A Multifaceted Approach to the Treatment of Bumblefoot in Raptors

Bumblefoot is a progressive, granulomatous pedal disease primarily affecting large species of raptors maintained in captivity. Disease is usually initiated by repeated trauma to weight-bearing plantar skin surfaces causing devitalization and allowing subsequent invasion of bacterial pathogens. Treatment failure and disease recurrence have been common, because prior regimes have failed to address the granulomatous nature of the disease and the initiating cause. The author found that a 4-pronged therapeutic regime consisting of (1) systemic antibiotic therapy, (2) direct intralesional antibiotic delivery, (3) surgical debridement, and (4) postoperative protective foot casting has offered the most effective therapy for the majority of bumblefoot cases to date. The following is a step-by-step illustrated guide to achieving each phase of therapy with an accompanying explanation of the importance of each phase.