Tendon damage due to Bumblefoot

[motherofmorethan4]

Help! - I have just recently been battling bumblefoot in our two girls. I am afraid we had no idea about what the problem was until it was almost too late for one. One we caught early enough that antibiotics have finished off the infection and she is walking and swimming perfectly normally. The other (a Jumbo Pekin) got so bad she couldn't walk at all. She now can stand but her right leg is badly affected so that she can't pull her foot under her enough when she tries to walk so she flops down each time. Her poor wings are almost featherless (broken feathers) because she uses them to get around. The infection has gone but I would like to know if there is anything more we can give her to increase her strength and try to repair the tendons. She has also lost a lot of her feathers and the water protection because she can't clean herself under her tummy since she falls over. We have been swimming her to use as physical therapy but then she's cold and wet until we dry her ourselves. Any advice from anyone? Vitamins, therapy, any way we can stimulate the oil glands ourselves? Will her wing feathers come back in the Spring? Many many thanks in advance.

 

[Ratchnick]

If she can't walk how do you know the infecton is gone? If bumble foot gets bad usualy you have to cut it out.

 

[motherofmorethan4]

If she can't walk how do you know the infecton is gone? If bumble foot gets bad usualy you have to cut it out.

Yes, we cut out the infection and treated her. The scab is almost all gone. She is still on antibiotics to make certain.

 

[Ratchnick]

When the foot is healed and she can walk normaly again the feathers will grow back with the next molt. Weather permitting you could force molt as well.

 

[chickens really]

Tendon damage is a death sentence. Sorry its time to put it down..

 

[Miss Lydia]

Any chance a vet is an option before putting your duck down? @motherofmorethan4 how do you know it’s tendon damage? Has a vet made that diagnosis?

 

[motherofmorethan4]

Tendon damage is a death sentence. Sorry its time to put it down..

Why is that? She is otherwise eating and "normal". Thank you for your help...

 

[chickens really]

Why is that? She is otherwise eating and "normal". Thank you for your help...

You can't fix tendons.

 

[motherofmorethan4]

Any chance a vet is an option before putting your duck down? @motherofmorethan4 how do you know it’s tendon damage? Has a vet made that diagnosis?

Only because that's what others have said is a result of bad bumble foot and it appears to be the problem. I was hoping for some grass roots answers! I'm not sure why she needs to be put down (at least just yet), but if I hear that that is our only option I will seek vet help. Thanks for your concern.

 

[casportpony]

Only because that's what others have said is a result of bad bumble foot and it appears to be the problem. I was hoping for some grass roots answers! I'm not sure why she needs to be put down (at least just yet), but if I hear that that is our only option I will seek vet help. Thanks for your concern.

Welcome to BYC, sorry your duck has this problem. Can you post some pictures of both legs?