Warning- Graphic description below.
A severe unrelenting case of bumblefoot is what caused us to have Neptune PTS. His case started as a small ulcer which we treated with antibiotics, but despite changing bedding/increasing bedding changes and treatment, it waxed and waned until the ulcer could literally not heal. I have no pics- I was way too upset at the time to think of future reference. It was truly awful- the ulceration infected the muscle, which expanded and eventually the wound (which at that point was exposed muscle) had actually calloused, but was constanly oozing. The ulcer swelled his foot to ten times its own size
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It was heart-wrenching to watch- I never even thought of this as a possibility, but I should have just asked the vet to take the leg. It was killing him. At the ripe old age of 3.5 years, one day he was just in so much pain, I couldn't stand it. The next morning I drove to the e-vet and had him pts. It is very hard for me to talk about, even now. Keep in mind that this is an extreme case. I feel guilty that he even had it, but the vet said that I was doing everything right...
Basically a "typical" case looks like a red, slightly swollen ulcer. Sort of like what a blister would look like from wearing new shoes. Cleanliness is the biggest asset in treating this condition. Some, like Neptune just can't fight the infection off and it gets worse and worse. From what I've read, it is connsidered a "nuisance illness" caused by lazy owners who can't clean a cage, but I guess my story serves to show that bumblefoot can kill.
Again, it is really hard for me to talk about how we lost our Neptune, but anything to educate those not familiar with this affliction can save one life.
