Pododermatitis, or bumblefoot, is a relatively common condition
of older pet birds. It is a general term for any inflammatory or
degenerative condition of the avian foot and can range from mild redness
to bony changes. Bumblefoot develops most commonly when birds are
either housed with inappropriate perching or secondarily to an injury in
one leg, which causes the bird to shift its weight to the other (good)
leg and creates increased pressure and potential ulceration on the
plantar surface of the foot. Birds most at risk are birds with leg
fractures; arthritis of a hip, stifle, or tarsal joint; and obese birds
or birds on a poor diet (eg, vitamin A deficiency). These are the same
conditions that can predispose a bird to arthritis. Bumblefoot is often a
sequela of osteoarthritis. Pododermatitis is a progressive disease. A
localized hyperemic lesion develops, followed by ulceration and, if
untreated, abscess formation and osteomyelitis. Initially, the skin on
the metatarsal and digital pads becomes flattened and smooth. The skin
may become proliferative and then ulcerate, allowing bacterial access,
which leads to inflammation and infection. As the infection progresses,
tendon sheaths become affected, and osteomyelitis and septic arthritis
develop.
Birds may present with lameness, depression, and anorexia due to
the inflammation, pain, and infection. Diagnosis is based on clinical
signs, physical examination findings, radiographs, and culture results.
Affected birds should be examined thoroughly for predisposing injuries
or illness.
Treatment includes correcting inappropriate husbandry (adding
padded perches or perches covered with artificial grass) and conversion
to a healthier, preferably formulated diet. Weight loss and exercise
should be encouraged in obese birds (flying, climbing, or walking). In
early cases, this may be all that is necessary.
As the disease progresses, a bandage may be necessary to relieve
the pressure on the lesion. The lesions should be kept clean. Strict
sanitation of the perches and feet is important to prevent bacterial
infections. If a scab is present, it should be softened and removed or
surgically debrided. Antibiotic use should be based on results of
culture and sensitivity testing. Staphylococcus spp is most commonly identified; other reported bacteria include Escherichia coli and Proteus spp. Effective antibiotics are amoxicillin/clavulanate
(125 mg/kg, PO, tid), enrofloxacin (10–15 mg/kg, PO, bid), and
marbofloxacin (5 mg/kg/day) for 10–14 days. Pain management is important
and includes a combination of NSAIDs and/or opioids, depending on the
severity of disease and after any surgical debridement. One regimen is meloxicam (0.5–1 mg/kg, once to twice daily) along with tramadol (15–30 mg/kg, PO, bid-tid), and, in severe cases or after surgery, butorphanol (0.5–3 mg/kg, IM, every 4 hr, depending on species). Local anesthetics may be helpful after surgery.
source : http://www.msdvetmanual.com/
What are
Pododermatitis?
Pododermatitis can include a number of changes to the avian foot such as
lesions, redness, ulcerations, and abscesses. This condition is fairly
common among older birds.
This condition, also known as “bumblefoot”, is pretty common among older
birds and can range from mild redness (a sign of inflammation) to more
serious bony changes in the foot of the avian. Pododermatitis is found
predominantly in birds of prey, waterfowl and other marine birds which
are in captivity or some sort of rehabilitative care. This condition is
frequently found in birds of the Psittacine family as well as
heavy-bodied birds like the Amazon and Hyacinth macaws.
Symptoms of Pododermatitis in Birds
Pododermatitis is also sometimes called “plantar pododermatitis” as it
describes the location of the injury to the foot of the avian. Some of
the symptoms you will most likely see if this condition exists in your
bird:
Lameness
Swelling and redness
Heat
Reluctance to walk
Hard, pus-filled abscess located on the pad of the foot - will
likely be coated with a black scab
Calluses on the bottom of the foot
Ulcerations (raw wounds) which may bleed and be open to infections
Depression
Pain
Anorexia secondary to inflammation
These symptoms can also sometimes be seen on the toes and hocks as well
as the pads of the feet.
Types
There are four basic types of pododermatitis in birds:
Type 1 - Serious chronic infection with disseminated cellulitis
(inflammation of connective tissue) in the metatarsal pads of one or
more digits (pads near the toes)
Type 2 - Similar to type 1 but presents as a lesion on or near the
digital or metatarsal pads
Type 3 - Presents an independent lesion with thickened skin,
localized swelling and redness
Type 4 - Characterized by significant swelling or enlargement of the
distal (furthest point from where toe attaches to foot) digital (toes)
pads resulting from a tendon rupture
Causes of Pododermatitis in Birds
There are multiple causes of pododermatitis or bumblefoot. Below is a
list of some which have been linked to development of the condition:
Occurs when birds are housed with inappropriate perching - this is
the most common cause
Injury to one leg which causes the bird to shift weight to uninjured
leg, creating increased pressure with resulting ulceration to the
“good” foot
Ulceration creates opportunity for the ever-present bacteria, which
normally lives in the common avian habitat, to get into the tissues to
cause infection
Inappropriate substrate or bedding
Self-inflicted talon wounds, bite wounds, other wounds from fighting
Obesity
Sedentary lifestyle
Poor environmental hygiene
Nutritional deficiencies
Any combination of these factors can put your bird at risk for systemic
infections which can lead to tissue and ultimately bone damage.
