Pictures Please help, idk what this is

[BrownieExp]

Hello everyone,
I just want say first i am a big fan of this site and forums. I didn't have account before i usually just read what people say and learn from them.
However my feathered buddy has a problem with the bottom of his feet, pictures attached.
The real problem is that I live in Kuwait, theres little to no vets around here. And every vet pharmacy in here are giving me different opinion. It feels like they just want me to buy their products. I mean, bird specialist here are rare, even bird owners here are just for show and social media stunts. and i started talking to everyone who owns a bird if they know a vet here to help diagnose Pixels feet
This is Pixel, my Black headed caique, and my first birb, i had him since 2018 and i hand fed him. He is awesome. I love him very much.
I read every where and it seems the closest to the diagnosis is that it could be a bumblefoot or bacterial infection ( i really hope this is not the case)
I don't know what to do
I keep cleaning his cage so much more now and changed all his perches to ones that look like a real tree branch rather than smooth straight ones. Of course I am hoping this is a bumblefoot
Please can you direct me on what to do until i find a vet

 

[BrownieExp]

I forgot to mention, that the other feet has same mark and spot. However, it doesn't seem like he is bothered by it. I mean i bet he's doing that to not look weak to "predators". He play around with my other caique WHC same age as he is and they still roam around the house, although he seems to lose his nerves a lot faster. He even still sleep with one foot and the other is hidden.

 

[MommyBird]

@BrownieExp That is probably bumblefoot. I adopted a Jenday from a rescue that was developing it. He had a red spot. Using Silver Sulfdiazine cream 2x/day alone (per vet instructions) on just an irritated red spot as it was then did not help, it progressed to having the wound spot. He also needed to take Sulfa/Trimethoprim Suspension orally 2x/day.
You will need to start as soon as possible because that spot in the middle will just get deeper and eventually need surgery to remove the infected part so it can heal.
My vet said, and it did take, nearly a year for it to completely heal so no sign is visible anymore and I still put the cream on once daily because it was such a struggle I don't want it to come back.
I also made big changes in the perches, adding platforms, perches made of braided fleece (this really helped), and very varied sizes of perches.
Increasing vitamin A in the diet (by increasing the precursor beta carotene) is also necessary, but will not be a remedy at this point.
Thumbnail Photo from 12/2019 click to enlarge

 

[Hankmacaw]

Definitely bumblefoot.

Bumble Foot

Bumblefoot occurs in all species of birds; however, this condition is rarely seen in the wild. It is mostly diagnosed in: captive cage or aviary birds and may be the result of improper husbandry (housing/diet).

www.beautyofbirds.com

 

[Hankmacaw]

Here are a few veterinarians in Kuwait.

Avian veterinarians in kuwait

www.google.com

 

[BrownieExp]

@MommyBird @Hankmacaw ah man its a relief to hear not bacterial infection, cause that would be really weird i keep their place and play ground clean daily, they are very messy during the day tho need shower every day and so. is he in danger or hurt by bumble foot? i feel really bad for him
@Hankmacaw thanks for the help, I did call most of them today were they r vets but they "don't treat bird". a friend of mine call and gave me two i'll be checking them tomorrow morning

 

[Hankmacaw]

Well, I'm sorry but the wound on his foot does look as if it is infected. No matter how clean you keep it there is bacteria around and an open wound such as his is almost sure to become infected over time and if not treated. You will need an antibiotic and a vet if at all possible. Otherwise you can treat it on your own.

Take a close look at his diet and make sure your bird is getting plenty of Vitamin A. Yellow, orang and red vegetable have a lot of vitamin A so try to incorporate a lot into his diet. It would not hurt to start giving him Red Palm Oil.

Keep the wounds clean.

 

[BrownieExp]

@Hankmacaw thanks! ill keep an eye on him. I'll get him to a vet tomorrow to check on him and see what he says also

 

[macawpower58]

Make sure he is not on dowel perches. They're the worst for bumblefoot infections.
Get natural branches for him.

