Hock sore?

[Heather]

I was cutting my female rabbits nails today and noticed a pink sore on her hock. It appears to have a scab on it, almost like a blister. It seems to be sensative when I touch it also. I was just wondering what could have caused it and what I need to do for it. I probably couldn’t take her to the vet until friday. I took a picture it’s not very clear but she was scared, she doesn’t care to be held much. I was thinking it might be because the bottom of her cage is plastic, I have some carpet I could cut and put in there but I’m affraid she’ll eat at it. 

 

[bunnycutie]

it probably is a sore hock. these are developed from standing on flooring like wire mesh(commonly in outdoor hutches) or soiled bedding. strange that she would get one from plastic. usually smooth surfaces would not make sores. has she been on any of these? if she is, i would suggest putting seagrass mats(BB store), cardboard, or tile over the flooring. make sure to get her to the vet as soon as you can, oh yea, keep her cage clean so she doesn’t get an infection

[Heather]

We have a corner litter pan we usually change it about every two days. When we got her about 2 months or so ago, she was previously living in a wire cage outside, but we keep her inside in a dog cage that’s got a thick plastic textured plate thing. I covered her cage it hay pretty thick so that it would be more cushy on her feet. She has some thin spots in her coat near her eats and her little fat cheeks, doesn’t look like mites or anything just where the hair is especially thin. I wonder if that might be what happened to her heel.  I tried to put a cat bed in there for her but she uses it as a littler pan when it’s in there so it was smelly. Also, should I wash her foot with some anti baterial soap or something I don’t want it to get infected.

[Sarita]

As long as their is no pus or it is split open it should be okay. You are right that it was caused by her unsanitary living conditions and wire cages that is what causes these things. As long as it is just a callous it should be okay. A sore hock is going to be an actual infection where there is inflammation or the callous actually turns into a sore and opens up.

I would not clean it with antibacterial soap – I doubt you will have much success with this. Just keep her space very clean and change the litter often – wet litter can contribute to sore spots as well.

[Author]

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