We recently mentioned that it looks as if Lady’s front left foot was beginning to experience a blowout – which is when an internal abscess comes through the surface of the skin.
Once we saw the symptoms begin, we changed her treatment regimen to focus on this issue instead of her general foot issues. It seems to be working – the area looks to be drying out, and it isn’t apparent that it’s causing her significant pain. She is continuing to move around quickly and comfortably and not favoring that foot in any way. We wouldn’t consider it remotely healed, but we are pleased about what it is doing at this point. We see good signs that things are moving in the right direction.
Blowouts will likely be a cyclical issue for her, but we are tracking what works this time, with the hope these methods may also work in the future.
Photo of a very wet Lady.
Comments(19) 
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Barb says
June 3, 2020 at 4:19 pmMy ignorance here but is this a systemic infection that cannot be treated successfully with antibiotics? Eventually/periodically then it “drains”?
Kat Blais says
June 3, 2020 at 7:01 pmHi Barb, no, unfortunately foot infections don’t respond well to oral or injectable antibiotics. Many single antibiotics and different combinations have been tried, often with only negative results because they are very hard on an elephant’s GI system. The abscesses also aren’t filled with fluid, it is a different type of tissue, so they don’t actively drain, although there are always exceptions. Pelusa’s feet did drain at one point, when the swollen cavity was cut into (by the zoo, she was not at the sanctuary.) The rupture does allow the medication to be delivered more directly and does seem to relieve some degree of pressure.
Barb says
June 3, 2020 at 7:23 pmThank you Kat for your thorough explanation of the circumstances of foot abscesses. It is heartbreaking to think of Lady having to experience such an ordeal but thank goodness she has you and Scott to love and and care for her. The environment/surfaces at ESB must help ease some of her discomfort.
Alana says
June 3, 2020 at 4:27 pmMost Excellent news!
Linda Lalonde says
June 3, 2020 at 4:38 pmShe has such a gorgeous eye.
Bertica Valdes Suarez says
June 3, 2020 at 4:45 pmThank you for the care and the documentation you keep on her foot health. Thank you!
Gramma Tammy says
June 3, 2020 at 4:49 pmGreat news! I bet having her at the sanctuary helps heal her in so many ways too emotionally and physically. We know being under constant stress isn’t good at all for the health of animals or humans so it’s a win win, yippee!
Rachel says
June 3, 2020 at 4:51 pmSooo happy to hear! ?❤️
Sheila says
June 3, 2020 at 5:08 pmOh sweet lil❤️?❤️ lady! Has such horrific feet I pray all the poison comes out of her feet and the healing takes over very well! Thank u for caring for her feet! Feeding her supplements etc I pray she gets antibiotics to heal this infection as im sure she never ever had any all these years her feet were horrifically deteriorating in the zoo or circus‼️
Sherry says
June 3, 2020 at 5:10 pmLady’s foot is healing, YAY!!!!! Thank you sanctuary for doing such an excellent job!!!!??❤️
Gillian Gandy says
June 3, 2020 at 6:04 pmThank you for all the special care you give to Lady she is so beautiful
Dorcey Berndt says
June 3, 2020 at 6:14 pmThat is really good news. I can’t bear the thought of her being in pain because of the neglect she suffered over the years. I’m so glad she’s with your program where she gets the love and care she deserves.
Wim Diepeveen says
June 3, 2020 at 6:40 pmHope your footwork keeps improving Lady. Little steps or big steps you’re so resilient.
With the luxury of your own flying doctors team around you day and night. ???
Anella Stewart says
June 3, 2020 at 8:13 pmI’m so happy & relieved that Lady & her beautiful friends are now living the life they deserve with the loving Angels at GSE. I’ve often wondered how elephants such as our lovely Ladies can continue to bathe/swim in the pond, wallow in the mud and walk around on all manner of dirt/bacteria/parasites and not get infections. Along with Lady’s foot problem, I’m also thinking of Rana Bug who has the ongoing vulva problem. I understand and appreciate the absolute joy they get out of doing these activities, but do these activities pose an increased risk to them?
Kat Blais says
June 4, 2020 at 9:22 pmNot particularly. Rana’s vulva is normal 90% of the time. We check on it to make sure, since we have to treat her eye anyway. If it is ‘off’, it’s just generally inflamed and easy to wash and rinse with something to help with the pH. Lady loves the wallows and shallow water more than the pond at this point. We did out the wallows and replace the dirt regularly to keep them clean. The one closer to the barn is piped to the barn water supply, so fresh water is emptied into it every day. The one at the other end of the property has the hose put it in on a regular basis as well. Lady’s feet are also cleaned, when she is having issues, twice daily- her morning foot soak and her afternoon treatments. Even if it did post a minimal risk, we would never take that away from them. They have been deprived of so much throughout their entire lives, that is a joy we would not be willing to take away. Thankfully, it’s not an issue.
Patricia says
June 3, 2020 at 10:47 pmLady, you are such a cute girl! I’m sure glad Scott and Kat are on top of your foot care. It’s heartwrenching to hear about what Pelusa went through–some of us still mourn her loss. We are so blessed to have you three darlings in the care of ESB. As always, I send tons of elephant hugs and smoochies!!!
Rosie P says
June 4, 2020 at 3:36 amThis is so good to know! I understand that Lady’s feet will never recover but improvements can be made and flare ups eased. No doubt the foot soaks and daily treatments are helping her a great deal and the ground/habitat at ESB has to be of great benefit. She has come a long way in her short time at ESB thanks to the wonderful care she receives.
It does appear that her pain has eased with these improvements in her feet as her walking has certainly improved in the recent video. I wonder if her pain had made Lady feel more vulnerable and therefore not wanting to socialise with the others. Recently, she has shown more interest in the other girls.
Paula says
June 4, 2020 at 8:05 amDulce y bella Lady?
Son buenas noticias!
Curate pronto hermosa dama, fuerza de elefante! Eres grandiosa!!!??
Todos nosotros te pensamos y deseamos lo mejor para ti?
Muchas gracias Kat y equipo por hacer todo lo posible para curarla?
Seguramente Lady lo sabe y se los agradece?
Carey says
June 8, 2020 at 8:28 amGood to know
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