Gah, sore hocks

[Binkles]

So I noticed the other day I breifly noticed a little pink spot on one of Little-Bit’s feet as she hopped away. I had my mom hold her for me today and sure enough, she has a sore hock. I think it’s a sore hock anyway. (Could it be anything else?) It’s just a single little hard pinkish-red bump with no fur almost sqaurely on the ball of her heal.

It’s not an open sore yet, thank goodness. But what is the typical proceedure for this? I read up online a little where it said to gather some shed bunny fur to use as padding for the hock and wrap it in ‘vet wrap’ tape for a few weeks until new fur grows over it again. Is this something that needs immediate vet attention? I was planning on bringing her in to the vet during the next couple of weeks anyway to check up on her molars, but is this something that needs to be looked at ASAP?

Gah I feel bad, because I’m almost certain that it’s my fault. I’ve always kept really bad tabs on the length of her toenails.

[jerseygirl]

Actually, I think it’s normal. There was a thread on this somewhere.  It’s sort of like a pinkish callous?
Jersey has this and sometimes it gets iriitated and I apply a zinc cream to it. It seems to help.

Edit: here you go, this thread contains some pics. https://www.binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/a…fault.aspx

[Binkles]

Oh wow Jersey, that’s exactly it! The BinkyBunny forums are a Pandora’s box of wisdom and knowledge -I discover new things every day! Whew I feel a bit better now, though I’d assume I’d be right in saying that I should keep close tabs on it to make sure it doesn’t become an issue, right? Since it’s basically a sore hock just in a non-pressure point location.

I wonder why she only has it on one heel though. Curious.

[Balefulregards]

I have sometimes wondered if it is like the callous we get on our writing hand – Maybe Rabbits have a preferred pivot foot? Coco’s never got worse – and only got better with the New Skin stuff. But I look at them during nail clips – As long as they don’t get puffy and irritated.

I also read somewhere that even soft surfaces like Carpet can lead to some wear spots on the hock – Its one of those things they seem to think we will learn more about as House Rabbits become more accepted indoor pets.

Since my two are free roam, I knew it wasn’t an issue of them Sitting in wet litter – I also knew their nails were pretty well in control. I was Shocked when I saw the spots too, but have come to see them as just parts of the Kids – as long as they aren’t puffy or irritated.

[osprey]

Our Deanna developed these pink sores on her hocks a few months ago out of the blue. They were bad enough that Deanna was actually limping from them. We were visiting Dr. Harvey for something else and I asked her what to do about the sores. She suggested using Vitamin E oil. Deanna is much much better now. Rugs seemed to be the culprit in out case, she is never on wire and hates hardwood floors. I replaced some of the rugs in the buns’ condo with straw mats, this seemed to help too.

[KatnipCrzy]

I do not think what you are describing is “sore hocks”- I could potentially be a sign that she might be prone to getting them if the conditions were right.  But unless they are actually sore/open/swollen- it is just something to keep an eye on.  I would not recommend bandaging as she does not need it at this point and she might not tolerate the bandages- and if bandages become too tight they can easily to more harm than good.  I would follow other members recommendations of what helps with the spots- vitamin E or the healing cream.

One thing I like to do for pets is to apply the medication and then feed them- so they are occupied with something else and do not groom off the medication before it is as effective as possible.

[LittlePuffyTail]

All of my rabbits have these. Hard, pink furless callouses are fine. You should get in the habit of checking the hocks several times a week. If any changes occur (bigger area, darker color, softening) then you may need to consider treatment or changing the habitat. Bindi’s progressed into mild sores and putting fleece blankets in his cage and ointment from my vet cleared it up but it took a few months. My vet stresses how important it is to montior these “callouses” because when they get to ulcer/bleeding stage they are a nightmare to clear up and, if untreated, can become quite dangerous to bunny.

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