When you see the scab do you always treat immediately?

[gritsar]

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I know everyone says neosporin, neosporin, but personally I prefer drawing salve (ichthammol ointment). Hard to come by nowadays, but I prefer it for alot of wounds that need something - a splinter, a core, whatever - drawn out of them. THEN after the object and pus is out, I apply neosporin to speed healing.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:
I know everyone says neosporin, neosporin, but personally I prefer drawing salve (ichthammol ointment). Hard to come by nowadays, but I prefer it for alot of wounds that need something - a splinter, a core, whatever - drawn out of them. THEN after the object and pus is out, I apply neosporin to speed healing.

We did not find any pus or "kernel" inside the foot, so I gather there is nothing to BE drawn out at this point. I'm hoping that some oral antibiotics will address any lingering infection that may have been planning to spread.

 

[kylara70]

Carbolic salve is also a drawing salve. It is not hard to find, yuou can order it from any Watkins Dealer. (find them online if you do not have them local). I am not sure how this would work for chickens, but for people it is WONDERFUL!

Carol

 

[Rocky Top Chick]

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Just for information, my BO's all have red streaks up their feet. I believe this is normal.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

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Just for information, my BO's all have red streaks up their feet. I believe this is normal.

Really?!! I had never noticed it before and now that I'm hyper-sensitive to bumblefoot, I assumed the red streaking was due to infection. She definitely has bumblefoot on both feet, but perhaps there's no infection as evidenced by the fact that we couldn't find any junk inside the pad.

Thanks for the observation!

 

[Rocky Top Chick]

Quote:
Just for information, my BO's all have red streaks up their feet. I believe this is normal.

Really?!! I had never noticed it before and now that I'm hyper-sensitive to bumblefoot, I assumed the red streaking was due to infection. She definitely has bumblefoot on both feet, but perhaps there's no infection as evidenced by the fact that we couldn't find any junk inside the pad.

Thanks for the observation!

When I first got chickens I was in a panic all the time thinking something was wrong. Well now i have a completely different outlook. I take the best care I can and if something presents itself I will treat, however, I am not going to sit around and think of things that can go wrong. I don't treat any of my other animals that way so why chickens? The first thing I do when one of the girls acts a little off is take them in the house for a warm bathand blow them dry. It is a wonder how much better they feel after that. On our Bo's we noted the red streaks last winter and I had a panic attack, but nothing ever happened and they still have the streaks so all is good.

 

[gritsar]

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I developed the same attitude about chicken care a long time ago, when I realized how resiliant they are.
BTW, I see streaks in my brahmas legs alot; especially in the spring and particularly on my rooster's legs. I've been told it's due to hormones surging.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

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Today I took a look at Oprah's OTHER foot, which had a scab that looked identical to the one we operated on yesterday to no obvious result (see above). After finding this thread yesterday and NOT finding anything inside her left foot, I doubted whether I should poke around with the right scab, so I had decided to let it go.
Something kept nagging at me today and...I went in.

This time, instead of digging around the scab and downwards, I scraped across the scab and one side lifted up. I could see it was attached to something, so I carefully picked around the scab with a straight-edge razor blade and manicure scissors until I could pick up the scab AND the majority of the bumble. There was very little blood involved and just a little bit of digging to get the remainder of the bumble pieces out. I'm glad I changed my mind and decided to operate on the second foot b/c this must have hurt whether she was limping or not. It is the size of an actual kernel of corn, maybe a little bit bigger. You can see that the large piece on the left side has the bumble scab on the left side of the bumble.

 

[maizey]

What IS a bumble... i mean I know the condition but how does that kernal get in there? WHAT is the kernal or "bumble" comprised of? ewww ewww ewww!

 

[ADozenGirlz]

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"What is "bumblefoot"?
Ulcerative pododermatitis, also known as bumblefoot, is an inflamation of the balls of the feet of birds, guinea pigs, rabbits, and rats. The inflamation is usually caused by infection with Staphylococcus aureaus, but may be caused by other bacteria. The infection occurs when the bacteria contacts broken skin, such as a wound or abrasion, on the foot. Rats can get abbrasions on their feet from walking on wire cage flooring or rough textured cage litter.

Bumblefoot usually appears first as a small, reddish bump or lump on the foot. It can look similar to a corn or callous you see on human feet. Inside the lump is a closed abcess. In progressed stages the lumps grow large and can break open and bleed.

The best treatment for bumblefoot in rats is a combination of a systemic antibiotic (Cefa Drops) and topical applications of an antiseptic/disinfectant, (Dr. Naylor BLU-KOTE). Some people have seen faster improvement by cleansing the feet with chlorhexidine, an antiseptic/disinfectant solution, between BLU-KOTE applications.

The best prevention against bumblefoot is a clean, disinfected cage with solid surface floors and soft cage litter.

References:

Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary, Second Edition D. C. Blood and V. P. Studdert, 1999

The Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents by John E. Harkness and Joseph E. Wagner
Copyright

2000 Rat Lovers' Association of Southern California. This document may be reproduced and distributed, provided the content is not modified and retains this copyright notice. "