Clindamycin is commonly used to treat bumblefoot in ducks, particularly when there is a deep infection involving the footpad, tendons, or bone. However, it comes with notable side effects and risks.
Common side effects include diarrhea, sour crop (secondary yeast infection), kidney damage, and liver damage.
Birds on long-term clindamycin therapy should have kidney and liver function monitored regularly.
The drug can interact with other medications, increasing the risk of neuromuscular blockade when combined with doxycycline, gentamicin, lincomycin, or magnesium sulfate.
Erythromycin’s effectiveness is reduced when used with clindamycin.
Dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, prednisolone, and terbinafine can increase clindamycin metabolism, potentially reducing its effectiveness.
Diazepam and praziquantel can decrease clindamycin metabolism, increasing its concentration and risk of toxicity.
Always consult a veterinarian experienced in waterfowl care before starting treatment, as improper use can worsen the condition or lead to complications.
Poor baby, I don’t think it’s Bumblefoot though Answer from RemoteEven6046 on reddit.com
PoultryDVM
poultrydvm.com › drugs › clindamycin
Clindamycin for Chickens and Ducks
It is most often used to treat birds with wounds, bumblefoot, and osteomyelitis (bone infections). Caution: Birds receiving this drug are at an increased risk of secondary yeast infections (sour crop).
Metzer Farms
metzerfarms.com › bumblefoot.html
How to Treat Bumblefoot in Ducks: Antibiotics and Care Tips | Metzer Farms
However, blood flow to the feet of a duck is not great and getting adequate amounts of antibiotic to the infected spot is difficult. Different types of antibiotic have been used to cure the problem: 50-100 mg of clindamycin, doxycycline, lincomycen or doxycycline per day, or 250 mg of amoxicillin per day.
BackYard Chickens
backyardchickens.com › forums › raising backyard chickens › emergencies / diseases / injuries and cures
Antibiotics for severe bumblefoot in duck | BackYard Chickens - Learn How to Raise Chickens
April 21, 2022 - Hi everyone, I have a question about antibiotics for ducks with severe bumblefoot. Its a long, lump in my throat, story that I’ll try to condense. I took three Pekin girls to see a recommended vet about their bumblefoot- one hen had quite a mess. They cleaned her up a bit and prescribed Clindamycin and an anti-inflammatory.
BackYard Chickens
backyardchickens.com › forums › raising backyard chickens › emergencies / diseases / injuries and cures
Duck leg infection -Clindamycin | BackYard Chickens - Learn How to Raise Chickens
January 9, 2024 - Hi! I picked up a female pekin from my friends farm. He asked if I could help cure her bumblefoot and then just keep her. I got her home and looked and she had a feed bag string wrapped around her leg and it basically had become part of her body! Cutting off circulation and causing an...
PoultryDVM
poultrydvm.com › condition › bumblefoot
Bumblefoot in Chickens: Signs, Treatment & Prevention
The most commonly used antibiotics include cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, lincomycin, and clindamycin. If osteomyelitis is present, then enrofloxacin and chloramphenicol are often good choices. ... Radiographs - May be needed to verify whether the infection has spread to the bone. Culture & Sensitivity - for selection of antibiotics. ... Case 1: Footpad dermatitis in a Chickens Severe footpad dermatitis was diagnosed in a case of broiler hens housed on slats made of lumber pressure-treated with chromated copper arsenate.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/duck › bad bumble foot?
r/duck on Reddit: Bad bumble foot?
September 20, 2024 -
First two photos are from 1.5 weeks ago. Last two photos are from now. I DO NOT have access to an avian vet, this is not an option. I have been soaking in epson salt, first week every day, until a piece of the scab fell off, and I haven’t soaked it because it is raw. I have tried pulling the scab off once it was soft, but it didn’t seem like there was a plug of pus, just raw skin underneath. I put neosporin on it every other day, and use Vetericyn antimicrobial spray too. I wrap it with gauze and vet wrap to keep it clean. And he’s kept in a clean dry area. He cannot walk on it, but eats and drinks normally. Please help!
