Hi everyone, Cyndi here talking with you about Bumblefoot. This is a swelling in the foot of a chicken when the foot pad gets an infection. There are many causes, according to the vet, where a cut or a tiny abrasion in the foot causes a staph infection.
A couple of years ago our hen Blanche stepped on something and when we found it, there was a big scab on her foot pad. I did some research and watched some videos and was able to express the gunk on my own after soaking her in betadine and using cold spray for pain. I loaded her up with antibiotic ointments with a pain reliever and wrapped her foot well. We kept her inside until it healed, and she was fine afterward.
We noticed Lottie, our 8-month-old leghorn hen, had bumblefoot the day before yesterday! I could not find an injury or scab anywhere, so I decided to take her to the vet because I did not want to lance her foot on my own and hurt her.
We found a vet that would take chickens, so my daughter and I took her in yesterday. The tech came to get her and said they had to do x-rays to see if the infection had spread but when they brought her back, they had already lanced it, and she was wearing a bandage up her leg. While I am grateful, am I wrong for thinking they should have asked before cutting her open?
The vet came in and told us that it looked like the infection may have entered the bone so they gave us two weeks of antibiotics and some pain meds and said they’d like to recheck it in two weeks in case she might need more meds. I am to keep her bandaged for three days and then give her soft bedding and allow the wound to dry out. But we must keep it clean, give her betadine soaks, and keep her inside for a month! Wow.
I think I may have kept Blanche bandaged too long the first time and we only kept her inside for maybe two weeks on wood shavings. The Vet said not to use wood shavings as it can cut into her injury. I think we are going to use some paper bedding since it is so soft, and the vet said it was important to keep her foot padded after removing the bandage. We can rewrap it but also allow it to air out, she said.
It ended up being $410 for the x-rays, the lancing procedure, and the two weeks of medications. They did not sedate her by the looks of the paperwork. They did say she might get lonely, so, we might bring in another hen to keep her company.
One thing that was asked before taking her back for treatment was whether she was a pet. My answer to that was that she was part of a flock of twelve. I think maybe this is why I was not asked before the treatment was performed. I mean, who brings in a chicken to get expensive X-rays with no treatment? I don’t fault them; I am grateful she was seen so quickly. I guess I found it odd because this was my first vet appointment for one of the farm animals which can be dealt with differently. But they are still our pets, and we love them.
It looks like Lottie will be enjoying her Christmas inside this year!
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