Out in the wild, rabbits have soft surfaces such as sand, soil, or grass to sink their feet into. Wire-bottom cages are preferred by rabbit owners since they make clean-up much easier. To start with your rabbit’s hutch should have a soft, non abrasive surface to walk on. Prevention; Sequelae; Introduction. Prolonged contact with wire or abrasive or moist surfaces leads first to hair loss, followed by inflammation of the skin, bacterial skin infection, extension of the infection into deeper tissues, and often abscess formation. The rabbit books suggest that if a rabbitry has sore hocks, the fault is the rabbit — thin skin on the feet, lack of wool cover, or a genetic propensity toward inflammation in the foot zone. Prevention. Sore hocks are a relatively common problem, especially in house rabbits. Inspect the surface where your rabbit spends the most time. Sores hocks on rabbit’s feet can cause death especially to those heavy-weight rabbits. Pododermatitis in rabbits – sore hocks Disruption of the normal stance or locomotion in rabbits may lead to pressure sores on the base of the feet, known as pododermatitis. Usually, rabbits develop Sore Hock from an environment that is unhygienic or uncomfortable. There is one little sore on the pad of each hind leg. Share this: Ulcerative Pododermatitis in Rabbits. We have been fortunate with this problem, as we have yet to have a rabbit get sore hocks. It usually caused by wire floored cages. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to decrease the risk! After soaking its feet in the solution, apply an anti-bacterial cream and wrap the feet with bandages. The most common cause of sore hocks is wire-bottom cages. The ideal substrate is dry grass, as explained above. Starting as a skin problem, this condition progresses over time to affect deeper tissues and can be extremely debilitating. The common rabbit advice is to cull the rabbit and don’t use them for breeding. Hi my rabbit has a little bit of fur rubbing away on one of his heels, I am worried about it worsening and turning into sore hocks. Sore hocks in rabbits. I feel like he should be taken in because some of it is black on the bottom of his feet! Symptoms. After looking it up online and looking at his feet, I've come to the conclusion that it's definitely sore hocks. However, day to day living on this wire wears at the rabbit’s feet. Pododermatitis, more commonly known as sore hocks, in rabbits is a common problem. My little biscotti has some sore hocks. It important to evaluate your rabbits before breeding. Helping Sore Hocks. Sore Hocks are calluses or sore on rabbits feet and is more common in large breeds. Replace bedding every other day. Create good quality flooring and make sure it is clear and free of abrasive material. To diagnose sore hocks in rabbits, check your rabbit’s hocks for signs of the condition, such as fur loss, red or cracked skin, and sores. Provide a flat board and dry bedding material you also apply zinc or iodine ointments to prevent any further infections. There are plenty of things you can do to minimize your rabbit’s risk of developing sore hocks, all of them much easier than dealing with a grumpy bunny who is in pain, and changing bandages. make sure you clip them at least 1 a month or when ever needed. The Homesteading Hippy Soft, dry bedding, such as hay or several layers of newspaper should be provided in one area of the cage. Sore Hocks Average Cost . As domestic rabbits are usually kept on hard surfaces, their toenails cannot dig in to the ground, resulting in more pressure on the heels of their feet. He is a house rabbit who mainly free roams on carpeted flooring, his cage flooring is very soft and padded and his litter is changed daily to prevent him standing in moist hay. I suggest that the problem of sore hocks is a management problem, more than a genetic problem. Sore hocks are painful for the rabbit, but sore hocks are easy to prevent. Treatment . Keep rabbit’s nails trimmed on a regular basis. The surface of the hock that regularly receives pressure from the body is where rabbit owners are most likely to see the effects. • Sore hocks are common in rabbits housed on abrasive surfaces (wire, carpeting or Astroturf) or those that sit in soiled litter boxes or on soiled bedding. Sore hocks is generally seen in rabbits being cared for by the inexperienced or those who just don’t care about their rabbit’s environment. Jan 6, 2014 - Sore hocks are a painful infection on a rabbit's foot or feet. Pododermatitis in rabbits – sore hocks. Read further to find out about available treatments and prevention. Hello I have been using Aloe Vera Gel on Molly's sore hocks for around 2 months now, and although it soothes her skin and her skin isn't any worse for it, I'm not seeing any major improvement, ie I want to see fur re-growth and softer skin. Last night we noticed blood all over his pen (we keep his cage, filled with bedding and hay, inside an X-Pen). The best way to deal with sore hocks is through prevention. Layers of fleece or soft cotton can provide a good flooring. This restlessness makes the feet abrasive and sore on the bottom. What is pododermatitis? He is not over weight and his environment is clean and he has never been exposed to wire caging! If wire flooring is used in the cage, make sure it is smooth, nonabrasive, and sufficiently wide to prevent abrasions. In rabbits with long nails the weight falls on the back of the foot resulting in sore hocks. If you do not treat your rabbit’s sore hocks, your rabbit may stop eating as it is too painful to stand. Posted on 6th August 2018 by Vetstream. The development of sore on the hocks of rabbits known as sore hocks. But, with a disabled rabbit, this can sometimes be challenging. At the moment, its very dry, and mostly pink, with a few red spots. PetMD