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Not bumblefoot, the crusty stuff on the bottom is just a callus, causes by all that swelling in the heel. There is no kernel underneath and the callus should not be pulled off because now there's an open wound that can let infection in. The ankle in the recent photo is extremely concerning as is the amount of swelling on the heel pad. It almost looks like there may be internal bleeding or the skin is bruising from swelling so much? I'm really concerned about how much worse the swelling appears to have gotten even with being rested and taken care of and him not being able to walk on it :( The swelling could be a joint infection or, especially considering his breed/age and what would be my guess, severe arthritis/degradation of the bones in the joint. If it's a joint infection it NEEDS antibiotics and even then, joint infections can be difficult to treat. If it's bone degradation to this level (usually caused by arthritis or infection) then unfortunately there's no cure or treatment when it's this bad and you'll need to consider humane euthanasia if he's only getting worse and unable to walk. I'm very sorry.
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Have you explored options for veterinary care? My vet isn’t an avian specialist, but consults with some in all medical disciplines (radiology, anesthesiology, etc.) when needed. I found her by calling farms that don’t even have waterfowl, companies that do petting zoo parties for children, animal rescues, the Audubon Society, even our local zoo and aquarium. If you post your general location, just state and county/parish, folks on here will find you resources.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/duck › bumblefoot treatment doublecheck, please
r/duck on Reddit: Bumblefoot treatment doublecheck, please
July 3, 2023 -
One of my ducks has bumbles on both feet; one large bumble and several smaller sores. The current treatment regimen is twice-daily warm Epsom salt soaks, VetSilver wound spray, non-pain-relief Neosporin, and clean dry Crazy K booties. I'll be calling the vet on Monday, but until then does this treatment sound effective or are these sores too far advanced and need to be cut open and cleaned out? Should I be using something stronger than the chelated silver in VetSilver? None of the other birds have bumbles.
Required info:
I noticed this duck limping and preferring to sit starting three days ago. Her energy and appetite seem normal otherwise.
She is a one-year-old Peking.
The birds, three ducks and six chickens, all eat the same layer crumble and kitchen scraps, and spend most of the day free-ranging the yard. The coop bedding is clean dry pine shaving and the run is covered in straw. They have free access to two kiddie pools of water which is changed out regularly.
Treatment is Epsom salts bath, chelated silver spray, neosporin, and protective booties.
I acknowledge that Reddit is not a substitute for veterinary advice.
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DO NOT CUT INTO IT Antibiotics from your vet are always a good course of action to help fully treat the infection and prevent it from coming back. Bumblefoot is caused by an infection in the foot that creates pus, which in ducks, forms into a solid, hard "kernel". The kernel is basically like walking with a rock in your shoe which is what creates the scab from within, but the infection is under the skin. The point of soaking is to soften the scab to provide a "path of least resistance" so the kernel will work it's way out and can be squeezed out as the scab softens and can be removed. Soaking in warm water will help soften the scab so keep doing that. Epsom salt is not proven to do anything, my vet recommends diluted chlorahexadine or betadine for soaking to help kill bacteria around the scab. The scab needs to be kept softened to help the kernel push out so applying an ointment (I like PRID but neosporin is also good) and then putting a bandage over it to hold the ointment on and keep the scab soft will make a big difference. I prefer using Tegaderm bandages, they're a clear self adhesive that works well on duck feet and is so much easier than messing with wrapping. With those Crazy K boots, I disliked the side strap being under the foot which causes uneven pressure so I removed it by carefully cutting the threading. The boots stay on fine without it. I would switch the left boot/right boot because I noticed the seem on the open side would sit right