Bumblefoot, clinically referred to as pododermatitis, is both an inflammatory and infection-related condition, involving the foot pad of one or both feet in avian species. It is a common condition in chickens, a well-known condition in raptors (birds of prey), and is somewhat uncommon in parrot species.
Visually the condition appears as a firm swelling on the underside of the foot/feet. The following is a classification used by veterinarians to categorize the severity of the condition:
- Grade 1: Early disease, no symptoms.
- Grade 2: Mild inflammation, skin intact.
- Grade 3: Moderate inflammation, ulcers/scabs may be present.
- Grade 4: Severe infection, abscess may be present, discharge.
- Grade 5: Severe infection that may include the bone and/or tendons of the foot.
What causes bumblefoot?
In poultry and parrots, bumblefoot is often caused by abnormalities in perching materials or by being housed on hard ground surface with no soft or padded areas for the bird to stand or perch on. In birds of prey, bumblefoot is often caused by infected bite wounds from live prey or from perches that are coarse or improperly sized for the bird's grasp.
In perching birds such as parrots and birds of prey, the most common perches are made of wooden dowel rods that have a uniform size from end to end. This type of perch causes constant pressure on the underside of the foot that, over time, may cause a pressure sore. This pressure sore may become ulcerated or infected with time.
Once the sore is infected, an abscess forms. Unlike dog or cat abscesses, bird abscesses are firm, semi-solid masses of infected material. In Grade 4 and 5, the abscess may create a bulge between the toes and on top of the foot. In Grade 3, 4, and 5, the bird generally shows a marked lameness or will hold the affected foot up constantly.
Birds of prey that are kept by falconers or housed in a rehabilitation facility often present bumblefoot lesions on one or both feet. The initiating factor may have been a bite wound from live prey or, as noted above, improper perching surfaces that cause pressure sores to develop on the bottom of one or both feet. If the sores are not addressed early, they will progress to form a bumblefoot lesion.
How is bumblefoot treated?
In all cases, it is highly advised to seek veterinary care by an experienced avian veterinarian. An abscess in a bird is a semi-solid mass. This mass of infected material must be removed surgically; it will not go away on its own. Attempts to treat at home will often cause permanent damage to the foot and will often cause more harm.
Once the bird has been examined, the avian veterinarian will design a treatment plan in relation to the severity of the lesion. X-rays (radiographs) will often be recommended to assess involvement of the bones of the affected foot/feet.
Grade 1, 2, and 3 disease may be successfully treated with oral anti-inflammatory medication and foot wraps to protect the bottom of the feet. Perching surfaces in the cages at home must be altered to provide different diameters of the perches and flat surfaces where the bird will not be forced to always grasp a perch. Antibiotics may be recommended by your veterinarian depending on tissue analysis and the findings noted on the radiographs.
Bumblefoot lesions categorized as 4 or 5, and sometimes 3, will require surgical intervention to treat. Prior to surgery, the patient will be given pre-surgical pain relief medication. The bird will be anesthetized, the foot/feet will be cleansed with disinfectant solution, and the swelling(s) will be lanced. The veterinarian will remove abscess material with forceps and flush the open sites with cleansing solutions.
A sample will be removed from the middle of the abscess to determine which bacteria are present and which antibiotics will be best to treat the infection. Once the abscess sites are cleansed of infected material, the veterinarian may pack the site with antibiotic gauze and wrap the foot with bandage material. Bandages generally need to be changed every three to five days.
