Revised-Sore Hocks Too

[Isabelle]

I saw the recent posts on sore hocks as I was coming on here to post my issue with sore hocks now too

So about two weeks ago I noticed Dutchess was sitting funny sometimes, but it took me a few days for the light bulb to go on and I checked her feet. Her hocks are all red and have clear sores on them. Luckily I already had an appointment for regular rabbit care (nail trim/vent cleaning/overall check etc.) with our tech scheduled, but I was only able to bump it up one day. Anyway she suggested some vitamin e capsules, to break open the liquid and put it on her hocks. I did that two to three times a day for about a week without improvement, and was able to upgrade my tech appointment to a vet appointment.

So she got a thorough exam and we got a tube of antibiotic ointment that I put on her hocks twice a day. She does not lick it off, I watch her after I put it on. That was on Tuesday, and now I do see a little improvement they are not as red as they were. My concerns now are how she got them and how to help heal and prevent them from happening again. I don’t feel we’re out of the woods yet so I thought I would explain the set up at our house and see what I can improve on.

Right now she has free range of much of the house 12-18 hours per day, every day which is carpeted. She has an open bunny abode condo that is two stories with a ramp, upper and lower are carpeted. The condo carpeting is much thinner then our house carpeting. At night she has a large 3 foot by 1 1/2 foot tall cage that has wire sides and a deep plastic basin for flooring. I am reading now that plastic is not too good for bunny feet? She has bedding in there but always shoves it around to get to the bare plastic floor no matter how deep I put bedding in. I use yesterdays news litter for her which seems soft, she doesn’t spend time in there beyond her bathroom needs. She does have a cat cube she sits in frequently that I just realized I believe is a vinyl material? It sits on the carpet, but I suppose that would still be bad.

I have just put a fleece pet bed in her cage for night time, I only have one and it takes up one third of her cage, her litterbox another third, and a third has bedding which she still pushes around to get to the plastic bottom of the cage. I have ordered two of the fleece beds that was recommended in the other thread, I hope the one will fit nicely in the cage so that it will just be bed and litterbox without her able to get to the plastic floor.

Sorry this is so long is there anything else I can do for her/how is her set up and how can I improve? I really hate these sore hocks! She is eating and drinking like a little trooper and beyond sitting different sometimes and pulling her feet when I put the ointment on she is behaving normally.

[Sarita]

I honestly believe you are doing as much as you can – even carpet can wear down the back of feet – it sounds like you get her nails trimmed regularly and that will help too.

I’m glad she is improving.

[Isabelle]

I’ll keep you guys updated, she seems about the same today. I’m not expecting overnight recovery of course, sounds like these can take several weeks to really get better.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Were there open wounds or just sore, inflammed looking? My vet always recommends oral antibiotics if there are open wounds to prevent infection/abscesses. She also recommended washing the sores in clorhexidine wash twice daily to keep the area clean. Olivia had very inflammed hocks and the snoozy pads really helped heal them. With free range, though, I’m not sure what to recommend.

Hope her feet heal up quickly.

[Isabelle]

There were no open wounds, just clear/whitish type blisters with red skin. At this point I believe she has an early stage, if that makes a difference? Vet didn’t say anything about washing her feet. I can’t figure out how to get pictures on here of her feet or even how to take a good one while holding her, but I searched google and this picture (not my bunny) is the closest I can find that resembles what hers looks like, everything else on google was more advanced than she has

http://www.elftown.com/stuff/108511….jpg?jpg=y

She has the missing patch of fur, redness, and clear blisters that on the farthest point of her heel.

[LittlePuffyTail]

It’s good you caught it at such an early stage. Once there are open wounds, it’s much harder to heal. That’s where being an attentive bun Mom (or Dad) pays off.

My buns only ever had early stage. Although Olivia’s were to the point, my vet thought they may start to crack, so she had put her on oral antibiotics just in case. Once they open, it’s very hard to keep infection out of there.

[Isabelle]

The ointment the vet gave is antibiotic, so would that mean I wouldn’t have to be washing her feet?

[Sarita]

I would not wash the feet with the antibiotic ointment.

[Isabelle]

Okay.

[Isabelle]

Her feet really have not been improving, I called vet today so they will hopefully have something new to try. Any suggestions I could ask about when they do call?

[Sarita]

I’ve used silvadene cream in the past – ask the vet about that.

[Isabelle]

At this point the vet said that this is probably going to be more of a maintenance type of thing, there is no infection or wounds on her feet. So at this time she would not recommend any further treatment, she did say we could try and bandage her feet, but Dutchess would obviously just tear off and perhaps eat the bandages which would lead to more problems and not solve the hock issue. Her mobility is not being affected and there is no sign of arthritis, so at least point it just making her life cushier. I’m working on her habitat and condo to make it better for her feet, I have two fleece pad beds I bought and have been stuffing towels and soft rugs underneath to add extra cushioning. Dutchess is not too fond of it unfortunately she keeps digging to try and get to the plastic bottom which she much prefers . . . *eye roll* Anyway any more tips on creating a softer environment would be much appreciated. Vet suggested using some pieces of drywall under the padding and beds as it is soft and has give to it, so I might do that.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Hmmm…I’d be kind of worried about her eating the drywall.

I don’t really have any more suggestions other than keep a close eye on her feet and make sure to keep her nails trimmed as short as possible.

[Isabelle]

My vet said it was okay for buns to nibble dry wall, she said she uses it for her own buns. I was a bit concerned too, but she said that keeping pads/rugs/mats on it and tucked under would help prevent nibbling. The biggest thing is that it provides more a springing action and has give to it that mimics the outdoor earth.

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