 

[BrownieExp]

@macawpower58 aw man that probable what got him this, yes his cage has couple before, its really my fault for being inexperienced

 

[MommyBird]

ah man its a relief to hear not bacterial infection, .
is he in danger or hurt by bumble foot?

sorry but this HAS progressed to a stage where there IS a bacterial infection. That is what that center spot is.
He needs oral antibiotics soon or the infection will progress and need surgery or could indeed kill him.
Let us know how the vet visit goes.

 

[macawpower58]

Are there any over the counter antibiotics oral/topical in Kuwait he could use?
Hoping our 'out of the US' members might be of help here.

 

[Hankmacaw]

@macawpower58 He can try to get some Bactrim salve which is quite common and a good antibiotic ( Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim or SMZ TMP ) or Triple antibiotic salve or Amoxicillum salve. The sivler sulfadine salve is good too.

 

[BrownieExp]

So a quick update, I wet to the vet a friend of mine suggested,
this is what I told him, my BHC have a bumblefoot in both his feet it seems
the vet grabbed a blue light and shin it on the leg (idk what this is but i guess he's the expert)
he then told me that this is infect a bumblefoot, a mild one, and gave me an ointment called Oxytetracycline 5% to apply a thin layer twice a day.
and change all his perches to diff sizes and ones that he can wrap his feet around it properly, and remove all the stock one that come with the cage (the smooth straight ones)
and keep on cleaning the cage well daily.
I don't know if this is enough for him to recover or do I need to look for a different opnion?

@macawpower58 yeah I bet I can find some they don't really restrict u here for going and buying one.
@Hankmacaw thanks for the info, idk if this will help (Oxytetracycline) this also seems to be written it is made for dogs and cats
thanks you guys, I got more help from you guys than most vets here haha
I hope Pixel start healing quickly I feel bad

 

[dollfish]

You may want to look into doing epsom salt soaks too. I have treated quails this way although you may be better off with antibiotic creams like others have suggested since it seems red and infected. Epsom soaks help release the plug. I did 15 minutes in warm water [quail wrapped in towel, feet submerged] everyday for 2 weeks until the plug softened up enough to fall off but do see a vet because the infection may go into the bloodstream.

 

[macawpower58]

Glad you got to a vet and he helped. Keep us updated.

 

[Hankmacaw]

@BrownieExp Your vet sounds right on the spot - keep him. His instructions were the same as a competent US Dr. would be.

Clean is important and don't forget to increase his Vitamin A intake.

The salve he prescribed is fine and probably better than any I mentioned.



2brownie

 

[BrownieExp]

@Hankmacaw
good news! his feet already looks better than two days ago, the red part of this bumblefoot seems to already go away, and the yellow part is so much smaller now. that is on one foot, the other where its seems healing not same as the other one
I did increase vitamin A intake but he hates eating oranges xD before i didn't bother to force him. now i squeeze the juice and pretend to drink it haha. he only take orange from a glass.
so idk what is helping the most, if its perches change, the ointment, or the vitamin A intake. maybe all of them.
but he seems to be better now

 

[Hankmacaw]

All of them, but the ointment mostly. Ny orange vegetable I meant things like carrots, squash. sweet potatoes etc.,etc Better cut out the orange juice (a little now and then is ok) it is very, very high in sugar.

You are doing good - keep t up - don't quit now.

 

[isabella99]

@Hankmacaw
good news! his feet already looks better than two days ago, the red part of this bumblefoot seems to already go away, and the yellow part is so much smaller now. that is on one foot, the other where its seems healing not same as the other one
I did increase vitamin A intake but he hates eating oranges xD before i didn't bother to force him. now i squeeze the juice and pretend to drink it haha. he only take orange from a glass.
so idk what is helping the most, if its perches change, the ointment, or the vitamin A intake. maybe all of them.
but he seems to be better now

this makes me so happy to see your baby getting better, i wish all the best for you