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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Sore Hocks

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    • beansxo
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        Hi everyone ! This is my first time making a forum. I was wondering if i could get some advice about my bunnies sore hocks.

        Ive only had her a week and didnt notice at the shelter that she had bald patches on her feet.

        I took her to the vets and they put her on metacam and soother plus ointment for her feet, shes been on the medication for a week. I

         feel like her feet arent getting any better. I change her litter frequently and she lives in a xpen with connect a mat flooring.

        Does anyone have any suggestions on what i should do to help her feet to heal?

        Thanks,

        Sabina


      • BinkyBunny
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          Welcome! Can you take a photo and show the worst one. Normal skin tone pads/callouses on the bottom of the feet (that are there when you pull the fur back) is normal. Sore hocks are when they become red and sometimes bloody. They can take a long while to heal. If it is really sore hocks, then you may want to change the litter temporarily to soft like like carefresh. The fact she will have more space to move around (instead of being in a shelter cage) will also help distribute her weight for more healing. What kind of rabbit is she? Sometimes Rexes and larger rabbits are more prone to these issues.

          Also, make sure her nails are trimmed as long nails can cause sore hocks.

          I would also talk to the shelter and let them know.


        • beansxo
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            Thanks for your reply! Im currently using kaytee clean and cozy bedding but once that is finished, i will switch over to carefresh. Her feet are pinkish in colour and no signs of bleeding. At the shelter she was in a small cage and didnt have much room to move around. right now she is in a xpen until she bonds with my male rabbit, then she will be free range. She is a Rex and i have heard they are more prone to sore hocks. Did you see the photo i attached in my previous post? I can let the shelter know but i dont think there is much they can do for me


          • BinkyBunny
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              Oh! Thanks for posting the photo. I just completely missed the link in your first post until you mentioned it.  Sorry about that.  

              Okay, yes, she has sore hocks.  Thank goodness they are not open as that makes it tougher.  Rexes for sure are more susceptible even in the best circumstances (Rugs can even cause it).  You had said you had rubber mats and that’s great. 

                Her nails do not look too long as I can see the quick.  (Rexes also have less fur on their feet and so their nails are more exposed and always look longer).   However, it is also not common for the quick to grow longer into the nail if they are not trimmed on a regular bases — so if you feel that may be the case you can just trim her nails slightly every few weeks and the quick will recede slowly.  It will be very important to keep her nails trim and keep her weight  at a lean healthy level. 

              I am hoping some other Rex owners, who have dealt with this, will step in and offer some advice, but I can give you some resources of different ways of managing sore hocks. 

              This is a foot wrap advice which seems good for the level your bunny is at — (Not to be used for open sores) 

              http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sorehocks.html (scroll past the reasons as I suspect the reason is just the shelter environment with a smaller cage and the type of rabbit this is.)  The bandaging technique is further down. 

              http://www.disabledrabbits.com/sore-hocks.html (This one has a baby sock method). 

              I am more inclined to go with the first one, but some rabbits may respond better with slightly different methods.  I have never had to do this before and so I have no idea how rabbits respond to it  – I would think they would try to pull the material off – which is why I think the bandage method may work better. 

              Anyway, your bunny is very lucky to have you as their new forever human.  You are doing the right thing and taking this seriously as sore hocks can get worse and get infected, and so it’s great that you are on top of this!    Great job!

               Keep us updated!

              P.S.  Wanted to add – I just checked out Kaytee Clean and Cozy — that actually looks similar to carefresh — is it a soft paper based litter?   If so, you don’t need to switch.   I was just making sure it wasn’t hard pelleted litter. 


            • beansxo
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                Thanks for all your great advice ! That picture was taken about a week ago and I’m starting to notice her hair is slowly starting to grow back over her sores ! I will keep you updated with her progress !


              • Q8bunny
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                  I just want to add a tidbit to BB’s great advice: Clean & Cozy is softer than Carefresh, so I would stick with it. I switched to it because it’s the softest and most absorbant paper litter I could find.


                • beansxo
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                    Have you guys ever tried Boxo small animal bedding ?


                  • LittlePuffyTail
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                      I’ve dealt with sore hocks and I highly recommend you getting a big memory foam bath mat for his floor. I bought a few of these at Bed Bath & Beyond (pretty pricey but they are the best quality I could find, very cushy and soft and come in diff sizes.) They really helped her.


                    • LittlePuffyTail
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                        If you get mat, just be sure to check regularly for chewing. Some bunnies will chew these and you don’t want him to ingest the fabric or foam.

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                    Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Sore Hocks