How to prevent sore hocks?

[melrohner]

Hello! New member here. I run a teen center and for Christmas we got the teens a pet rabbit. She has been a wonderful pet, and has adjusted to living with a bunch of teenagers a lot faster and easier than I expected. I noticed tonight a little balding spot on her heel, which I’m assuming (after some research) is possibly a precursor to sore hocks. She does live in a cage on aspen bedding and hay, no wire floor. However, she spends a large portion of most days with free run of a large, carpeted room. She is amazing at using her litter box, so for the most part her bedding stays nice and dry. I’m worried about the spot on her heel and am wondering if there’s anything else that I need to be doing to prevent it from becoming a real problem/health issue. Thanks in advance for any advice you guys can give me!

[jerseygirl]

Welcome!
It’s not unusual for rabbits to get a bald spot in the middle of the heel. The fur around it folds back over it and it’s not always easy to see. Definitely do keep an eye on it though. The skin is healthy pink colour and not broken?

Some carpets can be a bit abrasive for rabbit feet. You could try putting some cotton bed sheets down over the areas she runs, if this is practical. That might help some. Also, keeping a rabbit a healthy weight and the nails short will help but some are just prone to sore hocks unfortunately.

In her cage, you could just have the shavings in a litterbox only and not use to line the whole cage. It’s not really necessary. Most rabbits like lying on the bare cage floor anyway. Some people have found those memory foam bathmats with microfibre covering good as a cage liner for buns with problem hocks.

[DanaNM]

Is she a larger breed? My Rhinelander has a small pink, almost bald spot each heel. I noticed when I got her several years ago and have kept an eye on it since, and it’s never developed into a sore, but I do check it very regularly just in case.

Keeping the nails trimmed correctly will help. Carpet can actually be a bit harsh on their feet. Non-pilling fleece is very nice for them.

. . . 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.  

[melrohner]

Thanks for the replies! I do have to admit that I haven’t been the best at keeping her nails trimmed – I had just trimmed them before this post, and I will be sure to stay on it more regularly from now on. I was just honestly afraid to do it the first time, but it was fairly easy (even though she wasn’t too happy about it). When I was showing a co-worker we realized that she actually has two little bald spots, one on each heel, and no, the skin isn’t broken. I don’t really have much choice about the carpet, and as it’s a whole room I really can’t cover it. And she LOVES her freedom, so I would hate to restrict her to a smaller covered area.

I’ve thought about sewing her a covering for her cage floor – almost like a little fleece quilt. I could do it pretty easily, I even think I have some fleece at home. My concern is about her chewing the fleece, and worse, the thread. She is definitely a chewer, she will destroy anything left within her reach. Do you guys think a sewn cage liner would be safe, or would it be a bad idea?

I’m also going to keep her litterbox changed more often, so that she won’t be on wet bedding even when she’s in her box. I was changing it about twice a week, but I’m going to try for every other day at least.

I’m not very familiar with rabbit breeds, but I think she’s going to stay relatively small. She is a mini rex.

Thanks for your help, this forum seems like it is going to be an awesome resource!

[jerseygirl]

Ah, well Rexes and mini rexes are prone to sore hocks, so it’s definitely something you’ll need to watch. They are also prone to weight gain which can compound problems with hocks , so be careful with her diet. I’ll let others comment more on the cage liner. I have a fabric chewer and can’t get away with letting her have much. I have found a sheet wrapped tightly around carpet tiles has been left alone. I have this up on top of an old set of drawers where they tend to snooze. I think because it’s flat and smooth, she tends to leave it alone.

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