Reddish but not open bump on back foot??

[Jolaedana]

Hey all!!

I’m calling on Monday to make Bella’s appointment for a general checkup, nail clip, and spay.

(Thank goodness!! finally! That said, I’m glad we waited, she was very stressed when we first got her, and really seems to have finally settled in after three months. We’ve even managed to pick her up a few times using a towel! Slow progress, but sure!)

I’ve noticed something in my general checkup that’s worrying me a bit. On one back foot, she’s had a bare patch (which I know isn’t unusual for rex bunnies) and I’ve been keeping a close eye on it- it’s been pink, but never scabbed over or bleeding, so I haven’t been too concerned. However, yesterday, my husband noticed that on the outside of her ankle, right at the joint, there is a pea sized bump that’s formed. It’s reddish on the surface, and she’s licked the fur away from it. However, it’s not open or oozing anything that we can see. It feels soft to the touch, and she’s got no real issue with us touching it. I’ve started rubbing neosporin (without painkiller) on it a couple of times a day… I know it’s not open, but it makes me feel better. She acts like it’s only a mild discomfort when I touch it, and isn’t favoring the foot at all. I’m also changing her litter every morning and trying to keep everything dry.

Does anyone know what might be causing this? It seems very odd and random to me. The only thing I can think of is she caught her foot on her cage opening as she was jumping in (she’s got a ramp, but won’t use it. Has to jump every time!)

I think the vet visit will probably be scheduled out a bit- next weekend at the earliest- so I’m just wondering if I should be more urgent about getting her in there or not. Thank you all in advance! I’ve really found the posts in this forum so helpful and encouraging.

[Beka27]

so it’s not on the underside of her foot, but rather higher up on her leg? i’m not sure what that could be. i’m thinking that as long as it’s not bleeding or infected looking, you could probably just keep a close eye on it and then get her in for a check-up this week as you were planning. it doesn’t sound like an emergency, esp. if she seems to not be in pain when it’s touched. when you call tomorrow to make the vet appt, mention it to them and see if they think she should be seen sooner than late next week.

sometimes it’s helpful for us to have a pic so we can see how it looks. do you think you could snap a close-up of it?

[Jolaedana]

Hey Beka! Thank you for the quick response. It is higher up on her foot, yes- on the outside, at about the joint of the foot- where her “ankle” would be. It’s the same foot though, and the same side, which made me wonder if it’s not related to the sore hock. The redness makes me think of an infection, but I’m not seeing any yellow oozing or pus.

I will definitely mention it to the vet when I call.

I will see if I can get a pic- my digital camera’s been broken on and off (sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t) so I’ll see if I can get it to cooperate.

[Scarlet_Rose]

Hmm, it sounds like something there was irritating her and she kept grooming it. I agree with Beka, it doesn’t sound like something that warrants an emergency vet visit, but give them a call and mention it, and if they think Bella should be seen sooner.

[Jolaedana]

Thank you guys. My camera decided to pick today to die completely, so no luck getting a photo. She’s acting like it hurts when I touch it now, but I’m hoping it’ll start to look better tomorrow. If not, then we’ll get her into the vet as soon as they think it needs to happen– I’ll call first thing in the morning.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I wonder if it’s a pressure sore of some sort? Maybe she always lays in the same position on something hard, like lino or something. It’s something that I have to watch Rupert for as because of an old break, he walks on the side of his foot-it’s basically a red inflamed area from having pressure put on it; So I wonder if it’s something like that, then she started grooming it?
Just a thought!

Anyways I agree, not an emergency but let them know and get the vet to look at it

[MimzMum]

In my outdoor dogs, we call this a ‘hotspot’ and it’s usually just a place they get to licking until they pull the fur away and it leaves this kind of callused area. Always on the top of the foot or leg.

I agree that the vet should look at it, but let’s hope it’s not more than that. It would be interesting to see what would cause a bun to do this, since I assume your rabbits are indoor only?

[Jolaedana]

KandK- I’m inclined to agree with you- that it’s from her lying on it too much.

Mimz, I’m not sure what it is. She is definitely indoor only, as we’re in an apartment like situation. I’ve been cleaning her cage and litter every day, and Bella is a pretty scrupulous bun about me keeping her space clean. Maybe too much so- I can’t get her to STOP cleaning it, which has made it raw and sore.

We made an appointment for her at the vet this afternoon. not only is she long overdue for a general checkup, but the swelling keeps going up and down, and I think it’s opened up a bit. They won’t even schedule her spay until they see the foot and make sure she doesn’t need treatment for it (our vet has two bunnies of her own!) I will update you guys on how the visit goes when we get back!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

{{VIBES}} Keep us posted and good luck at the vets!!

