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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Sore hocks???

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    • bunnyjames
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         Hi guys!!!!! so i know i haven’t been here lately but i’ve been pretty busy with work, school, and the pregnancy. So today I was able to pick up Zoe (its really hard for me to bend down right now if there isnt anybody to help me get back up up)  and i like cradling her like a big baby and happend to notice what looks like sore hocks…. Im not sure if thats what it is…. but i know before my pregnancy she didnt have them. She doesnt have a wire floor cage. And spends most of her time outside roaming. I took some pics. so that you guys can see her little footsies. Is it sore hocks??????? i feel really bad that I just noticed this I feel like a bad bunny parent but its really hard to “catch’ her when i cant even bend down. 


      • mocha200
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          I don’t have any experience with sore hocks, but they look like it to me. Have you noticed her not hopping as much?


        • Tate
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            One of my rabbits has sore hocks and this looks similar. I would say that the first step is to make a vet appointment. From what I’ve heard, it’s really hard to “get over” sore hocks. Like, they will always at the very least be prone to them. They aren’t necessarily dangerous but any open wound is vulnerable to infection. Your vet will give you an ointment- possibly Derma-Vet or Quadritop and this will keep the opening clean… apply 3-4 times per day until it’s cleared up.
            As for future prevention: lots of blankets in his cage/pen. I use fleece and have quite a few blankets in there. Litter!!! Ugh.. My rabbit can’t stand on wood stove pellets so I use them BUT put a fairly thick layer of CareFresh on top. Before I did that, he would not use the litter box. I’ve read that you can get moleskin (http://www.drugstore.com/dr-scholls-moleskin-plus-padding-strips-4-58-x-3-38/qxp14287) and put it on the affected area. You would have to wrap gauze around it though. This won’t protect against infections, but it’s extra cushioning.
            Good luuuuuck.


          • bunnyjames
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              Nope havent noticed any changes in her hopping. I have noticed she prefers to be on plush carpet though. She spends most of her time in my room rather than outside where there is tile and wooden floor. I do have to mention though that at night she sleeps in her cage, so she will spend the whole night in her cage. Also she has gained a couple of lbs. she’s pretty heavy, today when I carried her she felt pretty hefty =I Her dewlap has become way more evident. It might be because my daughter, who is the one that usually plays with them has been gone for the past 2months visiting her grandparents so they have no one to chase around. Is there anything I can do to make it better?????


            • bunnyjames
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                Ah thanks tate for the recomendations!!!! do you know what might have caused it??? I thought bunnies only got sore hocks if they have wire floor cages or were kept in their cages all day………


              • Tate
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                  Some are just more sensitive to it than others. I’ve noticed that Velvateen’s foot fur is much thinner than my other rabbits. It can also be affected by weight distribution and “obesity”… just being overweight in general! It’s hard to say which came first… the sore hocks or the extra weight. You could also ask the vet about putting him on a diet. That would help with prevention!


                • Tate
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                    Oh, just to add: nails that are too long can cause sore hocks as well. I cut Velvateen’s every 2-3 weeks now.


                  • Monkeybun
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                      What kind of diet is she on? By the sound of it, Zoe’s gonna need some changes Weight definitely affects sore hocks, so gradually getting her to lose some of the excess may help, in addition to whatever the vet suggests for her feets.


                    • LittlePuffyTail
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                        It’s hard to tell from the picture what stage the sore hocks are at. Are they hard like a callous and pink? Or swollen,puffy-looking and dark red? If they are red they need to be treated as they can progress very quickly into a bad situation. If they are pink and hard, prevention and vigilance is the key. If there are any cracks or they have been bleeding she will need to see a vet who will prescribe antibiotics as a precaution and can give you a surgical scrub to clean them.

                        I’ve had problems with sore hocks with both Olivia and Bindi despite the fact that they have super comfy houses. Sometimes it’s a mystery why they get them. Offering her a thick, fleece blanket may help as well as a very thick layer of hay. Thick hay is the best thing for sore hocks. Make sure to keep her potty and house very clean and dry.

                        First off, cut her nails as short as you can. Being overweight can cause more pressure on the hocks so I would reduce her pellets and treats to try to get her weight down a bit.


