you can get anything more out of it. If you take some pictures during, and when finished, that would help a lot, so I can see better what's in there. Sometimes packing the hole with sugardine (I will put a link below to a thread on that) will help with getting it cleaned out and knocked back. I've had very good results with it. You may want to try that. Bumblefoot can be a slow process, sometimes repeated cleanings to get it all out, and then healing. It can take months sometimes, so persistence is needed.
"Sugardine works by combining the antimicrobial and antiseptic properties of povidone-iodine (Betadine) with the moisture-absorbing and tissue-nourishing qualities of sugar, creating a paste that draws out impurities, reduces bacteria, and supports the body's natural healing processes. The high sugar concentration prevents bacteria from growing by absorbing water, while the iodine acts as a broad-spectrum disinfectant. This dual action creates a poultice-like effect that cleans the wound and promotes rapid healing of tissues. "
Thread on sugardine is here, see post #8 here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bumblefoot-not-healing.1443809/

 

[Sarajobe]

It looks to me like there is still infection in there. When you removed the scab before, did you do any squeezing or manipulating to see if anything would come out? What did the tissue underneath look like? The top foot (darker lesion) in particular, that looks like a bumble lesion to me, not a normal healing scab. Pus underneath can look white or creamy colored, and can adhere to the tissue, making it take some manipulation to get it all out. I would remove that scab again, and really work on cleaning it out, see if you can get anything more out of it. If you take some pictures during, and when finished, that would help a lot, so I can see better what's in there. Sometimes packing the hole with sugardine (I will put a link below to a thread on that) will help with getting it cleaned out and knocked back. I've had very good results with it. You may want to try that. Bumblefoot can be a slow process, sometimes repeated cleanings to get it all out, and then healing. It can take months sometimes, so persistence is needed.
"Sugardine works by combining the antimicrobial and antiseptic properties of povidone-iodine (Betadine) with the moisture-absorbing and tissue-nourishing qualities of sugar, creating a paste that draws out impurities, reduces bacteria, and supports the body's natural healing processes. The high sugar concentration prevents bacteria from growing by absorbing water, while the iodine acts as a broad-spectrum disinfectant. This dual action creates a poultice-like effect that cleans the wound and promotes rapid healing of tissues. "
Thread on sugardine is here, see post #8 here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bumblefoot-not-healing.1443809/

I don't think it was bumble to start is the problem. When we pulled it off, it just bled profusely, there was nothing to squeeze out. We put blood stop powder on it because it just wouldn't stop. Then had to wrap it with it on there so it wouldn't bleed more. Today is the first day it was dark like that. It's been a light color. I was surprised and disappointed to see it like that today.

 

[coach723]

Bumblefoot usually doesn't bleed profusely, there may be some seeping of it, but it's usually not that bad. If you want, try to pack it with sugardine, as it is, without digging, for several days to a week, see if it helps and gets some swelling to go down. Then reassess how it's looking. You need to do the sugardine daily, once a day, and wrap well. The duoderm bandages discussed in the link I gave you are very helpful with the sugardine. In a pinch I have used a small square of plastic wrap over it, to hold it in, and then bandaged and wrapped over that. The duoderm is easier and works better, but if you don't have it....do what you can.