Little disappointed....

[Shirls]

with my vet. I had to take Georgie (chicken with bumblefoot) to the vet today, so I took Harvey (budgie) along too, as he still has bumblefoot in both feet. I have been washing his feet in Cidal soap and applying the Fucidin cream (Isaderm) now for exactly two weeks with no visible signs of improvement. Vet just kept banging on about 'can't operate on budgies like you can chickens'. I'd already said that I realised this and she said 'just carry on doing what you are doing with the Isaderm'.

This is really no help at all. Harvey has had this problem now, getting worse if anything, over at least 5 weeks. Being as I spotted this early on I would have thought it would have improved if not gone away by now.

I am at my wits end really. I did telephone another vet, supposedly an avian vet and he advised I was doing all the right things. (It was mentioned that it was due to bad husbandry - to which I must admit I did take offence - but then this vet doesn't know how I look after my buds).

I will carry on now for another week then I think something really drastic will have to be done. There is an exotic vet at Maidstone which may have to be my next port of call.

Wondered if H2O (please) had any ideas as Ruby had this and her bumblefoot cleared up so quickly.

[Hezz]

Shirls, this is a very interesting rundown on bumblefoot and it possible causes and treatments. I think it is better than any of the others I remember reading before. It really does give the impression that bumblefoot can be caused by a number of things, and some of these might ring bells with you. There are a number of different thing you can try which might just turn the corner in Harvey's favour, such as reducing protein, increasing his Vit A, and also gives some good advice (I think) on treatments as well.
beautyofbirds.com/bumblefoot.html

[Marianne Marlow]

Shirls

I am sorry that this thing with Harvey is dragging on so long

[Shirls]

Thanks so much Hezz for that link. I feel now it must be something 'metabolic' with Harvey alone. The other buds are all ok. My problem now is that he WILL NOT eat any veggies and hasn't done now all the while he has had this problem so I will have to get a Vitamin A supplement, by what that article says. That will be the first step anyway. I do feel everything else I have done is correct with perches, regular veg, and hygiene etc., so it must be his digestive system. Now to research a Vitamin A supplier. Thanks again Hezz, you are such a star! (as per usual )

As far as the Georgie is concerned with her bumblefoot - she is a very large bird!!! which particularly doesn't help if she has cut her foot at some time!

[Shirls]

Have just ordered some multi-vitamins mainly made up of Vitamin A Hezz. So fingers crossed.

[Hezz]

Is Harvey a hefty bud, Shirls? I know we aren't meant to talk about weight, buuut .......

I agree with your assessment, re perches and hygiene, but I thought the other possible causes were worth following up. Does he have access to eggfood all the time? If so, it might be worth taking it out until this is over.

[Shirls]

Yes Hezz, he is quite a large bird and last time I weighed him (about two weeks ago) he weighed 40gms. He loves his egg and sweetcorn, but hasn't had this now for about 5 weeks, or any other veg. I have been giving him a few groats now and then, but as from today will stop this. Can't wait for the Vit A to arrive now.

[Marianne Marlow]

Shirls 40gms isnt actually that much.

all my birds weigh more than that. are you sure that is correct?

[Hezz]

My initial reaction as well, Marianne Marlow. Mine weigh more as well. At 60gms I would say he might be heavy.

[Shirls]

Oh dear. I shall weigh him again in a minute. I was wondering if it was a good weight, hence giving him groats occasionally. Anyway I shall check. Thanks Marianne and Hezz.

[Shirls]

Just weighed Harvey Marianne Marlow and Hezz and he is exactly 50g. Perhaps I made a mistake the other week, or perhaps he's put it on through eating groats. Does that sound okay to you guys?

[Marianne Marlow]

Thats good Shirls he's a show bird isn't he?
50 is a good weight for him.

[Hezz]

So the answer to my question would be no, he is not a hefty bird. 50gms is a good weight, Shirls

[Marianne Marlow]

I also wondered whether his weight was contributing to his foot problems.
I'm glad that it's not something that needs to be worried about!

[Marianne Marlow]

Just to give a sense of scale. Here are my buds weights fresh off the press this morning.
Billybobs has gone up a couple of grams because after I gave JoJo her meds, we put him in with her to eat millet as a comfort for her to see that she was not going o get grabbed again. He's been helping her
His weight should go back down to 54 next week hopefully.

Billybob 56
Hector 55
George 55
Roswell 53
Basil 50
Sky 47
Blithe 46
Jojo 44
Custard 42