Mini Rex Sore Hocks!

[sesabean]

Sesame has sore hocks right now! 🙁 😥 They are pictured. He also has small pink callouses by the heel but I’ve read that this isn’t a big problem. The hocks left small b lood prints once and he isn’t as active as usual, but not immobile. Don’t know whether to take him to the vet, as apparently they would only tell us to have softer surfaces for them (currently our floor is hard boards, but we do put out blankets/towels for them to run on, and we use cardboard in their cage.)  We are going to get fleece mats but they are chewers.

The hocks look crusty – not sure if this means it’s healing or it’s very dry. I also know that long nails are a culprit of hocks, so I have attached a picture of them as they don’t seem long enough to cut to me – the length of the nail from the quick is around 2-3mm. Should I still cut them?

Are there any home remedies apart from softer surfaces, and should I wrap them?

[LBJ10]

Rex bunnies can be prone to sore hocks no matter what you do. They just don’t have that cushion of fur there. If they aren’t bleeding, then you could try to soften the area with some bag balm or plain diaper rash cream. A lot of people have had luck with providing memory foam bathmats to walk on. I’m not sure if wrapping them at this point is necessary. Someone else can chime in. But there are sites online that illustrate how to do it. This one has good illustrations: http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sorehocks.html

[sesabean]

In regards to the plain diaper rash cream – is Sudocrem alright?

[LBJ10]

Yes

[DanaNM]

The sores on the middle of the foot look very red and angry to me, I would personally go to the vet to have them take a look before attempting wrapping. My bun Bertha had a sore that looked like that on her foot and it turned out to be a small abscess that needed to be cleaned out by the vet.  The heel looks fine, and it’s more normal to have a callous there. Can you save up some fur from grooming them? It can be the best thing to wrap the hocks to help them heal.

I would get some fleece blankets and vet bed for sure. You need something softer in their cage, and fleece blankets are OK if they get nibbled. Grass mats are also great. The thicker ones can take pressure off the hock by letting the nails sink in a little. There are these inexpensive beds that are meant to go in dog crates that work really well. They are not filled with foam so they are safer if they get nibbled.

The back nails do look long to me, but it’s hard to say. Can you check them with a flashlight? You may need to trim a tiny amount more frequently to get on top of things.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[sesabean]

thanks for the replies!! we just took them both to a vet nurse yesterday to trim their nails. She very kindly took a picture of sesame’s hocks and shows them to a vet, but apparently the only advice was to give them as much padding as possible, as you’ve both said.

he still isn’t as active, and it’s started scabbing a bit. Not sure if it’s healing, there isn’t too much progress. thanks for the advice again, we’ve brought him fleece blankets.

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