Best Treatment For Foot Sores?

[brentr]

When I examined my NZ junior buck today, I found sores on both hind feet. I feel badly, and I'm not sure how I missed it before now, because they are not fresh. Anyway, how best to treat this? They are scabbed over, no fresh bleeding, they just look very painful. I have not noticed however, that he moves less or limps noticeably. He still eats and drinks like a champ.

I put a bigger piece of plywood in his cage for a resting board. What should I be doing about medicating this, or is it just let him heal on his own assuming that a bigger resting place off the wire will help him take pressure off his feet? His cage bottom is 1 x 1/2 wire, with the half inch wire side up.

I've never had to deal with this before, so I welcome any and all advice.

 

[bluemini]

When I examined my NZ junior buck today, I found sores on both hind feet. I feel badly, and I'm not sure how I missed it before now, because they are not fresh. Anyway, how best to treat this? They are scabbed over, no fresh bleeding, they just look very painful. I have not noticed however, that he moves less or limps noticeably. He still eats and drinks like a champ.

I put a bigger piece of plywood in his cage for a resting board. What should I be doing about medicating this, or is it just let him heal on his own assuming that a bigger resting place off the wire will help him take pressure off his feet? His cage bottom is 1 x 1/2 wire, with the half inch wire side up.

I've never had to deal with this before, so I welcome any and all advice.

I had bought two rabbits that had this and their feet was in bad shape, I just put them in a solid bottom cage and they healed up,there may be sme kind of ointment to use,but im not sure maybe peroxide ?

 

[Beekissed]

We always used Bag Balm and made sure his resting board wasn't getting peed upon...urine will keep those sores angry and open. You might also see, as you go along, if this buck has a tendency to develop sores on his feet....if he does, cull him. It's really not worth keeping a rabbit whose skin is that tender and sensitive.

 

[dewey]

Long nails can also complicate it, so a trim would be a good idea if they need it. I'd use Betadine or iodine solution on it daily until it heals. That'll help with bacteria and help dry it up.

Hard surfaces on the bottom of the cages can actually contribute to bringing out the condition, but once it happens they need a solid place...keeping it dry and clean is the challenge...rotating tiles out daily while the other tile is being sanitized might be easier than trying to keep wood dry & sanitary.

A lack of nice, well furred pads is hereditary and will be passed on to offspring. Proper wire bottom cages (which it sounds like you have) won't cause sore hock in sound rabbits. Something that's always stuck with me is that I once read in the ARBA guidebook that breeders shouldn't need to depend on solid surfaces to control the condition...hence where the culling comes in, as Beekissed mentioned.

 

[hoodat]

Always consider the thickness of the hair on the feet when buying a rabbit. The thick hair acts as a cushion to help prevent sore hocks.

 

[CYGChickies]

We had a doe get it because she was always thumping and a very nervous rabbit when we first received her. She was raised at first by a man who didn't touch them other than to move them. We cleaned them and applied "liquid bandage" once and within two days she was fine. Hair grew back and she's been perfect since. That's the only experience I had and we also had to clean her up from urine staining so I think she was kept on solid-bottom not extremely clean caging before we got her. She's a beautiful girl now with thick fluffy footpads. I'm glad we got lucky with her though she only started thin callouses and never cracked open or got big scabs.

CYG

 

[Oregon Webfoot]

This helpful thread made me question the effectiveness of my Blue Kote spray. It was recommended by an breeder of long-standing, but I've not noticed any profound improvements for sore hocks. Perhaps, it's operator error? :/ Any thoughts from members on the BK product before I try to find Liquid Bandage?

Thanks!

 

[oneacrefarm]

This helpful thread made me question the effectiveness of my Blue Kote spray. It was recommended by an breeder of long-standing, but I've not noticed any profound improvements for sore hocks. Perhaps, it's operator error? :/ Any thoughts from members on the BK product before I try to find Liquid Bandage?

Thanks!

It could be that the rabbit just has genetically bad hocks. We treat ours with Bag Balm and a resting board. If that does not work, they get culled from program. You want to breed towards wide, well furred feet and not keep the ones that continually get sore hocks.

 

[kuntrygirl]

This helpful thread made me question the effectiveness of my Blue Kote spray. It was recommended by an breeder of long-standing, but I've not noticed any profound improvements for sore hocks. Perhaps, it's operator error? :/ Any thoughts from members on the BK product before I try to find Liquid Bandage?

Thanks!

How is your rabbit doing?

I am going through the same problem right now. I used Blue Kote spray and didn't see any improvement. I called the vet and he told me to come by and he will give me some type of "mycin" and an antibiotic to give my buck. I will see if this helps.

 

[kuntrygirl]

How can you make the rabbit cage "comfortable" for the rabbit to give his feet time to heal - especially if they are on a wire bottom?