Beginner: Rabbits with sore hocks(pododermatitis)

[drewdjca]

I have recently culled a litter and noticed some minor sores on their feet while I was skinning them. I did some google searching and found out that it was sore hocks.
I checked the breeding pair and they do not have any sores on their feet, but i have put some hard plastic down in all the cages just in case, and to help prevent any sore hocks in the new litters that I breed.

My main question is if the rabbits I have butchered are safe to eat. I know that any diseases and discoloration of the organs disqualifies any animal from ending up on my plate, but aside from that I'm pretty much in the dark.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to help me out.

 

[mystang89]

This is just my opinion but I would eat a rabbit with sore hocks any day. When I cook meat I generally cook it above 240 degrees which is more than enough to kill any bacteria or harmful stuff that may be in there. I would however put some Thyme on it. That tastes very good with any rabbit!

 

[Miss M]

I agree with Mystang, I would have no problem eating a rabbit with sore hocks.

In fact, I have a litter right now, and the whole lot of them seem to have them. :shock: They'll be in the fridge shortly. I'm glad I'm not perpetuating that line... it was an accidental breeding.

If the sore hocks have gone septic, that should be pretty easy to see.

 

[michaels4gardens]

so-- question about your rabbits flooring, -- is the floor 1/2" x 1" welded wire, with the 1/2 inch side up? sore hocks on young rabbits has been a very rare thing for me, -- just wondering... [if the 1" spacing side was up that would cause sore hocks in young rabbits].

 

[Miss M]

I don't know about Drewdjca, but mine is 1/2" up, GAW 14 gauge. I shouldn't have sore hocks on these babies, that's for sure.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I wouldn't hesitate to eat them either. Even with discoloration of the internal organs, the meat is safe to eat. The main thing you need to watch for is spots on the liver indicating coccidia, but even then the meat is safe, you just don't want to eat the liver.

Bacteria and fungus thrive in warm, moist environments. If you are using misters around the rabbits or they are putting their feet in their water crocks, or if there is high humidity in your area, that may be the cause.

Blu-Kote (a spray available at feed stores) will treat both and many have found it to be very effective for sore hocks. I would also make sure to clean and disinfect the floor wire thoroughly. After the initial cleaning, saturating a cloth with rubbing alcohol and wiping the floor wire daily would probably be the easiest option as an ongoing treatment since it will evaporate and doesn't need to be rinsed.

 

[mystang89]

Just to be on the safe side I put a board in all the rabbit cages here. I have 1" split and 1/2" split wire and have never had sore hock that I remember.

 

[michaels4gardens]

Just to be on the safe side I put a board in all the rabbit cages here. I have 1" split and 1/2" split wire and have never had sore hock that I remember.

sometimes the problem is a genetic weakness, and proper flooring will not prevent the sore hocks. --JMHO, if a person has proper, clean, flooring,- and also have some rabbits with sore hocks, those rabbits should not be selected for breeding purposes.

 

[user 3309]

on the subject of sore hocks, this is my first encounter:
Picked up a NZW/Florida White mix doe and got her breed by the breeder before taking her home. Just noticed that both of the hocks are visibility red, do sore hocks generally go away once they are on softer flooring? I don't want to stress her at this stage of the pregnancy, I put a litter box (plastic dish pan) to cover one of the wire flooring.
The NZ and FW doe was bred on the 31st of July and should be due about 12 days from now. That's probably why she's still incredibly shy, due to her hocks being pretty sore and she's 2 years old.

 

[Homer]

Like MSD said above, Blu-Kote from your feed store works well but I've had better luck with Preparation-H. Only issue with it is you have to apply it daily where the Blu-Kote will last a week easy. You need to get something on her now! You won't hurt anything and it's better to got this stopped before it gets out of control. :runaround: I cover most of the floor with resting boards as well. Getting them off the wire seems to help the healing process.

 

[user 3309]

I got the horse salv (the lanolin lotion) and blu-kote that I'll apply. Would a gauze wrap work in this situation?

 

[Homer]

I doubt you'll get the rabbit to leave it alone. I have heard of people using infants socks but don't remember who. Maybe Miss M or MSD will chime in. sorry :shrug:

 

[Miss M]

That was me. Toddler socks, which are longer than infant socks. Here's the thread: workaround-for-sore-hocks-t21237.html

I went into more detail about the treatment I used a couple of posts into the thread. It's not the only "right" treatment, though. <br /><br /> -- Tue Aug 19, 2014 1:59 pm -- <br /><br /> The bunny involved is still wearing socks (no more bandages, though), and doing well.

 

[user 3309]

I remember that post and that's brilliant! Got old socks I can use the vet wrap to secure it on the hocks. Another coat of the salve should sooth the irritation away, the fur is gone revealing the exposed skin.