Need help redesigning ramp, sore hocks

[KytKattin]

Hey everyone. I rebuilt Eclipse’s pen a few months ago, giving her the full size of a standard ex-pen (16 sqft I think) in the shape of a square. The first picture is the previous build, the second is her current build with the ramp removed. The ramp worked fine for a while, but the carpet started to wear out. She had to work harder and harder to get up the ramp, and I think that friction caused her to get sore hocks. I didn’t notice this until I had her outside to groom her (she’s having a huge molt) on the step, and when I picked her up there was a little bit of blood on the concrete. I took out the ramp, and focused the next few weeks on healing her. She was in a lot of pain and stopped eating, I thought I was going to lose her. Now she is back to 100% pure bunnitude, and I’d like to keep her that way. I could just take the upper level out, but she seemed to really enjoy being able to go upstairs and I do like the idea of her having more space to be active even as she ages.

 

My first idea is to lower the upper level by about 6 inches. The second, if needed, will be to have a ramp that goes up and turns, looking something like the third picture (ignore measurements and such). Unless someone can come up with something better, that is the direction I’m heading. What I need help with is what I should put on the ramp that will be most delicate on her feet, while still providing traction. She’s also quite a chewer, and as I’m writing this I’m thinking that this might just not be a possibility anymore, but I’m still going to post this and hope that you all are cleverer than I am. Bonus bunny pictures at the end, she is really digging the new comforts I have given her to make sure she literally lives a cushioned life. Cheers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kash]

Bringing the top level down would definately help. My Bun’s cage is one of those bunny condos, he had ramps originally but he immediately ignored them and hopped from level to level.

Since Eclipse has already gotten sore hocks, asking her to jump may not be a good idea. You could attach a type of fleece to the ramp, and also add some quilt interfacing for some added cushion. This and bringing the level down some to decrease the angle of the ramp would probably help Eclipse a lot!

I’ve also seen people add a type of guard rail to the ramp. Since its so long and is an incline it may be a bit scary? I don’t know

Check out 101rabbits on youtube, she has a long ramp with a fleece covering!

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