Pododermatitis is a progressive and chronic pathology that affects the plantar area of the feet of birds. Initially, it begins as an inflammation of the skin tissue, but as the process progresses, deeper structures (such as joints, tendons, and bones) can be affected. It is a process of multifactorial etiology that is generally associated with incorrect handling of birds. Therefore, the prevention of this pathology focuses on maintaining good environmental conditions and adequate nutrition.
If you want to know more about the causes of pododermatitis in birds, its symptoms and treatment don't hesitate to read the following article from our site where we talk about the causes, symptoms and treatment of this pathology.
What is pododermatitis in birds?
Pododermatitis is a progressive and chronic pathology that affects the plantar area of the feet of birds As a consequence of a series of predisposing factors, a lesion originates at the plantar level that becomes infected and progressively affects deeper tissues.
It is a typical process of animals bred in captivity, and can occur in very diverse species, such as poultry (chickens, turkeys), birds of prey, psittacines (especially Amazons, parakeets and cockatoos), canaries and finches.
Discover more about Birds of prey or birds of prey: types, characteristics, names and examples or the Types of canaries and their names in these two other posts that we suggest.
Classification of pododermatitis in birds
Pododermatitis in birds can be classified into 5 degrees depending on the severity of the lesions:
- Grade I: there is a weakening of the plantar area, but the epithelial barrier remains intact, so there is no associated infection.
- Grade II: characterized by inflammation accompanied by a localized infection, which affects superficial structures of the plantar pad that are in contact with the weakened area.
- Grade III: Inflammation and infection spread and are accompanied by swelling.
- Grade IV: the infection affects deeper vital structures, and can cause tendinitis, synovitis and/or osteomyelitis.
- Grade V: is the progression of grade IV. It is characterized by the presence of foot deformities.
Causes of pododermatitis in birds
Pododermatitis has a multifactorial aetiology. It is a pathology that appears as consequence of a combination of predisposing factors which have a common denominator: the incorrect management of birds (from their nutrition to the environmental and hygienic conditions).
The most relevant factors that can trigger the appearance of plantar pododermatitis are:
- Inadequate nutrition: vitamin deficiencies, especially vitamin A and E, correlate with a greater predisposition to the appearance of pododermatitis.
- Overweight: Obesity leads to an overload of weight at the plantar level, which can cause greater wear in the area and less contribution of the area due to the pressure suffered by the blood capillaries.
- Lack of exercise: the restriction of physical exercise in birds means that they spend too much time perched on the perches, which favors the erosion of the plantar epithelium and reduced blood supply to the area.
- Poor claw care: Extremely long claws prevent the bird from perching in a natural position, which encourages erosion of the plantar epithelium in the areas of greatest support. In this article on our site you can consult the Types of bird legs.
- Inadequate sticks, perches and perches: a poor design of these elements causes continued incorrect support of the bird and prevents the weight from being spread evenly over the entire plantar surface. This means that there are areas that support more weight and are more prone to trauma and injury. The type of material with which the hangers are made can also predispose the appearance of pododermatitis.
- Humidity: is an important factor in poultry. The accumulation of droppings in a poorly absorbent substrate means that the foot pads are always wet and, therefore, are more susceptible to erosion and infection.
- Lack of hygiene in the environment: when there is a lack of hygiene in the environment surrounding the animal (cages, perches, perches, etc.), any lesion at the plantar level can be colonized by bacteria.
These predisposing factors cause decreased blood perfusion in the plantar area and the appearance of an initial injury at the plantar level. The eroded plantar epithelium is not capable of acting as a protective barrier, which allows the entry of pathogenic bacteria through the skin (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas, etc.) and the appearance of an associated infection. Although it is not a communicable disease, it is common for animals that live in the same cage and are subjected to the same environment to suffer from this pathology simultaneously.
As we have mentioned, the bacterium Escherichia coli can cause avian colibacillosis, an infectious disease. For more information on avian colibacillosis, its symptoms, diagnosis and treatment in this post.
Symptoms of pododermatitis in birds
As a general rule, pododermatitis usually affects both feet. The clinical signs that we can see associated with this pathology depend on its degree of evolution:
- Grade I: hyperemia can be observed at the plantar level, erythema (redness), hyperkeratosis (formation of a callus), worn epithelium or an area of early ischemia (pale appearance of the skin).
- Grade II: characterized by the presence of blisters, ulcers or focal wounds with or without crust and areas of ischemic necrosis of the epithelium.
