Metabolic Bone Disease

[jess.reco]

I purchased my girl when she was about 2, and ive had her for 5 years. She developed bumblefoot due to being inactive and she needed to be operated on. I found ouy today she has this bone disease. From her xrays the vet could see that it happened when she was a baby and they didnt have her on a proper diet. So this whole time shes been inactive as shes been in pain :'( she is prone to bumblefoot because of it.
Shes now home resting and looks quite funny with a collar around her head. The vet assured me she isn't in heaps of pain, just uncomfortable. So she'll be on pain killers for the rest of her life and I need to make sure she is comfortable. I am absolutely heartbroken for her

 

[jess.reco]

 

[plumsmum2005]

I purchased my girl when she was about 2, and ive had her for 5 years. She developed bumblefoot due to being inactive and she needed to be operated on. I found ouy today she has this bone disease. From her xrays the vet could see that it happened when she was a baby and they didnt have her on a proper diet. So this whole time shes been inactive as shes been in pain :'( she is prone to bumblefoot because of it.
Shes now home resting and looks quite funny with a collar around her head. The vet assured me she isn't in heaps of pain, just uncomfortable. So she'll be on pain killers for the rest of her life and I need to make sure she is comfortable. I am absolutely heartbroken for her

Hi, I am so sorry for your beautiful girl. I am enclosing some information on this condition as I am sure others will be interested and there may be a snippet of info in it that you don't know. Give her the best diet you can and lots of love, hugs to you both and please will you give us updates on how she's doing.

“Bumblefoot” Pododermatitis


1. What is "bumblefoot"?
“Bumblefoot” is the common term for inflammation or infection of the weight-bearing surface of the foot. “Bumblefoot" is a form of pododermatitis (foot inflammation).

2. What species of bird are affected by “bumblefoot”?
It is very common in budgies, cockatiels, galahs and ducks though it can be seen in any bird.

3. What are the clinical signs of early “bumblefoot”?
Initially there may simply be a loss of the normal scale on the feet and the skin may be red and thin. As the conditions worsens ulcers may form on the pads of the feet.

4. What are the clinical signs of more serious forms of “bumblefoot”?
It becomes very serious when the foot is swollen and there are plugs of necrotic (dead) tissue on the weight bearing foot surface. In the worst cases the bone of the foot becomes infected, the foot becomes swollen and the foot’s digits cannot move. These birds are severely lame and often very difficult to repair.

5. What are the causes of “bumblefoot”?
Hard plastic or dowelling perches and sandpaper around perches, as well as diets of poor nutritional value and high energy will lead to obese birds with vitamin A deficiency. If the perches are unclean, bacteria will build up and can move onto the foot as the foot has lost its protective scales. Any disease that affects birds can make your bird susceptible to “bumblefoot" as the bird will use its energy to fight the other problem.

6. What is the treatment for “bumblefoot”?
In the early stages of “bumblefoot” the best treatment is simply to soften the perches with bandages or strips of cloth wrapped around the perches. At the same time, improve the diet by including, among other changes, more dark green vegetables for vitamin A or, better still, move your birds onto a high quality pellet or crumble food as well. For ducks, put down astroturf or grassed areas and make sure they have a clean deep wading pool.
7. What additional treatment procedures may be needed?
Antibiotics will be needed as well as anti-inflammatories and antibiotics topically on the feet. If the "bumblefoot" is in the very severe category, a ball bandage may need to be adhered to the feet with regular changes necessary. In these severe cases samples of the foot infection to send to the laboratory to find out the type of infection may be needed. Blood samples may also be taken to check for other problems. The severe cases of "bumblefoot" can take weeks to months to improve.

8. What preventative measures are needed?
An avian veterinarian will always check the base of the feet at a bird’s annual health check but the feet should be checked at home at least fortnightly as well.

 

[Uglow]

my heart goes out to your sweet beautiful girl and to you. I did a quick search on the disease but didn't learn much except for the cause. Is there any chance it's curable, even slightly? wish you the best of luck. Please keep us posted on her progress. I'll run it by my vet next time I talk to him too.