[Jolaedana]

Well! This morning I was SO glad I’d made an appointment, as the swelling had moved to the top of her foot. Still spunky and not showing any real signs of distress, so I wasn’t terribly worried, but glad we were going.

Met our vet for the first time- she was extremely on the ball- she’s specializing in exotics (one of five vets at what seemed to be a very nice clinic), and has a pair of bonded bunnies of her own. She did a full checkup, and foot aside Bella is in awesome health. She was so excited that I was feeding her properly and that she was a house rabbit. She says Bella’s got a little more weight to lose, but she’s on the right track. She also said she was one of the most self cleaning bunnies she’d ever seen- not even anything in her scent glands! lol. They amazingly trimmed her nails in less than two minutes.

Her foot, unfortunately, was bad enough for an antibiotic (she gave me the whole spheel about how some antibiotics weren’t safe for rabbits, but this one is- called “Smz Tmp” on my invoice, I unfortunately can’t remember the exact name.) She also perscribed some painkiller for a couple of days for her, to keep her from worrying and cleaning it to death. The doc said it was looking like an infected sore hock (the dry pink patch, while it didn’t look open or bad to me, was apparently where it all started!) where the infection was starting to spread into the rest of the foot. She said if we’d let it go too long, it may have eventually infected the bone, so it was good we brought her in. Seems Bella is probably going to have a chronic issue with her hocks, so I’m to keep her on towels, newspapers, and a clean litter box.

I was terrified of getting the medicine into her, but we just got her on the floor and flipped her on her back across our knees like the vet did, and she licked it right down!

I think she’s going to be just fine, thanks to all of you for the thoughts and advice. 

 

The spay can happen in three weeks, providing the foot looks good! The doc was very complimentary, so I’m feeling like a good mama.

[Beka27]

aw great! i’ve heard of that med (not sure what it stands for but i’m sure the others know…) i’m so glad you found a good vet!

[MimzMum]

Oh I’m so glad you have a diagnosis and it’s going to be gotten under control! *whew!* Wow, I had no idea that sore hock could become an infection that would spread to the remainder of the foot! Good to know!

Healing vibes coming your way for Bella! ((((((hugs)))))))))

[Jolaedana]

Thank you! I am not her favorite person at the moment as the medication giver, but we’ll survive the next nine days…. lol. She’s very active this morning, which I think is good.

[Sarita]

The SMZ TMP antibiotic (Sulfamethoxazole Trimethoprim) is an antibiotic my vet uses alot for my rabbits – I believe it may also be known as bactrim. Apparently it does not cause as much digestive problems as some antibiotics. My rabbits don’t seem to mind the taste of it either – it’s a pink or purple colored liquid.

Sounds like your vet is really great! It always feels good to have a rabbit knowledgeable vet.

[Jolaedana]

Yep! that’s the stuff. I can’t tell if she likes it or not, she’s just so unhappy about being held. lol. Either way, we’re getting most of it down her, which is what’s important.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Wonderful news, sounds like your vet is great and very knowledgable!!

[Jolaedana]

… hmm. Okay. Does anyone know if the antibiotic she’s on, Sulfamethoxazole Trimethoprim, can cause gas? I swear up and down I just heard Bella let out a nice loud toot- and from what I remember gas is no fun for them! Anything I can do?

 

Note- she is eating and using her litterbox fine, just not quite as heartily as usual in either case.

[Sarita]

I’m sure there are side effects but I’ve never heard my rabbits toot from this particular antibiotic and I’ve used it quite a bit. According to my vet there are less gi side effects from this particular antibiotic than baytril.

[Jolaedana]

huh! Well, I will keep an eye on her. She doesn’t seem to be too horribly uncomfortable, just surprised me since I’ve never heard her have a problem with it before. lol.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Wow I’ve never heard a rabbit toot. Keep an eye, you can always give semeithicone for gas if she is experiencing it

[Jolaedana]

Thanks, KandK, for the mental refresher. I knew there was something that could be given.

She seems better today, so far- closer to her more active self and chowing down hay.

She also let me scoop her up in her cage and lift her through the door without any struggle today! Yay! She makes it tough to get the medicine into her without my husband, but I manage with a nice fluffy towel.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Good stuff!!! It’s a pain trying to treat animals as you can’t explain why your doing it, but luckily it’s only temporary!!

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