where your ducks bumble is and irritate it so put the open side of the boot on the opposite side of the bumble. After soaking, you can squeeze the bumble area like you're trying to pop a pimple. You don't want to tear off the scab because it may bleed but if it's really soft you can help it along a bit. It can take days for this to work. You can soak it more often if she'll let you which will speed up the process. A lot of people will say to cut into it but it's terribly inhumane, you risk causing internal injury cutting into important structures and you're very unlikely to keep a perfectly sterile environment which means introducing bacteria deeper into the foot and making the problem much worse. You'll want to be prepared for when the kernel does come out so have supplies on standby and keep things as sterile as possible. Wear gloves as the bacteria is caused by a Staph infection. When the kernel comes out, makes sure to squeeze the foot really well to clear out any smaller pieces that may be trapped within. Flush it out with a sterile saline solution or topical spray like Vetericyn. My vet recommends the chlorahexadine or betadine soaks on the open foot to help clear out the infection from within. Keep the foot dry and clean afterwards, apply a clean topical like Vetericyn or Neosporin, then bandage well. Tegaderm bandages are good over this but not reliable to stay on so I would also put a non stick pad and vetwrap over it, covering the entire foot (keep the foot spread in it's natural position). Use duct tape on the bottom of the foot to keep it dry/clean. The bandages should be changed twice a day and new topical applied, making sure to keep things as clean and sterile as possible. It's important the wound heals from the inside out. Luckily duck feet heal fast. Make sure during treatment she's in a small isolated area on thick, clean, DRY bedding. No swimming, no running around, no poopy muddy yard. You can provide cleaning time if the scab is still on by letting them stand in the shower, you just don't want them swimming in poopy dirty water. A mirror and a stuffed animal are good for company. Once the wound is healed over, I would keep applying the ointment and tegaderm bandages and keeping the boots on for awhile, as they're prone to recurrence once they've had one and you want to make sure things are FULLY 110% healed inside out before going back to normal. Weekly foot checks can catch small problems before they turn into big ones. With smaller little scabs, they can usually be cleared up by applying ointment and a tegaderm or booties for a few days.
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I put prid on the bumble, gauze over it and wrap with adhesive bandage after giving them a bath. Then the next day I check it. Pull off the area on the bumble, let them bathe again, clean it out the best I can and repeat the process until healed.
Ducks of Providence
ducksofprovidence.com › home › health & anatomy › bumblefoot in ducks: symptoms, causes, and treatments
Bumblefoot in Ducks: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
December 15, 2023 - In mild cases, treating bumblefoot should take no more than one to two weeks. In severe cases, it may take weeks to months. So don’t give up! It is normal for it to take longer. Bumblefoot, if left untreated, can cause severe discomfort and complications for your ducks. Here’s a detailed guide to addressing the condition effectively, with a strong emphasis on each crucial step, including the importance of proper bandaging for a successful recovery.
Duck DVM
duckdvm.com › condition › bumblefoot
Bumblefoot in Pet Ducks
Re-evaluate how flock members get ... Bumblefoot left untreated or improperly treated, can lead to osteomyelitis, which occurs when the infection spreads to the bone....
Today's Veterinary Practice
todaysveterinarypractice.com › home › management of bumblefoot in chickens
Management of Bumblefoot in Chickens | Today's Veterinary Practice
February 4, 2025 - Basic treatment for stage 1 to 2 pododermatitis would include husbandry changes, analgesics, and bandaging to decrease pain and allow for tissue healing. Antibiotics may also be selected if deeper soft tissue involvement is evident. Although pododermatitis can affect many poultry species, it manifests differently due to their unique anatomical and behavioral characteristics. Ducks are more susceptible because their wet living conditions favor pathogen buildup, making them more prone to infection when the epidermis is damaged.