 

[camo]

I'm so sorry to hear that, poor girl. Hopefully with the pain medication she will be able to be more active.

Please keep us updated.

Cheers,

Cameron

 

[jess.reco]

Thanks everybody. Since I've had her she's been on a small amount of high quality pellets and the rest of her diet is fruit,veg,grains. Shes very spoilt.
Unfortunately no theres no cure the damage is done because she was on a bad diet as a baby her bones are deformed. Some have slight curves in them. Her tail bone is in a completely different direction to how it should be. All I can do is make her comfortable. The vet explained it as like being arthritis. At this point she isnt in mich pain, just uncomfortable and the pain killers will help with that. Shes still a very happy healthy little girl, just has this issue.

She still has her attitude!!! As soon as she woke up from her operation she would not stop shredding newspaper. She threw her water and food bowl chucking a tantrum LOL. She does NOT like the collar. She has to go back to the vet today as shes ripped her bandage off her foot . The collar didnt help!!!

 

[chris-md]

I'm so sorry about your poor baby. But you're doing wonderfully for her, and you should be so proud!

 

[plumsmum2005]

Thanks everybody. Since I've had her she's been on a small amount of high quality pellets and the rest of her diet is fruit,veg,grains. Shes very spoilt.
Unfortunately no theres no cure the damage is done because she was on a bad diet as a baby her bones are deformed. Some have slight curves in them. Her tail bone is in a completely different direction to how it should be. All I can do is make her comfortable. The vet explained it as like being arthritis. At this point she isnt in mich pain, just uncomfortable and the pain killers will help with that. Shes still a very happy healthy little girl, just has this issue.

She still has her attitude!!! As soon as she woke up from her operation she would not stop shredding newspaper. She threw her water and food bowl chucking a tantrum LOL. She does NOT like the collar. She has to go back to the vet today as shes ripped her bandage off her foot . The collar didnt help!!!

That's good, cos it makes her who she is. Laughed at her tantrum! She has problems and some special 'needs' but that doesn't make her any the less, mean you love her less, IMO it can make them more to you.

I have seen different collars used over here, perhaps worth talking to the AV if it's essential that the bandage stays put. Goodness her diet must have been dreadful, another bad breeder?

We all support you here and if you need to vent a little or want some help then we are ALL very pleased to do so, it's the least we can do to help YOU. Hugs to you and Tequila.

 

[jess.reco]

You all made me cry a little. Thankyou so much.

I know its not my fault, but I feel like I've let her down. I didnt know she was in pain.

Yes the breeder wasn't a good one. I am SO MAD!!!! She is my baby girl and I wouldn't trade her for the world.

Ill be seeing the vet again on Monday and im hoping they take the collar off. Im hoping they take it off then. Shes been getting alot more cuddles from mumma. I am so upset for her. It breaks my heart.

 

[jess.reco]

Oh and they had to make her collar thicker so she wouldn't chew her feet. She was too smart and outsmarted her collar. They thickened her collar as using the other type of plastic is more traumatic.

.

 

[plumsmum2005]

You all made me cry a little. Thankyou so much.

I know its not my fault, but I feel like I've let her down. I didnt know she was in pain.

Yes the breeder wasn't a good one. I am SO MAD!!!! She is my baby girl and I wouldn't trade her for the world.

Ill be seeing the vet again on Monday and im hoping they take the collar off. Im hoping they take it off then. Shes been getting alot more cuddles from mumma. I am so upset for her. It breaks my heart.

You are doing your best for her now and you are not an AV are you? You couldn't know. If you are staying informed, giving Tequila all the love and care she could possibly need, that is the best you can be. Work on going forward, not back with the exception of the breeder - are they still around and in business if you get my drift?

Cheer up now and enjoy Tequila for all her tantrums and possible extra needs.

 

[jess.reco]

I unfortunately have no idea where this breeder is. He wasnt local but thanks again! We go back to the vet tomorrow and I hope we remove this collar.