sore hocks

[Blue Moon]

can someone please help me to learn how to treat sore hocks. both of my bunnies have them one is a mini rex and the other is a new Zealand lion head cross

[Wick & Fable]

Here’s some more detailed information on sore hocks: http://www.petmd.com/rabbit/conditions/skin/c_rb_ulcerative_pododermatitis

If both your rabbits have sore hocks, it could be very closely related to the surfaces they frequent. Sore hocks sometimes occurs from placing too much pressure on the hindlegs due to inactivity or obesity. Additionally, if your rabbits frequently sit in urine, this will propel the bacterial infection. Make sure your rabbits have surfaces that are soft and they have opportunities to relieve pressure off their hind feet.

In terms of treatment, that I am not very knowledgeable on. If you see a vet who’s experienced with rabbits, they would provide the best insight!

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.

[Paige]

Usually rexes and larger breeds of rabbits(flemish) are prone to sore hocks, so please be careful with flooring. Towels,some types of carpet and some rugs can be abrasive. Hard flooring doesn’t allow rabbit feet to grip and press into the floor properly as well.
Placing a sheet on the floor over where they have free time and giving them memory foam mats in their cage would help avoid sore hocks in the future.
Covering every area with soft bedding in their cage right now is crucial and maybe use a paper bedding in their litter boxes.
101 rabbits on YouTube has a sore hocks video, if your situation is not bad. If your problem is severe you should take your rabbits to the vet.

[Vienna Blue in France]

OMG Blue Moon, your bun is gorrrgeous! That truly is Sterling and Chewie’s love child !!!!

[Blue Moon]

I have paper bedding already and also I have fleece cage liners that I made and they are soft and squishy. I have tried memory foam before but they tried to eat it and I don’t want to take a chance. today I got a willow tunnel and I put a bed that I made under it to see if that would help thank you for the suggestions though.

[Blue Moon]

thank you Vienna

[Paige]

Have you tried an espom salt and water soak? If you mix some of the two together, soak the towel, wring it a little, put it in a carrier, and then put your bunny in it, that would relieve some of the pain if the sore hocks are not severe, but it seems that this has going on for a while now… Could you upload a picture?

[LittlePuffyTail]

How bad are their hocks? Just a bit red or inflammed/cracked/open/bleeding etc?

I deleted your other thread on this topic since you are getting advice here.

[Blue Moon]

their hocks are just about to crack but for right now they are just red and inflamed

[Blue Moon]

the thing with poppy and having sore hocks is she is only going to be 4 months old tomorrow so the sore hocks had to develop very fast.

[vanessa]

Aside from treating the inflamed hocks, you also need to figure out what caused it, so it doesn’t keep happening. Are there other rougher surfaces your bunnies use? Do they sit in their wet litter material? A picture would help. Guin has an exposed part on her feet, but I wouldn’t say she has sore hocks. She is overweight, has all soft comfy squishy surfaces, with one non-skid ramp, so I think her exposed hocks are from her weight. I can see the pink skin, and it is a bit dry like a rough heel, but not inflamed. Is the redness you see inflammation, or skin color? Does it look like a dry dough heel? It is indeed odd for a 4-month old to have sore hocks.

[Blue Moon]

a picture of their hocks or their cage? and yeah the rabbits sit in their litterbox but the mostly sit on the fleece, at the most the rabbits spend 30 minutes at a time in their litterbox

[Bam]

Rexes often get calluses on their feet. That’s not the same as sore hocks. Calluses are ok, they develop them because they have less fur under their feet than non-rexes. A picture of the feet would be great, and we wouldn’t mind seeing one of your cage set up of course.

[Blue Moon]

ok ill go take pictures

[Blue Moon]

[Blue Moon]

that is the rabbit’s cage(s)

[Blue Moon]

[Blue Moon]

the cage from the inside there is another litterbox behind the end of the picture

[Blue Moon]

   that is poppy’s worse foot it is really swollen and there is like little peeling spots on it and a dent that looks super red

[Blue Moon]

cedric’s are really peeling and way redder than they look

[Blue Moon]

the pics are horrible so it is hard to tell anything but, do any of you binky bunniers have ideas on what this could be if not sore hocks.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Hard to say from the pics but they look red and irritated but not too bad. You said they eat the memory foam mats, what about if you put the mats underneath the fleece in their cages? Memory Foam bath mats did wonders for my buns.

I also got something from my vet called Dermagel which helps to protect the skin. Maybe you could ask your vet if it’s available.

[Blue Moon]

yes the foam was under a fleece but the rabbits dug it up. it was a while ago now and the cage liners that I made are heavier than just normal fleece and the buns haven’t been digging it up so I think I will try memory foam again. thank you LPT

[Limit]

Those are definitely sore hocks, I’d get them checked in with a vet if possible to see what they can give to help. Vet beds can sometimes be an option, some people have used thick duvets which has helped or even quite flat pillows to give them a boost off the floor (not to say this will with your guys ) Hope you find a solution, they look like lovely lil buns x

[LittlePuffyTail]

Also, are you keeping their nails as short as possible? Very important in preventing sore hocks.

[vanessa]

Good point about the nails. If their nails are a nice short length, the pressure on their feet is evenly distributed. If their nails are too long, they tend to put more weight on their hocks.

[Blue Moon]

their nails are short enough I cut them about every 2 weeks

[Blue Moon]

I think I mentioned this in another thread but I’m taking poppy in to the vet for her pre-spay so I will bring cedric too and ask about the sore hocks and what to do for them

[vanessa]

Ask about Poppy’s weight at the same time 🙂

[Jazlyn]

I have a mini rex and he gets sore hocks every once in a while. I use a diaper rash cream, sudocrem, and it does wonders for him. They go away completely within 3 days usually. ?

[vanessa]

I like Sudocrem. I use if on Lancelot’s hocks. He has irritated hocks from sitting in pee… but it really does make the rash go away overnight. It’ll still help to figure out what is causing it in the first place.

[Blue Moon]

ok thank you

[Blue Moon]

is there an off brand of sudocrem

[Bam]

The active ingredient in sudacrem is zinc oxide. You ought to be able to find some type of generic zinc oxide cream.

[vanessa]

It sounds like a typical diaper/nappy rash cream to me.

[Blue Moon]

awesome thank you

[Author]

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