I just bought my first rabbits about 3 weeks ago; last week I noticed one doe had sore hocks. Today her front feet have sores too. What can I do to help her heal? I could put her in a cage directly on the ground to get her off the wire--would that help? She's in an all-wire hutch with the 1/2"X 1" bottom.

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), August 05, 2001

Answers

When we used to raise rabbits and had that problem, we put a board in one area of the cage so they can get off the wire. That will take care of the problem.

-- Anita Nielsen (atnielsen@egl.net), August 05, 2001.

quick fix?

Cardboard! They will eat it but so what! Have any drywall? They love it and it is good for them, wood is great too. But cardboard is something you can get your hands on right now. Heck, a cereal box works in a pinch or something similar :)

The problem with the cages being on the ground is the urine can't go anywhere but soak into the ground and that isn't good for open wounds.

This usually happens to the heavier breed rabbits.

-- westbrook (westbrook_farms@yahoo.com), August 05, 2001.

Thanks so much! Actually, wood is easy for me to come by, as half of our downstairs is a carpenter shop! It gets a bit noisy sometimes but can be quite handy:o) Thanks again

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), August 05, 2001.

Drywall board works really well- and has the added incentive of keeping white rabbits feet white (instead of yellowish).

-- Kevin in NC (vantravlrs@aol.com), August 05, 2001.

I would be reluctant to use any laminated wood due to the glues used in them.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), August 05, 2001.

Elizabeth, Rexes and Minirexes are prone to sores because of their different hair. I put in a wood floor in all my Mini hutches and a litter box filled with shavings. They usually use the litter box so they keep their floor clean. Unless they get infected, you usually don't have to do anything to clear up the sores (make sure no maggots, yuck) You can use peroxide to clean, then put a triple antibiotic on it. They heal quickly.

-- Dee in NJ (gdgtur@goes.com), August 05, 2001.

In addition to a board you can treat the soars with bag-balm or preparation H.

-- Tom S. (trdsshepard@yahoo.com), August 06, 2001.

Thanks for all the answers. She is a Californian doe, about 5 months old. Since I'm new to this it's pretty scary--she is just laying there today with her front legs splayed straight out to the sides. I put a board in (not laminated wood) yesterday after I posted but she's no better today. No maggots and I'm going to keep checking her often; however, I have a fan on the rabbits during the day, which will almost certainly keep any flies off. The sores are not open, but scabbed over, so I don't know if I should put peroxide on or leave things alone. I guess it can't hurt so I'm off to do it now. Thanks again.

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), August 06, 2001.

Oh, I forgot to say, I do have a mini-rex also,and although he's fine now, I'm going to put a board in with him too so he can get off the wire when he wants to.

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), August 06, 2001.

I have found that Iodine works well for sore hock.

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), August 06, 2001.

Elizabeth, You can just leave her alone, the wood will help the sores clear up. Since they are not open, don't bother them. Sounds like she's hot. You might want to put an ice bottle in her cage. Freeze a half filled plastic soda bottle with water, then put it in her cage. She'll lay against it, getting cool.

-- Dee in NJ (gdgtur@goes.com), August 06, 2001.

Thank you for these good suggestions - I am trying to help a rescued mini rex with sore hocks.

-- Win Rogers (rogerso@hotmail.com), April 01, 2002.