Bumblefoot on Quail and I need help ASAP

[GoofingOff]

I first discovered bumblefoot on one of my quail about 2-3 weeks ago and have been trying to treat it with various things because the only local feed store doesn't have anything that I need but they did sell me something called Terramycin eye stuff in a small application container and said it may help but I have been using it for a few days with no results whatsoever. Within the passed few days I have found 3 more with just the beginnings of bumblefoot and they are getting worse even after treatment.


I really don't know what to do, I am even doing Epsom Salt soaks and they are not helping in the least.


Please, does anyone have any suggestions on how to properly treat this and what to use?


I am getting to the end of my rope here and I want them to get well.

 

[GoofingOff]

This is my first post on this site and don't know if this is the appropriate place to post something about bumblefoot, I am just kind of panicky at the moment.

 

[chicapee]

You are probably going to have to cut out the core. Here is some info.
http://m.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-treat-chicken-foot-sores.html
There are some youtube videos on how to do the procedure. Good luck, it sounds like you are doing the right things, but this sounds like a stubborn case. You will probably need to thoroughly clean the coop and run too. Oxine ah, is the best for that.

 

[GoofingOff]

I would prefer not to have to cut into the quail's feet though I have been taking off the scabs to treat but I am completely unable to wrap their feet because of them being so small, so I bet what I have done so far has been in vain without being able to wrap their feet. I would prefer a soak or and paste to put on and I can try to find a better way to wrap their feet if needed.


So far I am working alone in this so only one set of hands.

 

[chicapee]

You could try this after a good soak with Epsom salts. I have used it for drawing out splinters and abcesses. Maybe you could cut up some coban to keep it in place.
http://m.cvs.com/mt/www.cvs.com/sho...rawing-salve-ichthammol-ointment-skuid-705149

 

[GoofingOff]

Thank you for your suggestion, I will look for that at the local CVS. Do you have any experience using amoxicillin? I have heard that it will help with the infection and I just happen to have some and I was going to try it tomorrow.

 

[chicapee]

Thank you for your suggestion, I will look for that at the local CVS. Do you have any experience using amoxicillin? I have heard that it will help with the infection and I just happen to have some and I was going to try it tomorrow.

Amoxicillin isn't used for staphylococcus infection, I will have to research for what would be recommended for chickens. I will check it out and get back to you. I have to sleep now sorry it's 230am.

 

[GoofingOff]

These girls aren't chickens, they are quail, which is why they are so hard for me to work on.

And alrighty, goodnight.

The amoxicillin was mentioned in the article you linked also.

 

[Sill]

If it's truly bumble foot you will need to get the mass out of the foot. Treating with antibiotics and soaking alone will not do it. This is what I do for my own birds, but you may want to seek the advice or services of a vet if you can't treat it yourself. Soak the birds feet with epsom salts in warm water for at least 15 minutes. Once the foot is soft you proceed in two ways. You can cut the mass out or use a finger nail and just press, squeeze and pop the thing out. There may be blood. Once it is out you must wrap the foot or keep the bird on very clean bedding like clean paper towels. I usually wrap them for a couple of days. Neopsorin without pain killers (birds are allergic to those) can be applied before wrapping. They heal supper fast with their high metabolism. Once they are able re-introduce them to their covey. Re-introduction is easier if you keep the bird within sight of their covey during treatment and recovery.

You will need to look at your housing to determine why your bird got bumble foot in the first place. Was it injury? Something sharp in the cage? No place to rest their feet? Jumbo birds that are too big for their feet? Is there something you can improve to keep your birds from getting this again?

 

[chicapee]

These girls aren't chickens, they are quail, which is why they are so hard for me to work on.

And alrighty, goodnight.

The amoxicillin was mentioned in the article you linked also.

Sorry, I knew they were quail. I was half asleep. Ok back to the problem at hand. Bumblefoot is like a boil or a cyst and the core of infection is encapsulated and it is not supplied by blood vessels. This means that treating with a systemic antibiotic won't help at this stage because it won't be able to reach the infection to kill it. Now if you have managed to cut out the core, then blood vessels will be involved to supply the antibiotic to the wound. I believe a topical antibiotic ointment will work better. If the infection speaks up the leg, that is when the systemic medicine will be needed.