Beginning to get sore hocks

[Hermelin]

My older lady it’s starting to get sore hocks, it’s nothing serious yet. Because it’s only a little fur gone and no wounds. Only on one foot right now.

So I’m planning to let her have more time outside in the run, take her out for walks, clean the cage floor every day (I’ve been a bit lazy on this one recently).

But what more can I do, she have different bedding in the outdoor cage, one area it’s filled with straw and newspapers which she love digging in and playing with. Her resting spot have a blanket and the rest of the cage it’s hard floor, the places where she pee have bedding to collect the urine.

Should I use some ointment and wash her feet or it’s something else I should do??

If I should get an ointment what kind?

 

[JBun]

Hard flooring can contribute to sore hocks developing, as the rabbit has to shift their weight to the back of the heel to hop on hard floors. If you can, cover the hard floor with something soft that she can get traction on.

If it's only red and inflamed, changing flooring surfaces should help. I wouldn't put anything on the heel unless there is an open wound, then you need to see the vet for that. For rabbits that continue to have ongoing sore hock issues, keeping the feet covered with wrapping or baby socks is sometimes necessary. But that should be done under the direction of a vet, as wrapping incorrectly could cut off circulation, which could cause serious permanent damage to the feet.
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Mechanical/Pod/Podo.htm
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Mechanical/Pod/Pododerma_fr.pdf
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Mechanical/Pod/Socks_rabbit.pdf

 

[Hermelin]

Would had covered the hard floor but her cage it’s almost 3 sq m inner area and she’s no longer litter trained. She’s also outdoor bunny, so I can only cover up small places. Filling up the whole cage with a soft flooring and needing to change everyday. I don’t have the economy.

 

[Watermelons]

Ensure her back nails are trimmed and kept very short as that can contribute as well.

Fleece is quite inexpensive.

 

[Hermelin]

Have only money for food until I get money from my summer job and that’s the end of next month. So can’t fill her cage with fleece blankets.

But I’m going to take her out for walks and let her run lose in yard. So she doesn’t sleep the whole day.