Sore hocks?!?!?

[BunnyLoverMaddie]

Hey guys!

I watched this video about sore hocks on youtube and it looked horrible. It said it was really common and you should check your rabbits hocks and front paws for it a lot. I never even knew about this which makes me feel like a horrible owner!  

Anyway, I went ahead and checked Koko’s soles and they’re dried up, red and one has a bit of dry blood on it. Her front paws are okay and her claws are fine, its just her back hocks, here are some pictures:

Right hock:

Left Hock:

(The white isn’t pus, its a dry skin flake)

It’s not at all painful for her as she can hop around fine and has done loads of binkies! I have noticed she has been laying down a bit on the wood flooring that she plays on (I dont keep her on it) but thats because its really hot here and the cold wood cools her down. I keep her on a plastic base with a thick folded towel over it, is that the cause? Its worrying me so I’ve been letting her on my bed more to give her a more cushioned surfaced but I’m pretty scared of how bad it might be.. Should I take her to the vet? Should I wash it and bandage it? Heres the bandage technique I’ve found that I’d use: http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sorehocks.html But what would I clean her soles with? Please help!!!

[LittlePuffyTail]

Don’t feel bad. Some of the most pampered bunnies with the most luxurious bedding/flooring suffer from sore hocks (including mine!). It’s definitely a good idea for bunny parents to check their hocks on a regular basis.

The general rule is that pink, callouses are fine, sometimes even a bit of redness is okay as long as it doesn’t look inflammed or sore. If there are open wounds, it’s a good idea to see the vet as the wounds can get infected and lead to a difficult to treat situation.

Those don’t look too bad to me, but it’s hard for me to tell just by photos. You definitely want to take some steps to prevent them from getting worse.

Is she free roam or kept in a condo/pen?

Make sure to keep her area very clean and dry. Change the litter box often, don’t let it get very wet. Clip her nails as short as you can. Long nails can cause or exacerbate sore hocks. Check her feet every day for any changes.

I’m a big promoter of “Snoozzy Mats” for bunnies with sore hocks. Since getting these for my buns, I’ve never had another case of sore hocks. They are thick mats made for dog kennels. They come in various sizes, are easy to wash and pretty affordable. A lot of pet stores sell them or you can get them online. I’ve also had good results with “DermaGel”. This is a gel that you apply to the hocks, let it dry and it creates a sort of barrier to protect the area. I got mine from my vet but I think you an also buy it online. If you get some, make sure to get the tube of gel, not the spray.

[BunnyLoverMaddie]

Okay great thank you thats made me feel a lot better. I think I’ll try out the mats and the gel actually. She is kept in an indoor cage but also has free roam of my room however the flooring is wooden. :/ I’m planning on moving in to a different room of the house which is a lot bigger where I can keep an x-pen, her cage and some mats. Thank youu

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