ER Vet or Wait a Week?

[mocha200]

 I just checked Lulu’s hocks and she now has dark red blisters (I believe) on both hind feet along with blisters on her front paws right were her claw meets the foot. I would normally schedule her an apt for Monday but we are leaving tomorrow and will be gone all week. Is this something that can wait? Or should I take her to the vet now? If I take her now my Grandma (who’s pet sitting) would probably not beable to give her any meds so I’m not sure how going now would help. What should I do? I am stressed out because I feel like this is all my fault! 

[hannaroo]

It’s not your fault, even the best looked after buns get sore hocks. All animals get sick from time to time all you can do is take preventative measures. I would take her to the vet and explain someone else is caring for them in the next few days. They may give you something easier to apply or just something to make your bun more comfortable? Is there anyone who could drop by and help your grandmother?

[mocha200]

@Hannaroo: We just moved to our area and my grandparents live right next door. All of our other friends/relatives live 2+ hours away. I was thinking maybe if I layer the whole cage thick with soft blankets/towels and lock her in there (they are normally free range) That that would help since should wouldn’t be going up and down the ramp and walking on hard floors?

[CinnabunMom]

So I’m going through the exact same thing with Cinnabun right now! I would get her to a vet. The vet told me today that it was good I got Cinnabun in when I did because if I waited an infection can form and spread to the bone. I wouldn’t risk it. Like Hannaroo said, even the best looked after buns get sore hocks. Cinnabun has never been on any kind of wire or bad flooring or fiith, so don’t blame yourself!

[mocha200]

I feel like its my fault because I didn’t cut her nails because my dad hadn’t been home to help me and they got pretty long.

I’m going to give them a call and see which vet is open today. (We have 3 vets in town that rotate on who is the ER vet each week)

[mocha200]

Just called, Got a voicemail that said if you have an animal emergency that you can reach the vet at #. Is this an emergency? My Dad said he would take her on Monday (as he will be home until Tues. Morning). Should I have him do that? I would rather be there.

[mocha200]

Ok I talked to the vet and she said for my Dad bring her in on Mon. She told me to keep her off of my floor (which is hardwood with a rug on top) and just have her in the cage area where I have memory foam mats and I am going to pile fleece, towels and sheets everywhere else! Is there a reason I should stay home from camp? It took us a whole week to set this up and I want to go SO bad!

[hannaroo]

As long as your bunny IS looked after by someone responsible who will medicate her as needed you can go. Treatment is important though so just make sure she doesn’t miss out. Maybe the vet can trim the nails when your dad takes her in on Monday to stop the problem getting worse or reoccurring.
It can be daunting clipping nails on your own. Sometimes I have help with my bunnies but if I don’t and can’t do it myself I book a nurse to help me. It cost me £10 for both (although mine behave very well at the vets) which isn’t alot compared to the hassle of handling a squirmy bun!
It sounds like you and your vet have a good plan though so I hope lulu is feeling much better after some rest and treatment

[mocha200]

Hannaroo: I think my Grandma will give the antibiotics and my Dad will when he is home. I am so nervous about leaving her still!

We already clipped her nails today so shes good now. I can clip them myself but she bites very hard and its harder to do it myself. I think from now on I may take them to the vet so I have a set schedule on when to clip them.

Does anyone know if neosporine would help it at all? I put some bag balm on it earlier but I though Neosporin might be better.

[CinnabunMom]

Neosporin is fine but NOT the kind with pain medicine in it. Often it’s called Neosporin plus or will say with pain medicine or something, it’s very toxic to bunnies.

[Stickerbunny]

Make sure it isn’t the type of neosporin with steroids.

[mocha200]

Yes I know. I looked up online and I think bag balm is supposed to be better on hocks though.

[mocha200]

Both Mocha and Lulu are on antibiotics. Lulu has has to stand on a towel soaked in water and epson salt and we can put neosporine on too. It’s kind of hard for me not to be home with them.

[MoveDiagonally]

My vet recommends this for sore hocks:
http://www.exoticdvm.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=healx.collection&parentGroup_id=82&productGroup_id=124

It’s been working pretty great for Monty. We had a bit of an issue getting them fully healed because I was being too chicken about cutting his nails super short. Things have improved now and I’ve gotten more confident with clipping . I believe the shipping is expensive on the site I posted and I ordered the same product off Amazon. While it was more expensive base price it ended up being cheaper with free shipping (I have AmazonPrime).

[mocha200]

So I have an update on the buns.

They went back to the vet on Monday as their hocks weren’t better and they were out of their antibiotics. They got a refill and the vet also said that Lulu is looking a lot better. She didn’t look at Mocha’s but he already has hair growing back even though it is a little red. I have been soaking a T-shirt in 30onces of water and 1 once of Nolvasan and the vet said that has helped. She told me that even when their hocks heal to avoid hardwood floors as they must be sensitive. I bought some puzzle mats to put down on the floor so they now have a pen attached to their cage. But I was thinking, I have a 5×7 rug that I stopped using when I found their hocks because carpet can be very abrasive, but If I put a sheet/blankets on top would it be ok? that way I could put the puzzle mats around it and they could maybe be free range in my room again! What do you think? Would the rug be ok with sheets on top?

[Author]

Messages