- Grade III: Edema, necrotic flanges appear in the ulcers, and inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue adjacent to the ulcers.
- Grade IV and V: deeper tissues are affected, tendinitis, synovitis and/or osteomyelitis being observed. Ankylosis, septicemia and foot deformities can occur as complications of the process.
Diagnosis of pododermatitis in birds
To address the diagnosis of pododermatitis, the following points must be taken into account:
- Clinical history and anamnesis: information must be collected on the appearance and evolution of the lesions. In addition, errors in handling that may have caused the pathology must be identified.
- Complete examination of the bird: Both extremities should be examined, since lesions generally appear bilaterally (on both feet). In addition, special attention should be paid to weight and body condition, as they may be predisposing factors for this disease.
- Lesion cytology: the presence of bacteria, fungi and inflammatory cells can be observed.
- Microbiological culture and antibiogram: these will be necessary in case of infection to be able to identify the causal agent and establish specific antibiotic therapy.
- X-ray of extremities: In case of deep injuries, it is important to take X-rays to assess if the underlying bone has been affected (osteomyelitis).
Pododermatitis treatment in birds
As we have explained, pododermatitis is a progressive and chronic pathology. As time passes, the lesion extends into deeper tissues, which worsens the prognosis of the disease. For this reason, it is important that once diagnosed, treatment is instituted immediately in order to prevent the process from becoming chronic.
The treatment of pododermatitis in birds depends on the severity and degree of evolution In mild cases, pharmacological treatment will suffice, while in severe cases it will be necessary to combine pharmacological and surgical treatment. In general terms, the most important points in the treatment of pododermatitis are the following:
- Correcting operating errors: The first step in dealing with disease is to determine its cause and eliminate it. For this, it is necessary to identify the errors in the management of the bird, whether they are nutritional, environmental or hygienic, and modify them by good management practices.
- Pharmacological treatment: In the initial phases in which the epidermis is thickened and hardened, emollient ointments are often used to moisturize the skin and facilitate the absorption of other drugs. In addition, it is advisable to use antiseptics such as chlorhexidine to prevent bacteria from colonizing the lesion. In case of infection (that is, from grade II) it will be necessary to establish antibiotic therapy In the initial phases of the infection it will suffice to administer topical antibiotics, while in more advanced stages they must be administered systemically. The choice of antimicrobial should be based on the sensitivity observed in the antibiogram.
- Surgical treatment: in advanced stages, surgical cleaning, debride the wound and revive the edges to promote healing. When there is deep tissue involvement (tendinitis, synovitis or osteomyelitis) amputation of the affected limb may be necessary.
Both pharmacological and surgical treatment should be complemented with padded bandages to soften the support so as to reduce the pressure exerted on the the wound. In addition, as an additional treatment laser therapy (low-power laser) can be used, which enhances regeneration, stimulates fibrinolysis and microcirculation, thus favoring the resolution of the process.
Prevention of pododermatitis in birds
The prevention of pododermatitis in birds is fundamentally based on the correct management of:
- Food: must be suitable for the species of bird in question, both in quality and quantity. Vitamin intake (especially vitamin A and E) should be taken care of and the percentage of fat should be reduced to avoid being overweight.
- Daily physical exercise: The ideal is for birds to have facilities or aviaries that allow them to fly and exercise continuously. When this is not possible, it is important that they are offered the opportunity to leave their cage on a daily basis so that they can fly freely. This will help reduce the risk of obesity and prevent birds from spending excessively long periods of time on perches or perches.
- Routine check of the nails and the plantar area of the feet: the correct care and trimming of the nails, as well as the Routine examination of the plantar area of the feet will help detect lesions in early stages, which will improve the prognosis of the disease.
- Proper sticks, perches and perches: Completely smooth and regular perches should be avoided, as they force birds to always support the same area of the plantar surface. It is advisable to use irregular branches, with different diameters, textures and shapes, which imitate natural branches. It is also interesting that they present some mobility, since this allows the fulcrum to fluctuate and favors blood perfusion in the area.
- Avoid humidity: In the case of poultry, it is important to use an absorbent substrate that keeps the floor always dry. Poles and perches should also always be kept dry.
- Cleaning the environment: it is important to maintain a high level of hygiene in the cages, perches, sticks and perches of the birds. The materials must allow proper cleaning and disinfection to avoid the appearance of infectious foci. The substrate used in poultry must be replaced frequently to maintain it with an adequate level of hygiene.