WING & WOOL
wingandwool.com › blog › how-to-treat-bumblefoot
How I Cure Bumblefoot and Other Infections (When All Else Fails) — WING & WOOL
August 18, 2021 - However, if you had previously been trying to avoid their use (for any number of understandable reasons), now’s the time to incorporate them into the treatment plan. If your birds are more pets than food producers, you can actually pretty effectively treat bumblefoot solely by administering antibiotics, and avoiding the soaks and surgery all together.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/duck › bumblefoot treatment recommended by vet not working
r/duck on Reddit: Bumblefoot Treatment Recommended by Vet Not Working
November 4, 2023 -
Hi All,
My Peking has bumblefoot. It is a pretty large, hard bump. I took him to the vet thinking it was beyond my help. She prescribed amoxicillin and daily soaks in tricide neo. She said she was not opening it up since feet are so vascular and they walk in poo all the time. I get that. She also did try to aspirate it with a needle and nothing came out. However, I am day 5 into treatment and I am not noticing any improvement. The oral anti-biotic is for 10-14 days so we are sticking it out. However, just about everything I read says that it is not going to heal without it being opened up. Has anyone ever had a bad case of bumblefoot healed without opening it up? If it is not gone by day 14, not sure what we are going to do be able to do.
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Bumblefoot unfortunately can take a long time to treat. The foot has a scab, correct? In bumblefoot, infection within the foot creates puss which forms into a hard "kernel". It's basically like walking on a rock, which is what causes the scab present in most bumblefoot. Generally speaking yes, the kernel needs to come out or the problem will continue. The foot should be soaked in warm water as much as possible (if you're doing the tricide neo once a day, make sure you're doing at least one other soak a day every 12 hours in either plain water or a disinfectant solution like diluted chlorhexidine), and a salve/bandage applied to the scab, which will both help soften it and provide a path of least resistance so the kernel can work it's way out. I like PRID ointment for this, non pain relief Neosporin is also good. Get some Tegaderm bandages (2.5" size, 100 pack on Amazon is way more cost effective but can be found at any store). She needs to be kept in a separate small area with thick, clean, dry bedding, running around or getting it dirty will make it worse. No swimming (you don't want the foot soaked in dirty water) but as long as it's still scabbed over you can put her in the shower and let the water run over her to clean up. Depending on its location, wearing a foam pad with a hole cut out over the scab can provide pain relief and help encourage the kernel to move out. As the scab softens, after soaking you can gently squeeze to see if the kernel will move out and eventually it SHOULD come out. Cutting the kernel out is NOT advised because it is incredibly painful, you risk damaging the internal structures of the foot and you risk introducing bacteria. It's a terrible thing to do and should only be used as an emergency last resort. Make sure to use gloves when dealing with the bumble as this is staph infection. It's extremely important once the scab comes off that you keep the open wound sterile so have your supplies within reach. Squeeze the area good as there may be more than one kernel. Immediately flush the inside with Vetericyn original spray, pack the hole with cotton, apply pressure to stop any bleeding and bandage it up (Tegaderm followed by Nonstick gauze pad, then vetwrap, then duct tape on the the bottom to keep it dry and clean). It may bleed a lot but duck feet do so don't panic. Leave her in a clean small area and let the wound coagulate. The initial bandage should be left on for 12-24 hours depending on how much it's bleeding and how deep the hole is. You want it to coagulate and not risk introducing bacteria. You'll need to do bandage changes and reapply a topical treatment like the Vetericyn but you won't pack it in cotton again unless it's still bleeding. You want to make sure the wound is healing from the inside out and gently remove any scabbing that may form over the top of the inside isn't healed yet. Continue keeping her rested, clean and quiet. Make sure the wound is FULLY 150% healed before she starts going back outside and swimming as these are prone to reoccurrence. You may want to get some neoprene duck boots that she can wear for awhile to keep the area protected. Checking all their feet weekly will help catch small issues and prevent them from turning into full blown bumblefoot.
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One of my ducks had bumble foot that I treated at home. I used Vetericyn plus poultry antibacterial spray and Prid drawing salve. Sprayed the foot, applied Prid to sore, then wrapped foot with self sticking bandage. I made the bandage into a little duck shoe of sorts and that alone helped immediately as it provided some padding between the sore and the ground. I don't remember how long it took to improve, but it was at least a week if not 2. When I finallu pulled the scab off, it was completely healed underneath.
