Flooring and sore hocks

[Frodo Baggins]

So ever since I have had Frodo he has always had hard flooring. First the plastic bottom  of his cage base. Than when he had out time the hardwood of our previous apartment. Now he has the fake wood flooring in his 10×4 pen. He has out time in the new place. But not a lot. It is all carpet though so he binkies a lot when he is out. He has been super good about not peeing on the carpet. But for years pass any soft bedding/floor I tried he would pee on, which is why I never used fleece or towels. I was surprised he never peed on the big cat tree.

In our old place he had free reign. He would often lay in the bottom half of the cat tree or on the treadmill. Now he has a smaller cat house in his pen. The one you see in my avatar. I also bought him one of this soft beds from foster and smith but he has never used it.

My question: He has never seemed to have a problem with sore hocks nor seem uncomfortable on any of the wood surfaces. Is that problem something I will need to keep an eye on or should he be fine?

This is his pen now. The ends of it are right next to the cat house and the blue cage.

[Tibbs]

I just want to make sure Im understanding this correctly. Always been fine on hardwood, now you’ve made an open and he isn’t handling it well? Or, are you nervous that giving him a hard surface will give him ouch feet?

Option one: Cant handle the hardwood anymore.
Does your rabbit visit other rabbits? If one day your rabbit seems to feel awkward on hardwood or tiles floors, it is without a doubt e.cuniculi. I have one boy who was rescued with progressed e. cun and now he can’t walk on hard surfaces without slipping and freaking out. He’s a forever carpet bun now.

Option two: you’re afraid that keeping him on hard floors will give him sore feet.
You are totally fine. As long as you aren’t keeping him on a wire cage base, or an uncomfy floor, he’ll be fine. Your pen is nice, Im sure he loves it.

[Frodo Baggins]

Option 2. I am just worried that sore hocks might/could become a problem when he is older because he has no carpet/fleece floor. But he is absolutely fine now. Don’t see that changing but I just wanted to see if anyone had advice.

[Tessie]

I don’t know if this is helpful, but my buns lived on wooden floors for a whole year and never had any problems.
I kinda feel like if problems were going to develop they would have done during that time

[Author]

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