Diagnosis of Pododermatitis in Birds
Diagnosis is going to be based on the combination of description of your
history of the malady to your veterinary professional, his findings
from a physical examination and laboratory culture reports from blood
and tissue samples he will likely deem appropriate. During his physical
examination of your bird, he will be looking for calluses or nodules of
hyperplastic epidermis (abnormal skin tissue) along the plantar surface
of the feet of your bird.
These are the earliest signs of the condition and are frequently not
noticed until the condition worsens, progressing to ulceration,
infection and ultimately leading to deeper infections in surrounding
tissues which includes tendons and bones. Additionally, he will likely
require radiographic (x-ray) imaging to add to his findings from the
above mentioned diagnostic components. As he collects all of this
information, your veterinary professional will be examining and
assessing your bird for any illnesses or injuries to which the bird may
have been predisposed.
Treatment of Pododermatitis in Birds
Based on the findings by your veterinary professional, he will likely
recommend:
Treatment of pododermatitis in your bird(s) which generally consists
of correcting any of the perching issues, bedding issues and adjustment
of nutrition as needed
Fixing potential husbandry issues as well as cleaning and
disinfecting your bird’s enclosure will eliminate injuries and stresses
associated with those things
Frequently, a bird’s diet is found to be lacking sufficient vitamin A
and, if this is the case with your bird, recommendations will be made
to supplement the diet to increase that vitamin
Next, if bacterial type infections have been identified, he will
need to address those, whether localized in the wound area or systemic,
having spread through the body; cephalexin antibiotics have been used
successfully in these cases
For some birds, especially in the early stage cases, losing weight
and increasing their exercise may be all that is required to remedy the
problem
Any wounds or ulcerations that are present will be treated and
dressed according to their need to encourage healing
Surgical treatments, natural healing products, therapeutic laser and
even acupuncture may also be recommended, depending on the extent to
which the pododermatitis has progressed
Recovery of Pododermatitis in Birds
It is important to note that many cases of pododermatitis in birds are
mild and, when appropriate treatment is provided in a timely manner, the
condition will resolve. However, it is also very important to note
that, in some cases, the disease doesn’t respond to any of the treatment
modalities and the afflicted bird will not flourish. The rate of
morbidity is about 50 percent for those birds whose wounds are
considered advanced as the opportunity for infection is significantly
greater. The prognosis for healing and resolving the condition is
better when the lesion is soft and pliable than when the lesion becomes
hard as a rock.
After the appropriate treatment is recommended and initiated, it may be
necessary, especially in the case of open wounds or ulcerations, that
you may be required to administer supportive care at home while the
healing takes place. You should expect to separate the treated bird and
allow it a rest in deep bedding, with recommended dressing changes and
nutritional changes. Be prepared for the healing process to take weeks
or months of care and close monitoring.
In terms of prevention, closely monitor the body of your pet bird with
attention paid to any areas of injury, pay particular attention to
perching issues especially as they apply to materials used and the
height of the perch, environmental hygiene issues involving manual
litter removal and keeping the coop clean, providing deep bedding for
your avian pets.
Read more at:
https://www.vetary.com/bird/condition/pododermatitis
What are
Pododermatitis?
Pododermatitis can include a number of changes to the avian foot such as
lesions, redness, ulcerations, and abscesses. This condition is fairly
common among older birds.
This condition, also known as “bumblefoot”, is pretty common among older
birds and can range from mild redness (a sign of inflammation) to more
serious bony changes in the foot of the avian. Pododermatitis is found
predominantly in birds of prey, waterfowl and other marine birds which
are in captivity or some sort of rehabilitative care. This condition is
frequently found in birds of the Psittacine family as well as
heavy-bodied birds like the Amazon and Hyacinth macaws.
Symptoms of Pododermatitis in Birds
Pododermatitis is also sometimes called “plantar pododermatitis” as it
describes the location of the injury to the foot of the avian. Some of
the symptoms you will most likely see if this condition exists in your
bird:
Lameness
Swelling and redness
Heat
Reluctance to walk
Hard, pus-filled abscess located on the pad of the foot - will
likely be coated with a black scab
Calluses on the bottom of the foot
Ulcerations (raw wounds) which may bleed and be open to infections
Depression
Pain
Anorexia secondary to inflammation
These symptoms can also sometimes be seen on the toes and hocks as well
as the pads of the feet.
