Sore hocks.

[Cosima]

I have a rabbit with sore hocks. It’s not bad yet but I want to treat it before it turns bad. how do you treat it?

 

[Cosima]

I accidently posted this thread in the wrong forum how do I move it?

 

[Graceful Rabbitry]

I have a rabbit with sore hocks. It’s not bad yet but I want to treat it before it turns bad. how do you treat it?

Put antibiotic ointment on the sore hock then wrap it in self-adhering bandage!! Works like charm, do this for about a week id say

 

[eco2pia]

I moved the thread for you @Cosima. I have not had great luck treating sore hocks in my old buck. He should have been named thumper, and despite giving him a solid resting board, giving him breaks from the cages on solid flooring, soaking his feet in Epsom, and using ointment and bandages, as soon as I stopped all my efforts and bred him he would thump his feet untill they bled.

So I think success may vary depending on why it is happening. In my case conformation and personality were stacking badly and the buck ended up not being a good breeder. Other times it seems to clear up easily with the addition of a resting board and some basic first aid. In those cases I think it's more a case of a heavy animal on thinner wire, who just needs a bit more furniture.

 

[Cosima]

half of my cages are wood but the breeder I got them for had floors that were completely made out of bamboo so I will switch it bamboo flooring as soon as I can. I heard that I can use something called Chlorhexidine or novus can I use that and if not what should I use?

 

[eco2pia]

Chlorhexidine is basically an antiseptic. That's mostly what you want, something you squirt on that kills everything. Because it's on their feet it gets dirty fast. Most of the things you would put on a cut for a human will work here. Just keep in mind that a rabbit will lick it and a human knows not to. So whatever it is should not be poisonous or should go away in some fashion before you put the rabbit away. For instance hydrogen peroxide is not good to drink but by the time you are done cleaning it's dried and gone so the rabbit won't poison himself if he licks it. Neosporin is an ointment that it's ok for them to lick. Try to think about treating a cut on your own foot. Worst case, soapy water is better than nothing right? What you have available will vary, but the concept is the same, clean it and try to keep it clean.

 

[Cosima]

Okay thanks.