                      • Deleted User
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                          My youngest bunny has awful trouble with sore hocks. I knew I needed the vet to see her when I walked into the living room and my bunny and her cage was coverd in blood from where the spots were bleeding.  If it is a raw spot, I would suggest calling the vet to see what you can put on it until you can see the vet. My vet gave me a home remody solution to put on it until I could get the bunny in to see her. Marge still gets them after I finished putting the medicated lotion on them, but they never are as bad. I don’t know where she gets them. They’ll come up but then just have hair grow on them again usually within three days.


                        • bunnyjames
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                            Well she is big eater, caught her lat night inside the food pellet bag :I But I give her 1cup of pellets per day and unlimited hay, plus 1cup of veggies per day. She LOOOOOOOVES her pellets so i think thats gonna be kinda rough on her. I feel so bad now cuz i’ve been paying close attention since yest. and noticed she wont put any weight on where the sore hocks are at so that must mean that it really hurts her. basically what im getting from all your guys comments is Zoe is always gonna have to deal with sore hocks???? I need to go buy some fleece blankies so she could be comfortable when shes in her cage at night. by the way the one on her right foot is way bigger and it looks raw with some reddish in the middle. and ive noticed that she licks them ALOT, should i allow her to do that?????


                          • Tate
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                              I would definitely cut back on pellets. What breed is she? Just for reference, my 3 lb rabbit gets 1/8 cup of pellets per day per the instructions on the packaging. You can cut back slowly… you can take a few weeks to cut back on food. Don’t do it all at once. This will kinda ease her into eating the right portions.
                              There is one bigger sore because her weight is being unevenly distributed.
                              Since she’s licking them, get her to a vet. Rabbits- and pretty much all animals- will tend to sores and lesions, but excessive grooming can mean that it’s putting her in a bit of pain. NOT to scare you, but the reason why sore hocks have the potential to be dangerous is because there is almost no “meat” on their feet. So if it were to get infected, it’s very possibly that it could cause a bone infection and that’s not something anyone wants to deal with.
                              Get lots of fleece blankets. I go to Walmart and just get a few yards of fleece for cheap.


                            • bunnyjames
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                                THANKS TATE FOR THE ADVICE!!!!! I called her vet today and she will be seeing Zoe on friday. Since I have to wait until Friday do you guys think I should restrict her playtime outside in the yard. She gets free roam of the front yard for like 2 hrs. should I stop letting her go outside?? Oh and im not really sure what her breed is, she must be a mix. Zoe is around 4 lbs. she is suppose to be a dwarf but not quite sure the breed.


                              • Tate
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                                  I wouldn’t put her outside as there is probably a bigger possibility of getting an infection. But I also wouldn’t totally restrict her playtime either… just keep her inside if you can. Until Friday, you can put some Neosporin on the sores, but don’t get the pain relieving kind- just regular Neosporin. It’s definitely not as good as antibiotics and whatever ointment they give you, but it’s something.
                                  Also, ask your vet about her weight. It’s tough to say what she should be without seeing her in person. Dwarf breeds and especially mixed dwarf breeds can be a bit heavier than what’s actually considered “dwarf”, so I don’t want to say that she’s definitely too heavy and should be cutting back on pellets.


                                • LoveChaCha
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                                    there are ‘false dwarfs’ which is what chacha is she is a 4 lb little girl.

                                    I hope that all goes well with Zoe bun. Keep us updated.


                                  • Monkeybun
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                                      My 4lb dutch boy gets 1/8 of a cup of pellets. If he gets any more, he gets chubby fast!


                                    • LittlePuffyTail
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                                        Good luck at the vet. Let us know how it goes.


                                      • bunnyjames
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                                          So guys it didnt go that well today. I didnt get to see her regular vet since she is out on vacation, so i saw some other vet that works there too. I’m Really mad since he was sooooooo rude!!!! I feel I made an hour and a half drive for nothing!!!! All he gave me was an antibiotic, like some of you warned me they progressed pretty fast. today they were super swollen and she had blisters full of pus!! I wanted to ask the vet some quest. but he never came back into the room and when i asked to speak with him they told me to call with my question since he was pretty busy. IM SO MAD!!!!!! UGGGGHHHHH!!!! Im not sure what to do for her! Im having a really rough pregnancy so its really hard for me to be driving up and down. Im unsure as to what to do to try and get her to heal faster. I gave her the antibiotic, but what else can I do?? I mean the antibiotic will get rid of the infection but what can I do to make the sore hocks get better???