Types
There are four basic types of pododermatitis in birds:
Type 1 - Serious chronic infection with disseminated cellulitis
(inflammation of connective tissue) in the metatarsal pads of one or
more digits (pads near the toes)
Type 2 - Similar to type 1 but presents as a lesion on or near the
digital or metatarsal pads
Type 3 - Presents an independent lesion with thickened skin,
localized swelling and redness
Type 4 - Characterized by significant swelling or enlargement of the
distal (furthest point from where toe attaches to foot) digital (toes)
pads resulting from a tendon rupture
Causes of Pododermatitis in Birds
There are multiple causes of pododermatitis or bumblefoot. Below is a
list of some which have been linked to development of the condition:
Occurs when birds are housed with inappropriate perching - this is
the most common cause
Injury to one leg which causes the bird to shift weight to uninjured
leg, creating increased pressure with resulting ulceration to the
“good” foot
Ulceration creates opportunity for the ever-present bacteria, which
normally lives in the common avian habitat, to get into the tissues to
cause infection
Inappropriate substrate or bedding
Self-inflicted talon wounds, bite wounds, other wounds from fighting
Obesity
Sedentary lifestyle
Poor environmental hygiene
Nutritional deficiencies
Any combination of these factors can put your bird at risk for systemic
infections which can lead to tissue and ultimately bone damage.
Diagnosis of Pododermatitis in Birds
Diagnosis is going to be based on the combination of description of your
history of the malady to your veterinary professional, his findings
from a physical examination and laboratory culture reports from blood
and tissue samples he will likely deem appropriate. During his physical
examination of your bird, he will be looking for calluses or nodules of
hyperplastic epidermis (abnormal skin tissue) along the plantar surface
of the feet of your bird.
These are the earliest signs of the condition and are frequently not
noticed until the condition worsens, progressing to ulceration,
infection and ultimately leading to deeper infections in surrounding
tissues which includes tendons and bones. Additionally, he will likely
require radiographic (x-ray) imaging to add to his findings from the
above mentioned diagnostic components. As he collects all of this
information, your veterinary professional will be examining and
assessing your bird for any illnesses or injuries to which the bird may
have been predisposed.
Treatment of Pododermatitis in Birds
Based on the findings by your veterinary professional, he will likely
recommend:
Treatment of pododermatitis in your bird(s) which generally consists
of correcting any of the perching issues, bedding issues and adjustment
of nutrition as needed
Fixing potential husbandry issues as well as cleaning and
disinfecting your bird’s enclosure will eliminate injuries and stresses
associated with those things
Frequently, a bird’s diet is found to be lacking sufficient vitamin A
and, if this is the case with your bird, recommendations will be made
to supplement the diet to increase that vitamin
Next, if bacterial type infections have been identified, he will
need to address those, whether localized in the wound area or systemic,
having spread through the body; cephalexin antibiotics have been used
successfully in these cases
For some birds, especially in the early stage cases, losing weight
and increasing their exercise may be all that is required to remedy the
problem
Any wounds or ulcerations that are present will be treated and
dressed according to their need to encourage healing
Surgical treatments, natural healing products, therapeutic laser and
even acupuncture may also be recommended, depending on the extent to
which the pododermatitis has progressed
Recovery of Pododermatitis in Birds
It is important to note that many cases of pododermatitis in birds are
mild and, when appropriate treatment is provided in a timely manner, the
condition will resolve. However, it is also very important to note
that, in some cases, the disease doesn’t respond to any of the treatment
modalities and the afflicted bird will not flourish. The rate of
morbidity is about 50 percent for those birds whose wounds are
considered advanced as the opportunity for infection is significantly
greater. The prognosis for healing and resolving the condition is
better when the lesion is soft and pliable than when the lesion becomes
hard as a rock.
After the appropriate treatment is recommended and initiated, it may be
necessary, especially in the case of open wounds or ulcerations, that
you may be required to administer supportive care at home while the
healing takes place. You should expect to separate the treated bird and
allow it a rest in deep bedding, with recommended dressing changes and
nutritional changes. Be prepared for the healing process to take weeks
or months of care and close monitoring.
In terms of prevention, closely monitor the body of your pet bird with
attention paid to any areas of injury, pay particular attention to
perching issues especially as they apply to materials used and the
height of the perch, environmental hygiene issues involving manual
litter removal and keeping the coop clean, providing deep bedding for
your avian pets.
Read more at:
https://www.vetary.com/bird/condition/pododermatitis
