Bumble Foot

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Bumble foot is found on the bottom of a bird's feet where it has formed an abscess. They look sort of like calluses; they feel hard and typically affect both feet. Depending on the diagnosis, vets may recommend hot soaks or antibiotics (pipercillin injections, etc.). In some instances, surgery may be indicated, especially in cases where severe distortion of the contours of the foot and/or the toes occurred, as this has the potential of causing considerable damage in the foot.

• If only one leg is affected, the bird is more likely to have experienced an injury and/or has a localized infection. (Scroll down to infections for potential treatment options)



• If the legs appear to be dry and scaly, or the bird has crusty-looking legs, please refer to this webpage for information: Scaly Leg or Scaly Face webpage
  

Causes & Actions:

• Unsuitable Perches / Standing & Walking Platforms:
  • These abscesses are frequently caused by unhealthy "perching" conditions, such as plastic perches, sharp-cornered perches, the standard perches that tend to come with cages of a uniform diameter, or wire floors.
  • If unsuitable perches or platforms are the cause, a small reddened area, or sometimes a small shiny patch, can usually be seen on the foot.
    • Cause of action or preventative measures:
      • Provide a bird with natural perches with different circumferences and textures
      • Some breeders report success in reducing the swelling by applying hemorrhoid cream to the affected foot.
      • Cover wire floors with newsprint, a soft towel, or some other material of your choosing that protects the bird's feet
      • Hard flooring should be covered as a bird is healing, as a hard floor can exasperate the condition. Covering the cage floor with say a towel will make walking on it more comfortable and speed the healing process.



• Nutrition: Some forms of bumble foot are caused by a vitamin A deficiency. Budgerigar are particularly susceptible to it. Seeds are typically low in vitamin A. This vitamin promotes appetite, digestion, and also increases resistance to infection and to some parasites. The most obvious sign of a vitamin A deficiency is a feather stain above the cere. The staining of the feathers above the nostrils reflects a discharge from the nostrils. Subtle differences may be seen as far as the color intensity of the cere and feathers is concerned - and the overall condition of the plumage. A bird deficient in this vitamin may have pale, rough-looking feathers that lack luster. The cere may look rough instead of smooth, and you may see an accumulation of a yellow dry scale on the sides of the beak.
  • Cause of action or preventative measures: Birds usually respond quickly to the supplementation of vitamin A. Owners reported that once the nutritional deficiency was resolved, the feather condition and overall well-being improved drastically - within several days in fact.
  • Vitamin A occurs naturally in dark leafy greens and orange-colored produce, such as apricots, cantaloupes, carrots, red peppers, pumpkins and sweet potatoes. To resolve Vitamin A deficiency, try adding foods like sweet potatoes (either cooked or steamed until soft), mashed up with other fruits will be both loved by your pet bird, as much as it is good for her or him. Many birds also enjoy fresh carrot juice - or try offering shredded carrots. Natural sources are preferable over synthetically produced nutrients, which may not be absorbable and could easily be overdosed).



• Infections: Where some penetration has occurred, infections are likely to occur. Bacteria, including staph, have been identified in some rare cases of bumble foot, if the wound hasn’ t been noticed and treated before it becomes acute. Typically antibiotics, such as erythomycin or penicillin, are prescribed by the vet, if the infection is serious enough. If left untreated, the infection will eventually eat into the bone and travel to other parts of the body. This is a painful condition that can potentially be life endangering.
  • Cause of action: Antibiotic treatments as prescribed by the vet, and topical treatments, such as CEH ointment (Calendula, Echinacea, and Hypericum) has also been used to treat this condition. The general recommendation is to clean the feet thoroughly, apply liberal amount of CEH (or whatever antibiotic ointment was prescribed by the vet) and wrap with gauze to keep ointment in place and feet clean. Apply twice a day until feet appear healthy. CEH may be purchased from Quintessence, 608-251-6915.

General Recommendations:

• Recovery is hastened by removal of the scab and of the pus core and by applying a suitable antibiotic cream on the bottom of the foot to help keep the wound soft.



• Providing a soft surface for the pet to stand on is more comfortable for the patient and also speeds healing.



• Any wounds should be cleaned daily.



• Discuss with your vet the potential use of: Arnica - to relieve soreness and swelling following an injury or surgery.



• Once the condition has been resolved, continue to keep an eye on the patient and these areas in particular to make sure that the problem isn’ t recurring.

Resources: Arthritis ... Staphylococcosis, Staphylococcal Arthritis, Bumble Foot ... Natural Antibiotics / Herbal Anti-inflammatories - Strengthening Your Immunesystem Naturally (human applications - discuss with your holistic vet) ... General Avian Health References

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