Willie needs help with his feet.

[Rattiemattiesrattery]

IMMEDIATE INFORMATION:

Location: Bullhead City, AZ

Description (Breed, color, weight)
Velveteen Lop, Opal, Unknown (haven't weighed him since I got him)

Age Almost a year
DOB May 28th, 2009.

Sex Intact Male

Concise Summary of the Rabbit's Condition:
Well when I got Willie In April I had noticed he had a few calloused over sores on his back feet, and his nails were a tad long. I trimmed them down a lil bit but had to wait for the quicks to recede. I was trimming them down today and noticed that those sores/callouses were much worse, (not opened or anything) but his two front feet are slightly swollen... I don't know what to do. I can't get him to the vets until next week... Help please?



ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / CHECK LIST: (Please fill in relevant info).

Fecal and Urinary Output

- are the bunny's poops and pees normal? Normal
- when did they last use their litterbox? 5minutes before it was cleaned 20minutes ago.
- any unusual behavior? straining to pee? unusual litter habits? Normal to all.
- what litter and/or bedding do you use? Yesterday's News and aspen bedding. (changed two to three times a day).

Medical History

- spayed/neutered? Intact, supposed to be for breeding
- has s/he been to the vet or been sick before? Unknown before I got him.
- is s/he on any medications? no

Diet

- what specifically does your bunny eat? Pellets (I would have to go to the store to get the name, because I pour the bag into a few smaller totes to help keep it fresh, and toss the bag) Not the cheap multi colored stuff, and no seeds. There are Oats that I add though. They also get LOTS of hay and greens.
- when and what did s/he eat last? Normal foods (all listed above) ate about 10minutes ago
- any changes in the way s/he eats? (ie: not eating a particular food, odd chewing motions, etc) Normal


Other

- movement - any unusual movements? Is s/he hopping normally? Despite the foot problems, hops and Binkies normally
- is the rabbit molting? no
- any weight loss? no
- any sign of drooling? wet face? nope
- runny eyes? nada
- wet nose? coughing? sneezing? Zip
- is s/he breathing normally Yes

Additional

- any plants, chocolate or other substances within reach? None what so ever.
- has the rabbit been outdoors? Not Lately >_< (like a week)
- any other pets? if so, have they been ill?I have LOTS of other pets, none have been ill


Any Ideas?
I've also added Pictures to help

Front Right Foot

Front Left Foot

Both Feet

Back Left Foot:

Back Right Foot

 

[missyscove]

I know rexes are especially prone to sore hocks because they have thinner fur on their feet, or something like that. It does look like sore hocks to me.
I've never dealt with sore hocks myself, but I'm sure we have info on it in the library

What kind of cage is he in? Wire or solid bottom?

 

[missyscove]

This is our library thread on sore hocks

http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=11953&forum_id=10

 

[Rattiemattiesrattery]

missyscove wrote:

I know rexes are especially prone to sore hocks because they have thinner fur on their feet, or something like that. It does look like sore hocks to me.
I've never dealt with sore hocks myself, but I'm sure we have info on it in the library

What kind of cage is he in? Wire or solid bottom?

He was on Wired floors when I got him, The breeder told me that, and they had stuff to get off the wire in the cages.

Since I have gotten him, I have had him on Solid flooring, From Concrete and Dirt to Cardboard, with lots of soft cushy things to lay on.

Thank you

 

[Rattiemattiesrattery]

missyscove wrote:

This is our library thread on sore hocks

http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=11953&forum_id=10

ty

 

[Haley]

Ouch!
Yes, Rexes (and I would assume Velveteen Lops since they are so similar) are more prone to sore hocks. If he was on a wire floor it would have probably made them worse. Although my vet told me that carpet can often make hocks worse due to the friction as they run across. It's good that they arent open sores but you can see some scabbing. I would make sure he is on good flooring and probably keep him on just the Yesterdays News or something soft like Carefresh.
To help relieve some of the scabs, I would try some Neosporin (the non pain kind) applied a few times a day. You can also use something like Bag Balm (Walmart sells it usually in the pet section and they have it at most farm/feed stores) to help heal the area. In a pinch, I have used Desitin as well.

 

[tonyshuman]

Bag Balm can be found at Walgreens with the hand lotions. It's the best in my experience.

For the swelling, a NSAID might be helpful. Do you have baby aspirin or liquid ibuprofen, or leftover Metacam (meloxicam)? That could help with pain and swelling.

Prep H might be good too--it has anti-swelling compounds in it. I don't know about long-term care--I don't think the fur will grow back to protect those areas, so he'll have callouses there for his whole life. But I have not owned one of the rex-furred rabbits so I could be wrong.

 

[Pipp]

My new favorite treatment is soaking the feet in warm water (for 10 minute or so) with a little Betadine added to it. I think licking too much stuff off isn't great.

And judging from the swelling in all four feet, I think this would be the best in this case.

Just let him stand or sit in the tub and give him tiny bits of treats -- apple peel, or whatever else he likes that's non-fattening as possible, seeing as weight may be a factor in all this.

The swelling around the feet can be a symptom of other ailments. This really needs to be researched as well.


sas :clover:

 

[Pipp]

Haley wrote:

Ouch!
Yes, Rexes (and I would assume Velveteen Lops since they are so similar) are more prone to sore hocks. If he was on a wire floor it would have probably made them worse. Although my vet told me that carpet can often make hocks worse due to the friction as they run across.

Yes, the carpet is making Mister's hocks worse (and a few others if I recall), the best covering for my mini-rexes seems to be grass mats over the carpet or plywood.


sas :clover:

 

[Rattiemattiesrattery]

Thank you guys

Right now I am taking a warm cloth and wiping his feet down a few times a day.
then putting Neopsporin on it alternating with althlete's foot cream, and already seeing less swelling. I'm treating him like I would a rat with Bumble foot. which from what I can tell. Same thing. different animal/name.

Since I have had him he has had (wow 6 h words in a row lol) he has had fleece to be on, (thick) and his litter box. Plus hay, and Cardboard (since it is cushy and gives).

I feel so bad for him, but he bounces around alot and is a happy go lucky boy.

He's not overweight though (doesn't even have the dewlap he had when I got him).
Willie is a good weight.

 

[missyscove]

Athlete's foot is a fungal disease and this isn't, so unless it has some kind of pain relievers in it or something like that, I'm not sure how the athlete's foot cream would be helpful.
Other than that it definitely sounds like you're doing the right thing.

 

[Rattiemattiesrattery]

To me what I can tell from using it on my rats and now on Willie, it does seem to help with the swelling.
Heh, reading the label on it (haven't done that in a wee while)
says: For effective relief of - itching - Scaling - cracking - burning - redness- soreness - irritation - discomfort.

 

[missyscove]

If it's working then keep using it I guess.
I've never had athlete's foot myself, I just know what I learned about it in my fungus class - that it's a fungal tinea- and I know that some antifungals can be pretty harsh (because fungus cells are very similar to animal cells, so antifungals often attack the body as well as the fungus)

 

[Rattiemattiesrattery]

Ahh yeah, I thankfully have never had it either, but I tried it for my rats about 2 years ago and it worked wonders when alternated with the neosporin. (I know it wasn't just one or the other because using one without the other doesn't seem to help at all)
this specific cream I am using is a wanna be brand. (kroger) but man it works. it's for jock itch, ring worm, and athlete's foot.