                                        • bunnyjames
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                                             Here’s a pic. of how they have progressed. What I have circled is what is now filled with pus. As you can see they have gotten bigger from when i first posted the pics. I feel really bad since it looks really painful. 

                                            We had just gotten home here, she doesnt look so happy. 


                                          • Tate
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                                              Ohmygosh! Those are huge! Is that what the vet saw or have they gotten bigger/worse?
                                              Keep going with the antibiotics and I would be SLATHERING Neosporin on those feet! When does your regular vet get back? I would call and speak with her directly as well as email these pictures to her as soon as she gets back.


                                            • bunnyjames
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                                                 YES THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE VET SAAW TODAY!!!!!!!!!! He came in asked what was the problem, i showed him zoe’s feet and he said “okay ill give you an antibiotic” and out the doo he went!! 

                                                I posted the first pic. on wed. when i first noticed it and the 2nd one is of today!!!!!! what am i doing wrong?!!!!!!

                                                   

                                                When I put the neosporin should I be bandaging up her feet???? (i dont think she would keep any bandages on her feet though)

                                                 

                                                 

                                                 


                                              • Tate
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                                                  Get a bandage like this if you can: http://stores.nextag.com/store/4798115/product/938032724/Southwest-Tech-Finger-Bob
                                                  They sell cheaper generic ones at drug stores. They come with an assortment of sizes so you should be able to find one that fits his foot comfortably. That will keep it nice and clean. You will definitely want to change these 2-3 times a day, as you can expect a lot of drainage. Also, before you put the Neosporin on, you could try to put a hot compress on both spots.
                                                  Hopefully in about 3-4 days, they will start to heal noticeably and you can stop with the Neosporin.
                                                  I’ve been assuming that the antibiotic is oral, correct?


                                                • Tate
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                                                    You can also get some New Skin, but only use it after the pus has completely drained. It’s a liquid bandage that you apply with a little brush and it protects broken skin from infection. The reason why you want to wait on it, is because it will trap pus and bacteria in the wound if they aren’t totally drained. It is an antiseptic, but with that much pus, it’s better to let it come out on it’s own.
                                                    Is it possible Zoe is pulling out her fur around her feet? It looked like sore hocks in the first picture, but maybe if they were bothering her enough, she tried pulling out the hair as a kind of stress relief? Not sure if that even makes sense..


                                                  • BinkyBunny
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                                                       Oye YOUCH!   I am so sorry you had to drive all that way to be treated rudely and sent off without much help.  (At least you did get antibiotics, but further guidance would have been ideal!!).  When does your regular vet get back?  I wonder if since you had already brought your bunny in if you would just be able to call to get some follow-up advice from your regular vet.  For example, if I go see my vet about  a problem, I can call and she’ll give me more advice and guidance if needed, it’s not as if I have to go back if the problem is the same. (unless there is another possibility for an underlying cause that could be treated. 

                                                      What do you use for her litter?  If you haven’t already, switch to something soft like carefresh and change often (scoop out the urine soaked areas daily). Again, you might be doing this??  

                                                      Here is an article written by Dana Krempels about sore hocks and how to bandage them however read it very carefully as it advises not to use the wrap method on open sores unless your bunny has been seen and is being treated by a rabbit savvy vet - http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sorehocks.html     But at least this is something for your to check out and discuss with your vet . 

                                                      Now there is a part of the article that makes it confusing– says don’t put on open sore, but then it sort of does — Dana clears that up on the allexperts site when someone asks her directly about that discrepancy.  http://en.allexperts.com/q/Rabbits-…-hocks.htm

                                                       


                                                    • jerseygirl
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                                                        I can’t believe how quickly the fur has gone!
                                                        I wondered if she’s pulling it too. Does the fur there come out easily. Her feet don’t appear to have any urine staining so I suppose that’s not causing fur loss.
                                                        I’m also wondering if she’s having an allergic reaction to something. Have you changed anything in the environement lately? Litter, what you wash the habitat fabrics in? Or used any carpet treatments?

