Therapeutic Management of Pododermatitis in Falcon Medicine: Historical and Modern Perspective

Pododermatitis, also known as bumblefoot, is the inflammation of the skin of the foot. Pododermatitis is considered a gradual degenerative and inflammatory condition of the plantar surface of the foot involving most commonly the plantar metatarsal pad, but also the plantar digital pads and, more seldom, the interdigital spaces. The most commonly and widely used classification of pododermatitis in falcon medicine is the grading from 1 - 5 depending on the severity of clinical symptoms, pathological changes, and prognosis. Factors that could predispose falcons to develop pododermatitis include, inadequate all-meat diets, suboptimal or inadequate hygiene on perching surfaces, immune compromised falcons due to stress or disease, excessive weight bearing on the feet due to overweight, asymmetrical weight bearing on the feet, inactivity, unsuitable perches and perching surfaces, and sudden cessation of exercise. Members of the Falconiformes, but in particular the gyr (Falco rusticolus) falcon, and saker (Falco cherrug) falcon are more likely to develop pododermatitis. This medical condition affecting the feet of birds of prey used for falconry has been recognized and widely cited in medieval literature and several remedies and treatments were proposed. However, the pathophysiology of the disease syndrome is unchanged in the way that ischemic insult to the tissue develops into necrosis and inflammation affecting the plantar epithelium and/or deeper structures of the feet. Husbandry adjustment is the most powerful, but also most cumbersome and laborious tool in the management and prevention of pododermatitis, and often forces the angle of view away from falconry traditions.  A series of therapeutic plans are available to treat the different degrees of pododermatitis. These includes combinations of husbandry changes, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication, bandages, radiography and surgery. A recent study assessed the effects of perching surfaces and foot bandaging on central metatarsal foot pad weight loading of the peregrine falcon. (Falco peregrinus).