Abstract

Bumblefoot in penguins is a serious disease that, if left untreated, can lead to death. Although unproven in penguins, the cause may be analogous to that in raptors where environmental conditions and husbandry practices are central to the cause and prevention of the problem. We developed a treatment protocol for bumblefoot in penguins that involves surgical debridement, flushing, complete closure, topical wound dressings, and bandage changes every 2 to 3 days. At 10 to 14 days after surgery, the penguin is fitted with a neoprene bootie, or “iceflo,” which can be worn for 2 to 3 months to protect the surgical site and improve healing. The procedure is palliative
and unfortunatelyn ot curativei n all patients.T he key to resolving this conditionr ests in prevention, includingi mproveds ubstrate,c older ambientt emperaturei,n creasedf eeding in the water,and forced swimming of individual birds that tend to stand on land for long periods of time.