clarzoo
Well-Known Member
I just thought I'd share with battle I've been waging against the rabbit that developed sore hocks while living on a solid bottom cage. Maybe some one could benefit from the trial and error I've been through- it's been pretty tough.
Chowder is a 16+ pound Checkered Giant rabbit. She is not my rabbit, but she lives with me because I have a cage large enough for her and for the litter she had back in February of 2007. She was around a year and a half old when I first noticed her sore hocks. She's not particularly friendly, has a tendency to growl, and doesn't like to be held- but she's beautiful!
June - July
June 2nd 2007- I took Chowder to a rabbit show this day, and when she was in the wire bottom carrier I noticed she was wiggling in a weird way on her back feet. With the help of her owner we managed to flip her over and saw a small sore developing on each of her hocks. (Not all the way back towards the heel, but in the middle- she has very large feet!) The sores were reddened, but not open or bleeding, the hair had been worn away where the sores were but everywhere else was healthy looking and well furred. Her owner and I clipped her nails and put her back in her carrier with a plastic resting mat and lined it with hay to make her more comfortable.
June 4th 2007- Chowder has been living in a solid bottom NIC cage since January '07. The bottom is made of Coroplast (plastic). She won't pee in a litter box, but usually does pee in the same corner. She poops anywhere and everywhere. I put shavings in the corner she uses and replace them every day. The rest of the bottom of her cage is bare, unless she has pulled her hay out. I hose the cage out weekly, but remove dirty shavings daily. I've had this routine since January. I decide something needs to change since she developed her sore hocks in this cage.
June 4th 2007- I move Chowder to the very large (giant rabbit sized) wire bottom cage I have. I line a third of the cage with plastic resting mats so she isn't sitting on the wire. She seems much more comfortable.
June 10th 2007- I have noticed Chowder's sores aren't getting any smaller. I soak her feet in a warm Epsom salt bath, let them dry and then spray the sores with a spray on wound sealer. (Like Nu-Skin, but in a pump spray) Sheâs a struggle to handle, but I hold her off her feet until the spray dries and put her back in her cage.
July 30[suP]th[/suP] 2007- After soaking her in Epson salt baths and spraying the Nu-Skin on her feet every other day for two weeks she seemed to be improving- or at least not worsening. She has decided that the side of the cage without the plastic foot protectors is her favorite side to spend time on, so I line the remainder of the cage with them. This cage is huge, it took a lot!
Chowder is a 16+ pound Checkered Giant rabbit. She is not my rabbit, but she lives with me because I have a cage large enough for her and for the litter she had back in February of 2007. She was around a year and a half old when I first noticed her sore hocks. She's not particularly friendly, has a tendency to growl, and doesn't like to be held- but she's beautiful!
June - July
June 2nd 2007- I took Chowder to a rabbit show this day, and when she was in the wire bottom carrier I noticed she was wiggling in a weird way on her back feet. With the help of her owner we managed to flip her over and saw a small sore developing on each of her hocks. (Not all the way back towards the heel, but in the middle- she has very large feet!) The sores were reddened, but not open or bleeding, the hair had been worn away where the sores were but everywhere else was healthy looking and well furred. Her owner and I clipped her nails and put her back in her carrier with a plastic resting mat and lined it with hay to make her more comfortable.
June 4th 2007- Chowder has been living in a solid bottom NIC cage since January '07. The bottom is made of Coroplast (plastic). She won't pee in a litter box, but usually does pee in the same corner. She poops anywhere and everywhere. I put shavings in the corner she uses and replace them every day. The rest of the bottom of her cage is bare, unless she has pulled her hay out. I hose the cage out weekly, but remove dirty shavings daily. I've had this routine since January. I decide something needs to change since she developed her sore hocks in this cage.
June 4th 2007- I move Chowder to the very large (giant rabbit sized) wire bottom cage I have. I line a third of the cage with plastic resting mats so she isn't sitting on the wire. She seems much more comfortable.
June 10th 2007- I have noticed Chowder's sores aren't getting any smaller. I soak her feet in a warm Epsom salt bath, let them dry and then spray the sores with a spray on wound sealer. (Like Nu-Skin, but in a pump spray) Sheâs a struggle to handle, but I hold her off her feet until the spray dries and put her back in her cage.
July 30[suP]th[/suP] 2007- After soaking her in Epson salt baths and spraying the Nu-Skin on her feet every other day for two weeks she seemed to be improving- or at least not worsening. She has decided that the side of the cage without the plastic foot protectors is her favorite side to spend time on, so I line the remainder of the cage with them. This cage is huge, it took a lot!
