Sore hocks, also known as Pododermatitis, is a very common problem in pet rabbits.It occurs when the bottom of a rabbit's foot develops blisters.Excess weight and wire mesh cage flooring can contribute to sore hocks.Immediate treatment for sore hocks is important for rabbits.If your rabbit has sore hocks, you can treat it by using medication and addressing the underlying cause.
Step 1: Take your rabbit to the vet.
A rabbit with sore hocks is unable to rest in its cage because it is in so much pain.The bottom of its feet could be red and oozing discharge.Take your rabbit to the vet as soon as possible if it can't get used to its cage or its feet are abnormal.If you're looking for a vet with experience treating rabbits, try to find one in your area.To find a rabbit vet in your area, use the website http://rabbit.org/vet-listings/.
Step 2: Your vet can clean your rabbit's feet.
Your vet will clean the sore areas of your rabbit's feet with a wound cleanser.Your rabbit may resist the cleaning procedure if it is in a lot of pain.Before any other medication can be applied to the feet, they must be clean.The vet may use a soap to clean the rabbit's feet.They may apply an antibiotic cream after the cleaning.Your vet may bandage your rabbit's feet after cleaning and applying the antibiotic cream.rabbits don't like their feet being bandagedIf your rabbit tries to chew off the bandage, don't be surprised.
Step 3: Home care begins with a rabbit foot soak.
After the initial foot cleaning by your vet, you will need to continue cleaning and treating your rabbit's feet at home.It is recommended by your vet that you soak your rabbit's feet two to three times a day.At your local pharmacy, you can find Betadine and Nolvasan.You can soak your rabbit's feet with a small bowl.Holding your rabbit, gently lower the foot into the bowl.How long you should soak your rabbit's feet will be instructed by your vet.After soaking your rabbit's feet, gently dry them off with a clean towel, apply antibiotic cream, and bandage them.
Step 4: Home care should be continued with bandages.
There are bandaging materials at your local pharmacy.Wrap the foot and lower leg with an elastic bandage and place a pad on the bottom of it.Don't wrap tightly because it will reduce blood flow to the foot.Ask your vet to show you the proper way to bandage a rabbit's foot.If your rabbit is in a lot of pain, it may not want to be soaked and bandaged.While you hold it and treat its feet, you could give it treats.If this doesn't work, you should talk to your vet about ways to keep your rabbit healthy.
Step 5: You should give your rabbit antibiotics.
Your vet will prescribe antibiotics if your rabbit has become sick.They can be given by mouth or directly to the feet.Severe cases of sore hocks can be treated with oral antibiotics.Certain antibiotics can cause serious GI problems in rabbits if they reduce the amount of goodbacteria in the GI system.Your vet will be very careful about selecting the right antibiotic for your rabbit.Your vet may recommend giving your rabbit a second antibiotic in addition to the one you already have.An oral antibiotic can be given using a needle in a rabbit's mouth.Don't touch the tip of the container if you are applying an antibiotic or cream.When giving your rabbit an antibiotic, follow the instructions on the prescription.
Step 6: Provide your rabbit with pain medication.
Your vet will prescribe a pain medication to reduce your rabbit's pain.It is possible that this pain medication is an anti- inflammatory drug.Follow your vet's instructions when giving your rabbit pain medication.There is a possibility that the pain medication is in pill form.If you want to give your rabbit a pill, you can either hide it in his favorite treats or crush it and mix it with his food or fruit juice.To crush the pill, use the bottom of a butter knife.
Step 7: The flooring of the cage should be comfortable.
In the wild, rabbits sink their toes into the ground and have adequate foot support because they move around on grass and soft earth.It is difficult to replicate that type of flooring for rabbits.If your rabbit has been sitting on the wire mesh cage flooring without another soft area to rest its feet, you will need to make it more comfortable.If buying a smooth-bottomed cage isn't practical, cover the entire wire mesh flooring with soft flooring.A thick layer of soft bedding, such as straw, can be placed on top of a towel on the wire mesh.cardboard can be placed on top of the wire mesh.You will need to change it frequently because it is very absorbent.If your rabbit's cage already has smooth flooring, consider covering it with a soft cotton mat that has a rubber bottom.The soft cotton mat will give your rabbit traction, which will keep it from sliding on the smooth surface.All bedding needs to be deep and absorbent so that it can cushion the hocks.
Step 8: It's a good idea to remove dirty bedding regularly.
It can irritate the skin and cause sore hocks.If your rabbit likes to sit in the litter box, it will expose its feet to a lot of urine.If you care for your rabbit, you should remove the dirty bedding from his cage at least once a day.Make sure to remove your rabbit's feces when you remove the bedding.A sore hock infection can be worsened by the presence of urine and feces in the cage.
Step 9: Your rabbit has a cage.
Keeping your rabbit's cage clean is one of the things you should do.You should clean your rabbit's food and water bowls with hot and soapy water each day.The cage and toys need to be cleaned every two weeks.
Step 10: Your rabbit has nails.
The skin on a rabbit's foot can be damaged by long nails.If your rabbit has long nails, you should trim them.As a way to prevent another case of sore hocks, keep them short after treatment.If you don't like trimming your rabbit's nails, have your vet do it.Don't trim past the quick of the nails if you decide to trim your rabbit's nails on your own.There is a blood vessel in the middle of each nail.It would be very painful for your rabbit to be trimmed past the quick.
Step 11: Help your rabbit lose weight.
An overweight rabbit can cause it to put unnatural and even pressure on its feet.sore hocks can be caused by this pressure.If your rabbit is overweight or obese, you will need to gradually lower its weight.Feed your rabbit a healthy diet and increase its exercise.Before starting a weight loss program for your rabbit, talk to your vet.Your vet will let you know how much weight your rabbit should lose.You can run through an obstacle course, dig, and chase your rabbit.At the beginning of treatment, your rabbit's feet may hurt too much for exercise.hay, fresh vegetables, and limited amounts of pellets and treats are included in a healthy diet for your rabbit.
Step 12: Treat knee problems.
A rabbit with arthritis is more likely to have sore hocks.If your rabbit has problems with its joints, your vet will treat it for those as well.If you want to make your rabbit's cage more comfortable, you can use a litter box with a low front and shallow food and water bowls.