It has always been thought,why I cannot understand,that bumblefoot is caused by wire florring or other abrasive flooring.Dirty bedding has also been implicated.Yes I can understand that dirty bedding could cause an infection in the pads,but not many owners(hopefully)keep there pigs on abrasive floors or in dirty bedding.
I am only going on my own and other peoples observations.I have been keeping piggies for many,many years,and have always used paper and hay or vet bed.My pigs bedding is and always has been changed at least twice a day.Yet,over the years I have had several cases of bumblefoot both in sows and boars.
I know other people who keep their pigs in very hygenic housing that have had cases of bumblefoot.Peter Gurney had several pigs with the problem as well.
It is also thought in some circles tghat the cause could be fungal.but none of the pigs of my own or that I have seen have had a fungal problem.The truth is that no one seems to know,but my vet and I think that some pigs are just prone to it.Maybe they have a impaired immune system.Some of the pigs I have seen have had other prob lems, i.e, cataracts,diabetis.In fact over the last 25 years or so I have had 8 pigs with bumblefoot and 5 of them had cataracts,and 2 of them had kidney problems.Diabetiic [piggies often have cataracts as well,and in humans,diabetics often suffer from leg and foot ulcers.I wonder if there is a link here somewhere.
A lot more research needs to be done on this very common problem.
Uninfec ted bumblefoot does not seem to bother the piggies and most of them can go to 6 or 7 years with the problem.