Sore hocks…why?

[skunklionshow]

I noticed a slight “imperfection” on Jessica’s rear foot the other day.  It looked like a small callous.  I brought her into the vet w/ Leo (he had his neuter staples removed).  I was VERY CONCERNED that it was the beginning of sore hocks.

My vet feels that it is not a true sore hocks case.  He thinks it likely is only the beginning stages.  He doesn’t feel antibiotics are necessary at this point and instead recommended several topical treatments (silvedine cream & I can’t remember the other).  She has not lost any fur on her foot and the skin has not broken. 

I feel clueless as to what caused this.  I was hoping to get some input from others.  My vet thinks it c/b that since she is a chunky monkey, her weight is not balanced on both feet, so it is likely overuse on one foot.  All their shelves are covered w/ rugs.  I have added some grass mats over 2 shelves, but the rug is still underneath.  The only other recent change was I switched from a layering of carefresh & shavings to carefresh and bird wood pellets.  She does love her willow tunnel…could that be the cause?  I just don’t want this to get any worse, so I’d like to identify the source?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

As far as I know they are caused by improper flooring, or excessive stomping…Rexes are more prone to them as they have shorter fur.

Kahlua has pink hocks, the vet says they are fine and just to keep an eye on them (which I do). She is a super stomper though so I can see why she has them; They definitely don’t look bad, just not perfect.

[JK]

You know Edson had two little red dots on his thumpers too a few months ago. The rescue took a look and said it was not sock hocks just callouses and to make sure I have the wood floors covered with carpets.  So I got two throw rugs and those callouses have completely disappeared.  I did use a little triple antibiotic ointment on them at first but I was too afraid Edson would lick it off so I stopped. 

[Beka27]

this article does a pretty good job of describing what can cause it, and preventative measures. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=18&cat=1800&articleid=3066

it also mentions it’s more common in hot, humid weather, altho it doesn’t sat WHY it’s more common then…

Mead has a mild case of sore hocks. we have a regular vet appt each month for nail trims and she’s on a restricted pellet diet to watch her figure. she goes next month for her yearly exam, and depending on what my vet says, i may start putting a layer of carefresh on top of her paper pellets.

[Sarita]

I agree with your vet. Also trimming her nails will help.

I think Silvadene is a good idea too as it will keep it hopefully from drying and cracking. My vet suggests this for these things as well as another vet I know of.

[skunklionshow]

I believe she had her nails last trimmed about 2.5 weeks ago, when Leo got neutered.  I tend to cut the quicks, so I wanted the hospital to show me a better way.  My bunny tech thought that I likely have been trimming more often than necessary.  The cage and living room are rugged, so I don’t think it’s that.  It definately looks like a callous.  There is no missing fur or redness.  Maybe I should replace the cardboard that lines the NIC shelves, below the rug? 

She is on a diet, but well….she went in w/ Leo for his staple removal.  I brought a bag of treats (dried papaya), hay, and I forgot the pellets, but they usually give them pellets.  I think the morning tech, that set them up in the cage for the day, was not a bunny person.  When I came back at the end of the day to pick them up.  I didn’t get my treats back.  The evening tech thinks that they mixed the fruit in w/ the pellets.  There was enough fruit for WEEKS!  I told them that next time she comes in & the vet is still not happy w/ her weight that it’s not my fault!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

LOL !!

Tooo bad they lost your treats!! Last time I went to the vet I got bonus bowls when I went home LOL

[Cadbury]

Cadbury has small callouses on her hocks, but my vet said it is nothing to worry about as long as they don’t progress to open sores. Cadbury is not overweight, I keep her nails short, and she is on carpet all the time. She had them when I got her over a year ago, and they have stayed pretty much the same ever since. I would definitely keep an eye on them, but try not to worry unless them become open. Cadbury’s look similar to the callouses a lot of dog’s have on their elbows from lying on their sides.

[Scarlet_Rose]

Ah yes, welcome to my world. Daffodil is actually predisposed to this because of genetically thin fur on her rear feet and a LOT of disapproving thumping (she is the thumping disapproval queen). Does Jessica thump a lot? Sometimes you can do everything right and they still happen anyway. Any rough carpet? Rough carpet or flooring can act like sandpaper, the usual high suspects are berber carpet and seisel rugs. Linoleum and slick, hard surfaces can also cause this problem as well. I am thinking her willow tunnel could be causing some friction on there too. You’ve got some great advice from your vet and antibiotics shoudl ony really happen if the sore breaks open and there is an infection which could get into the bone.

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