This week’s segment features Berta the turkey!! 🦃Berta came to us with a severe infection in her foot known as bumblefoot. Bumblefoot is a bacterial infection that affects the foot pad of chickens, turkeys, ducks and other backyard fowl. Bumblefoot can occur in one foot or in both feet at the same time. This staph infection is caused by the staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which can be present on a bird’s skin and mucous membranes. Whenever there is a cut or abrasion on the skin, the bacteria can enter the wound or scrape and cause an infection to form. Bumblefoot earned its name because the staph infection causes a hard core to form in the foot pad. The hard core is like an abscess and is sometimes called a ‘bumble’ or a ‘kernel.’ Unfortunately bumblefoot is an extremely painful condition that can prevent fowl from being able to walk leaving them vulnerable to predators. Treatment for bumblefoot involves placing the bird under anesthesia and cutting open the infected portion to clean out the infected tissue. A bandage is then applied and antibiotics are given to help treat the infection. Berta was placed in a clean dry environment while in the bandage to prevent any further infection. After several bandage changes and completion of the antibiotics, Berta’s bumblefoot resolved and she was able to return to the flock. Berta’s foot is now fully healed, thanks to Dr. Emerson!! 🦃