Bumblefoot ? Oh No!!!!!

[Bob Dale]

Do you want to develop the shakes, nausea and watch your eyes bug out of your head at the same time? Then look at your birds feet and spot a small sore! That's what happened yesterday.
I was flying Buzz in the yard b/c it was to rainy to hunt. I presented the lure to her dangling about 3' off the ground ( i like watching her hit it and go to ground. Besides, it's a good way to get them to hit squirrels on a tree trunks, or so i've been told). As she closed in on the lure, feet outstretched, i thought i saw a sore on her middle front toe. After i traded her off of the lure i inspected her foot and, sure enough, there was a small wound there about the size ofa pin head. The corresponding toe on the other foot had slightly reddened area on the same pad. The hallux was good and there is wasn't any swelling. There wasn't anything obvioius on the other parts of her feet.
I took a minute and freaked a little, then i took her inside and washed her feet with an antibacterial soap. I left her inside while i changed her water and examined all my perches. I disinfected everything. I painted her feet with iodine and coated them in antibiotic ointment and put her back in the mews.
This morning i called my vet to get her started on an oral antibiotic but i was advised against that. He thought it would be better not to eleminate the friendly flora in the gut until we found out whether or not the topical antibotic was going to do the trick. OK. I'd rather present an all out assault, but he's the Dr.
I've dealt with bumblefoot at the rehab station, but only the most severe cases. I know that it can be devistating and, naturally, i want to make sure that whatever this is doesn't turn into a crippling disorder.
When buzz hits her prey, she hits it with everything she's got. Full steam ahead!! I can only assume that she hit a tree limb or a trunk hard enough to bruise or scrape her feet. Perhaps she got bit and i missed it. Who knows.
I'm painting her feet with betadine and coating them with antibacterial ointment twice a day. I'm keeping her fat and i'm not flying her for the time being. Cross your fingers folks! I want her to get well soon!!

[Weasel]

She'll be fine as long as it's kept free of bacteria. Sounds like you are doing a heeck of a job keeping it clean thus far so I wouldn't worry too much. I went through the exact same thing with mine shortly after starting to fly her. She ended up with some open sores on her feet from bouncing around in the mew. The vet said it was the equivelent of rug burn. I treated with Iodine once a day for about four days and then left it alone. It healed up quickly and I was back in the field in no time. Keep us posted on how it goes.
Cheers,
Noel

[alex2]

SH!@t I better get some Iodine! lol

I bought some hydrogen peroxide for myself but god!
Guess im makin a trip to the drug store....

[Jay]

My bird had some nasty squirrel bites when we first trapped him, which turned into Bumblefoot. I still have a monster tube of Silvadene Cream that I got from the vet that I use anytime it looks like there is a problem. Also any squirrle bites I wash out with ChlorhexiDerm which the Vet also recmended anytime the bird gets a cut.

[Bob Dale]

Buzz is very tolerant of my messing with her feet. She sits patiently while swab her down with peroxide, betadine and triple antibiotic ointment. The betadine has stained her feet to the point where i can't tell it any redness is spreading, but i can tell that there isn't any swelling. I'm treating her feet twice a day (mostly out of paranoia. I'm sure once a day is sufficient).
My sponsor warned me not to use peroxide more than everyother day. He said that it can cause the skin on her feet to dry out and crack. Keep in mind that the vet didn't really say anything about peroxide.
Weasel, I'm hoping this is a "carpet burn". I'm beginning to suspect the bath pan. I'm using a rubbermade storage container. The edges aren't sharp, but the are defined. I may have to rig a pad of some sort around the parameter. Perhaps some neoprene or foam pipe insulation would do the trick.
I'm going to rest her again today and crop her up on quail tonight. She's about 5 ounces above her flight weight to make sure she doesn't get antsy and start bouncing around the mews.
Hopefully i'll see some improvement tonight or tomorrow.

[Weasel]

For a ring on the bath ban you could try a garden hose slit longways. Your bird will be fine. The only thing about the feet is that injuries take forever to heal. That nasty cut on the bottom of Val's feet is just now healed up. Our raptor vet insists on us continuing the usual routine of hunting the bird like we normally would. It certainly won't hurt the bird to keep flying... ;D Get out and kill some squirrels!!!......or those soft furry things....rabbits

[Master Yarak]

Blood supply to the feet is minimal. That is why healing is prolonged. I too am not unfamiliar with bumblefoot although Bane has never had it. Just from the info you have shared I doubt it is that or that it will develop. The only thing I know for certain is that RTs are very robust!
They can take alot of punishment with no obvious problems. With your devotion to her health I think she is wondering why she ain't killing! Stupid rain. We need it but is should only rain at night during the hawking season! Keep us informed of her progress.
Yarak

[Bob Dale]

Thanks ya'll, I needed that!

[Bob Dale]

I had a long talk on the phone with vet in our club. He spent 6 years in the UAE taking care of falcons. He's very knowledgable and a valuable resource.
He really put my mind to rest. He validated what my vet recommended and went on to say that RTs are not prone to bumblefoot. They are so resilient that even serious things, like bad squirrel bites, arguements with barbed wire, etc usually don't cause a long lasting problem. He said that if could see some of the wounds he's seen, i wouldn't think twice about Buzz's feet.
He recommend that i start flying her again. So, i'm dropping her weight and i have a trip planned for this weekend.
I'm still gonna paint her feet with iodine though

[Pogo]

Glad to hear Buzz is going to be O.K. I suspected as much coming from you Bob. Sounds like you took great care of it. Let us know about the up coming hunts, I want to hear more!!!!

[Bob Dale]

Her pads are either a little red or stained from all the betadine, i don't know which. She isn't swolen, limping, tender or warm so we're going to hunt tomorrow. The rain finally let up. Wish us luck!! ;D

[SkyRider]

Umm, good luck. I'm not sure when you posted this but hey, it's the thought that counts! And if you've already gone, good luck on your next hunt!!;D

[grendlesgirl]

Don't you just love what one person does right for their bird could be totally wrong for anothers? Just wanted to share that Birna damaged her toes running back and forth on the garden hose that I was using to line the edge of the perches. After covering it with long leaf turf it didn't get any worse . . . but it takes SO LONG for it to get better!

[CaliforniaFalconer]

Not sure if you're still battleing with bumblefoot (hope not) but thought I'd post our remedy that we use on our falcons (discovered it back at the sanctuary.)

You can get the two ingredients from walmart or walgreens...just ask them as they may need to order it.

Use Benzoine and Camphor. At the first sight of any more thatn usual redness on our birds feet, we apply these two ointments. Dip a Q tip in the benzoine and dab it on the bottom of the foot, then the other side of the Q tip goes in the camphor and apply to the foot. We usually treat for about 5 days and then reaccess.

Both are totally safe (apply after feeding or a few hours before) just since the benzoine is strong smelling.

Hope that helps.

[Falcon Boy]

Heres a wicked case of bumble