Silicone Shoes for the Treatment of Foot Pad Dermatitis (Bumblefoot) in Pet Chickens-A Retrospective Case Series

Simple Summary Pet chickens are regularly seeking advanced veterinary care for various clinical concerns. One regular condition is foot pad dermatitis, commonly known as bumblefoot, a painful disease often caused by poor living environments and being overweight. Traditional treatments, like bandages, can be hard to use on outdoor chickens because they become dirty and wet. This study aimed to find a new solution: custom-fit silicone shoes made from 3D-printed molds. Using computed tomography scans, we optimized the shape of silicone shoes that could fit and protect chicken feet quite well. Over three years, these shoes were used on 16 clinical cases of chickens who presented with foot pad dermatitis (FPD). Unlike bandages, these shoes allowed the chickens to stay outside and made it easier to treat their foot lesions without needing daily changes. Most chickens wore the shoes for about 14 days, and owners reported positive experiences. The shoes provided better ventilation, could be re-used, and consistently relieved pressure on the chickens' feet. Despite some issues, like secondary pressure marks and managing feather regrowth, the silicone shoes were a significant improvement over traditional bandages. In conclusion, silicone shoes are a promising way to help backyard chickens with foot pad dermatitis heal faster and are more comfortable, making their care much easier.Abstract Backyard chickens often suffer from foot pad dermatitis (FPD), a condition exacerbated by poor husbandry, nutritional deficiencies, and obesity. Pressure-relieving bandages, commonly used in the treatment of FPD, are impractical for outdoor chickens as they quickly become wet and dirty, necessitating daily changes that are often unfeasible. This retrospective study explores the use of custom-fit silicone shoes created via 3D-printed molds as an alternative to traditional bandages. CT scans were used to design shoes adapted from a design used for birds of prey. Over three years, 16 chickens with varying degrees of FPD were treated. The results demonstrated that silicone shoes were an effective treatment for FPD, allowing outdoor activity and facilitating daily lesion care without frequent bandage changes. The median shoe-wearing period was 14 days, and most owners provided positive feedback. Despite some attachment issues, the occurrence of secondary pressure marks, and feather regrowth challenges, the silicone shoes offered better ventilation, reusability, and consistent pressure relief compared to traditional bandages. This study concludes that silicone shoes are a viable solution for managing FPD in backyard chickens, promoting faster healing and improving owner compliance.