Bumblefoot  

 
As our lives becomes more sedentary and high calorie food is so available, both humans and our avian companions birds are often obese and less active. These are two major contributory causes to bumblefoot in birds. This syndrome is also called Pododermatits or Planter Pododermatits. It is essentially a foot disease of birds in captivity.
Bumblefoot is a chronic disease of long duration, usually taking months or even years before the clinical signs of disease are noticeable. The disease gets progressively worse with time, and invades the deeper foot tissue, and eventually causes lameness, disability and even sepsis

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How does the bacterial infection of the feet start? (See picture 1)

Picture 1 : Typical advanced round black, bumblefoot lesion, seen at Bird Vet Melbourne

Infection of the birds feet starts in two ways:

Firstly from  trauma Eg: a cut, abrasion or ulceration of the surface of the foot, or a deep wound to the foot from a sharp object. 
Secondly  through longstanding abnormal pressures on the foot resulting in decreasing blood flow to the foot , and a thickened abnormal foot. This ongoing unrelenting pressure on the foot pad damages the normal ability of the foot immune system to keep bacteria and infection out.
This allows bacteria to enter into underlying foot pad tissues and results in a bacterial infection. Because of abnormal pressure and poor blood supply, there is reduce immune function and long standing infection starts and continues to progress. The foot becomes thickened and filled with abnormal solid tissue and pus. Bird pus is thicker and more solid than mammalian pus.
At Chicken Vet Melbourne, Bumblefoot is a common problem. We see it often in Chickens, Ducks and Turkeys. It is becoming more common in parrots and other species and is most common in older Budgerigars and obese cockatoos that are on smooth Dowel perches. This is especially so when the highest perch is round, smooth and narrow, and the Bird sleeps on it.
Bumblefoot eventually leads to inflammation and abscessation in the deeper layers of the foot and causes a lot of PAIN. Left untreated, it may progress to a build up of dead tissue in the foot, and septic arthritis in the foot and ankle bones and bone infection. Eventually death may occur. The bacteria named Staphylococcus Aureus is the most common bacteria found in these lesions.

Predisposing causes to the condition, at Melbourne Bird Vet.

1.  Poor perches – round smooth narrow perches contribute to abnormal pressures on the foot and eventual damage.

2.  Trauma – from splinters, wires, concrete, thorns or glass.

3.  Nutritional deficiency – especially Vitamin A deficiency in parrots and Biotin deficiency in chickens.

4.  Obesity – being overweight puts abnormal pressure on the feet.

5.  Cage Flooring design – a soft clean dry floor is ideal. In muddy wet conditions the skin on the bottom of the foot is softened and easily infected.

6.  Excessive weight on one foot due to lameness of the other, or loss of the other leg, resulting in unnatural excessive forces on the little foot pad.

7.  Lack of activity – standing on a perch in the same spot for prolonged periods is an important contributing part of the Pododermatits syndrome.

8.  Lack of exercise.

9. Rough, abrasive or sharp surfaces.

10.  Decreased blood supply to the foot, for example with fungal toxins, frost bite, trauma or tight leg rings.  .

Surgically we remove dead or necrotic tissue. (See Picture 2,  At Poultry Vet Melbourne)

Picture 2 : In Surgery , after the dead tissue has been removed from the foot.

 

Treatments of (advanced) the Bumblefoot Syndrome, at Bird Vet Melbourne

•  Antibiotics, placed into the core of the avian abscess of the infected foot. Bird specific Antibiotic impregnated beads are often used for this purpose.

•  Foot bandaging and replacing the bandage every 5 days for about 3 - 6 weeks after surgery is not uncommon.

•  Broad spectrum antibiotics for about two weeks.

•  Correcting dietary deficiencies. ( esp in smaller Parrots- as noted at Budgie vet visits)

•  Correcting weight in obese birds. This is often difficult in large Turkeys or Broilers (Meat producing Chickens that are bred to be massive.)

• Perches – softer perches and softer surfaces to enable the weight to spread over a larger surface area of the foot

• Use of a surgical intravenous “Vascular Access Port” for easy daily intravenous antibiotic administration in the treatment of Pododermatitis in a Chicken has been used successfully.( by Bird Specialist Dr Bob)  

 

Pododermatits in an turkey.

On Tues the 20 of November 2018 Dougie a 2 year old Turkey was presented to Avian Vets in  Melbourne, the local Turkey Veterinarian with a sore foot. Dougie is a well loved family pet. The family kids adore him and play with him. Just like other pets the Turkey enjoys playing and companionship. Dougie’s astute owners noticed the lameness and examined the sore foot. They found a large black sore. See Picture 1
 

Dr Phil, an experienced Avian vet,  examined the 13.5 kg bird. Advanced Bumblefoot was diagnosed. The only option in Dougie’s case was surgery, as the foot pad lesion was advanced and extensive. The family consented to surgery and a day to recuperate in the Melbourne Bird Vet Hospital. During surgery, under general anaesthesia the infected tissue was removed. See Picture 2
Picture 2 -The foot pad after removal of the infected tissue by the "Turkey Vet".
The open wound was filled with antibiotic and surgically closed. The foot was then bandaged and wrapped in a thick plastic boot to keep it dry.
The next day Dougie appeared to be walking better and was discharged – Picture 3.
Picture 3- Dougie with Dr Phil.

Picture 4- A chicken with a “Bumblefoot” chicken shoe that has been worn for 3 weeks. The bumblefoot has almost healed in this bird now 13 days after surgery, and we expect good recovery. (chicken veterinarain)