Editorial. How to look for it, How to prevent it, The causes, How to treat it and much more! Ben Franklin said “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, wise advice for most areas of life, sore hocks included. Sore hocks are often found in rabbits housed in wire cages or hutches as well as house rabbits housed on hard floors or carpeting. Your vet will clean its feet and recommend an anti-bacterial cleaning solution you can use at home. These two points should be in mind, especially in wire cages. Cages should be clean and large enough to allow free movement. Tonight I plan to wash his hind legs with soap and water before applying Neosporin. Prevention. He or she may also refuse to breed because of the pain and irritation. Sore Hock in rabbits: This is a condition that, in rabbits, is fairly common. Sore hocks generally appear on the hind legs. Even when they are living in the wild, they maintain their living place with leaves and soft things. Normally, the prevention for sore hocks is to provide a rabbit with a clean, soft and overall hygienic lifestyle. Sore hocks do occur when the rabbit is living in non-ideal environments or in the place where their feet don’t get rest. Sore hocks can be very painful for your rabbit, and distressing for you to look at and treat. Sore hocks are common in rabbits who are living in an environment that isn’t suitable for their delicate hocks, and since they don’t have paw pads, there is no protection for their feet. At home, if they don’t have similar soft surfaces, they will suffer from this condition. This video is all about sore hocks in rabbits. You can also observe whether your rabbit is reluctant to move around, which may mean it's experiencing discomfort or pain from sore hocks. Sore hocks are something which any rabbit can get any time. Ulcerative pododermatitis (sore hocks) is a common condition of domestic rabbits . This condition is often caused by environmental factors such as build up of urine and dropping buildup and wire floored cages. This is a skin infection affecting the feet. Pododermatitis in rabbits: an under-recognised problem Author : Elisabetta Mancinelli Categories : Exotics, Vets Date : February 23, 2015 Pododermatitis, often called “sore hocks”, is a chronic, granulomatous, ulcerative dermatitis, which most commonly affects the plantar aspect of the caudal metatarsal and tarsal areas of rabbits. Sore Hocks in Rabbits. Your rabbits hocks don’t look bad enough that he should go to the vet but I would personally take action to start healing them now before they get worse. Causes of Sore Hocks. In addition, one should adapt the living conditions as good as possible. Pododermatitis, also referred to as sore hocks, is a common illness in rabbits. Remember that prevention is the best treatment, so everyone living with a rabbit should evaluate the living environment. Cause: poor hygiene, moist conditions, abrasive floor surfaces, obesity, inactivity and thin skin in the metatarsal region all predispose to the condition. Despite the name it does not involve the ankle joint, but instead the skin of the hind foot, or in some cases the front paws. Keep your hutches clean. It is usually only seen on the back feet but can sometimes affect the front feet also in … Place the rabbit with sores on solid and smooth flooring or on the ground until the condition treated. A rabbit with sore hocks should be examined and treated by a veterinarian. I've heard about Dermagel, but not too sure about using it. Ulcerative pododermatitis, or bumblefoot, is a bacterial infection of the skin; specifically, the skin of the back feet and hocks -- the part of the back leg that rests on the ground when a rabbit sits. Sore hocks in rabbits, is also known as bumblefoot or ulcerative pododermatitis. Learn how to treat it and prevent sore hocks again! Clip nails: Clipping your rabbits nails is extremely important when they have sore hocks! Large rabbits such as Flemish Giants and angoras, rabbits with shortened guard hairs on their feet like Rexes, and obese, emaciated, or pregnant rabbits are more vulnerable to sore hocks. Starting as a skin problem, this condition progresses over time to affect deeper tissues and can be extremely debilitating. Diagnosis. The feet may become so infected that you will have no other choice but to put your rabbit down. what can i do to prevent this? The most common reasons that cause this problem are as under: Unhygienic living standards: Living standards for any rabbit hold the most importance. May 19, 2010. Anything that will affect a rabbit’s digitigrade locomotion making it move on its hock for instance or whatever disrupts the fur cushioning may be a triggering factor for ulcerative pododermatitis including poor conformation and posture. 1. How do rabbits get sore hocks? To treat sore hocks in rabbits, take it to the vet right away if you notice that its feet are red, inflamed, or oozing fluid. Pododermatitis is a condition where the hind feet near the elbow area or hock of the rabbit begin to show signs of infection. My rabbits both had a bad case of sore hocks later this summer. Disruption of the normal stance or locomotion in rabbits may lead to pressure sores on the base of the feet, known as pododermatitis. Always remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Sore Hocks. If sore hocks are allowed to worsen and pressure sores develop, they are very difficult to treat and recurrence is common. In this video we show you want sore hocks look like and how to treat them. and why is it happening? We recently got a rescued Rex rabbit. How SmartBedz Can Prevent Sore Hocks Prevention is always the best course of action and one of the best ways to stop your rabbit getting Sore Hocks is good hygiene practice. 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