                                                        I hope you have more success with your own vet. Can’t blame you for being peeved about the other one!


                                                      • bunnyjames
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                                                          Im assuming she is causing that fur loss, she is constantly licking her feet and I dont know what to do in order to make her stop licking them!!!! I was considering buying one of those cones you put on animals in order for them not to bite/lick an injury. what do you guys think??? also I use Yesterday News as litter but stopped and just use hay as litter, I think I might go out and buy some carefresh. Jerserygirl nothing has really changed same litter same everything. And no the fur doesnt come out easily so im pretty sure it has to do with all that licking she’s doing. Should I get get her one of those cones you put around the neck????


                                                        • BinkyBunny
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                                                            It does sound like she is making it worse my licking it. I know some people have used cones when their bunny would not leave their spay incision alone. Though it’s not ideal and can be stressful for a bunny, you can try it and see how well that works for zoe. I am wondering if your vet would offer some pain meds though as they may help relieve zoe and maybe she would be less likely to bother with her feet.

                                                            I do thinking getting carefresh will be better than using hay alone as the carefresh will soak up the urine more than hay would. Urine will just make the sore hocks worse.


                                                          • jerseygirl
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                                                              I’m not sure about the cones. She wouldn’t be able to eat her cecals would she?

                                                              Better to get the the cause of why she’s licking them so much. It may be something is irritating, she’s licking them incessently, losing the fur and that’s what’s causing the callouses. OR she has sore hocks for some other reason, is licking them to soothe herself and worsening the situation. I think treating them, pain relief and covering the feet would be better then a collar.

                                                              What’s the antibiotic that vet gave you? Is it a topical one?


                                                            • bunnyjames
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                                                                im guessing she is licking them because its irritating. She especially will start licking them when I put the neosporin on. =( I tried wrapping them but she will spend most of her time trying to take the wrappings off. So im pretty frustrated at this point and don’t really know where to go from here her regular vet won’t be in for another week, so I’m feeling pretty helpless at this point. i haven’t let her out of her cage since I’m scared the carpet will irritate her feet even more. So someone I know that has bunnies actually recommended I put some warm green tea bags on her feet to help with the inflammation, does anyone know if that is safe for her and probably even help???


                                                              • LittlePuffyTail
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                                                                  That’s awful how your vet acted. He really should have given you something to clean her feet with. If I were you I would call another vet and ask if they can give you some sort of bunny safe antibacterial wash to clean her feet.

                                                                  I’ve used tea bags with some success. It soothes and works to harden up the callouses. I’ve used both black tea and chamomile. Put warm tea bags on the hocks for 5 minutes or so. It’s perfectly safe. Carefully blot the feet dry with a soft towel.

                                                                  If a cone is the only way to get her to stop licking I would do it. They will never heal if she’s always after them. New Skin should never be put on open wounds or on top of infection. If you put a cone on her, she won’t like it but it will also allow you to bandage her feet.

                                                                  Give her a huge, deep bed of hay and keep her off carpet.

                                                                  You may find this site helpful:  http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sorehocks.html

                                                                  (((((((Foot Healing Vibes))))))


                                                                • bunnyjames
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                                                                     So today I woke up and got Zoe in order to put her some neosporin and she is waaaaaaaaaaay better!!!!!! no more nasty pus and the swelling has gone down quite significantly. The are still a bit red and looks a bit raw but are looking better!!!! im so relieved!!!! I did the tea bags last night and maybe that helped with the swelling and drainage of pus cuz its gone!!!! YEEEEEEAHY!!!!! PLUS some of the fur has started to grow back!!!! THANKS GUYS for all the advice!!!!!! I feel I should have given you guys the money I paid the dumb vet!!!!! I was starting to feel really stressed!!!!


                                                                  • LittlePuffyTail
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                                                                      Glad to hear it.

                                                                      How long is she on the antibiotics?

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                                                                  Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Sore hocks???