JustAnswer
justanswer.com › bird-vet › hx4dk-pekin-duck-large-bumblefoot-given.html
Expert Answers on Treating Bumblefoot in Ducks | JustAnswer
One of my favorite low-impact treatments is to let the bird stand in a kennel with a towel soaked in dilute betadine or chlorhexidine for about 20-30 minutes daily for milder degrees of bumblefoot. At this stage, disc bandages will be likely needed with a Vet office. ... We have an American Pekin duck.
Tyrant Farms
tyrantfarms.com › home › how to treat bumblefoot in ducks – safely, effectively, and humanely (with video!)
How to treat bumblefoot in ducks - safely, effectively, and humanely (with video!) - Tyrant Farms
July 1, 2025 - If you only have one duck shoe, wash it and dry it as best you can before re-applying. iv. Repeat process daily until signs of bumblefoot disappear. This usually takes 2-4 weeks, depending on the severity of the infection. Side risk: If you’re having a lot of rain, there is a risk that your duck’s flipper/leg can get too wet, potentially causing a whole different set of medical problems/injury.
ResearchGate
researchgate.net › publication › 362909440_Management_of_Bumble_Foot_in_Duck
(PDF) Management of Bumble Foot in Duck
October 10, 2019 - This model will be modified and trained to detect the occurrence of broilers with bumblefoot in the future. ... ... Similar findings were noticed in an earlier study conducted in Denmark (Bisgaard, 1981), where Salmonella, E. coli and S. aureus were recovered from ducks with arthritis.
New Life On A Homestead
newlifeonahomestead.com › bumblefoot in chickens and ducks – here’s how to treat it
Bumblefoot in Chickens and Ducks - Here's How to Treat It
June 23, 2022 - The most commonly used antibiotics for bumblefoot include sulfa drugs, tetracyclines, and penicillin. Drugs like amoxicillin, doxycycline, clindamycin, lincomycin, or others can be used orally.
DuckDVM
duckdvm.com › cases › daffy
Daffy's Struggle with Bumblefoot | DuckDVM
The results of the test indicated that unfortunately, the bacteria in Daffy’s bumblefoot lesion was discovered to be a high resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus. Which was why the bumblefoot returned after the earlier treatment---as they administered antibiotics that did not have any effect on this particular strain of bacteria.
BackYard Chickens
backyardchickens.com › forums › raising backyard chickens › emergencies / diseases / injuries and cures
Duck Bumblefoot Up Into Leg | BackYard Chickens - Learn How to Raise Chickens
March 9, 2022 - Our duck's foot also had a spot like that where it looked like pus was working it's way to the surface--eventually it burst. Once it opened up, I put decolorized iodine on it a few times, then left it alone. Metzer Farms recommends these antibiotics: "Different types of antibiotic have been used to cure the problem: one pill (22.7mg) per day of Baytril, 50-100 mg of clindamycin, doxycycline, lincomycen or doxycycline per day, or 250 mg of amoxicillin per day.
JustAnswer
justanswer.com › bird-vet › spbgn-bumblefoot-worsening-need-antibiotics-mixed-easter.html
Bumblefoot in Hens: Expert Q&A on Antibiotics & Care
Always shake well before dosing, and give slowly into the side of the beak. ... Avoid giving with kaolin-based antidiarrheals (they reduce absorption). Keep soaking, debriding, and bandaging—antibiotics alone won’t resolve bumblefoot if there’s a deep core. If swelling is spreading up the leg, it’s a sign the infection may be going systemic, so switching to a stronger first-choice drug ASAP is important. If you tell me the exact concentration listed on her liquid clindamycin bottle, I can calculate precisely in mL what she should get.
JustAnswer
justanswer.com › pet-bird › dahcp-ducks-bumblefoot-i-ve-treating.html
Expert Advice on Treating Bumblefoot in Ducks with Tricide Neo and Other Methods
Bumblefoot is a bacterial infection causing swelling, scabs, and lameness in ducks. Symptoms include redness, scabbing, and discomfort. Treatment involves daily soaks in antiseptic solutions like Tricide Neo or Epsom salts to soften scabs, followed by topical antibiotic gels and protective bandaging.