What should you do if your rabbit has a sore leg?

Answer 1

You should take it to the vet if ther is one in your area so that they can help it get better. If you cant get to the vet and the rabbit is in too much pain you should put it out of its misery.

Answer 2

If your rabbit is sick you should take it to the vet, but it should be taken to a small animal vet that is familiar with treated rabbits.

See the related question below for more info and links.

Answer 3

First of all, take the rabbit out of it's cage, wash and disinfect the rabbits hocks, wash and disinfect the rabbit's cage (very important). Cut a piece of plywood or carpet big enough for the rabbit to set on and place on cage floor. (carpet is softer BUT your rabbit may chew it so the wood is good and safer.) Use some sort of ointment on the rabbit's feet 3 or 4 times a day. Neosporin, Bag Balm, Corona or (don't laugh) Preparation H. Preparation H is really recommended by old time rabbit breeders. If you are thinking of using this rabbit as a breeder DON'T unless his sore hocks are caused from a really dirty cage. Sore hocks are hereditary, the tufts of hair that protect the rabbit's feet are too thin.

Answer 4

Some breeds of pet rabbit are more prone to sore hocks than others, but any rabbit can develop sore hocks in certain circumstances. Here are some ways to prevent sore hocks:

Manage your rabbit's flooring. Unlike cats/dogs, rabbits don't have pads on the soles of their feet, so they're sensitive to harsh flooring (like concrete, wire, wood, etc.). A rabbit's natural flooring is grass, after all. Cages with solid flooring are better for rabbits' feet than ones with wire flooring (also, rabbits can be litter trained, so wire flooring isn't necessary). If you have a wire floor cage, upgrade to something better (see the related question below about cages); in the mean time, provide your rabbit with a square of cardboard to sit on and find relief from the wires. (If your rabbit is not the type to eat fabric, a towel or square of fleece or faux sheepskin is even better than cardboard, but it is not safe to ingest at all. On the other hand, cardboard -- plain, unbleached, clean cardboard with no stickers or tape etc. -- is perfectly safe for rabbits to eat, assuming they're also eating plenty of hay every day.) For especially sensitive rabbits, solid-floored cages can be lined with hay, soft bedding/litter (such as Carefresh, aspen wood chips), or foam squares or fabric (assuming the rabbit doesn't eat these items).

Maintain your rabbit's healthy weight. Obesity puts more pressure on a rabbit's legs and hocks.

Clip toenails regularly. When toenails grow too long, they push the front part of the rabbit's foot off the ground slightly, leading to more pressure on the hocks.

If your rabbit is prone to sore hocks, you might want to try toughening the hocks and creating calluses. The House Rabbit Network suggests soaking and compressing the hocks with tea bags.

** Once sore hocks develop, they must be treated so that infection doesn't set in. If the hocks are very red and inflamed, if the skin is broken, if the rabbit is not moving normally (having trouble getting around), and/or if you've been unsuccessful treating a mild case of sore hocks at home, it's time to make an appointment with your vet. Pain and infection can quickly lead to depression and GI stasis in rabbits (which itself can lead to death). **

Answer 5

If your rabbit's leg is sore, this is what you should do:

1. Look for other signs of ill-health: Pay very close attention to your rabbit's behaviour and appearance for other signs of sickness. If you don't know what the signs of sickness/injury are in rabbits, learn about them now! See the related questions below for info and helpful links.
2. Make the rabbit comfortable: give her extra-comfy resting surfaces, like blankets and towels. (Do not give your rabbit these things if she likes to nibble on them, because this can lead to gut impaction and serious illness!) Consider the rabbit's mobility and make modifications to her habitat if necessary: with a sore leg can she easily reach her hay, water, and litter box?

If your rabbit is fine aside from the leg (no other signs of ill health) and the leg heals within two or three days: simply make a note of it and tell your vet at the next regular check-up.

If your rabbit is fine aside from the leg, but the leg doesn't heal within a few days: make an appointment with your regular "rabbit-savvy" vet for as soon as possible. Aside from treating the cause or injury, it's important the rabbit gets pain medication because just being in pain can lead to other serious illnesses (like GI stasis).

If the rabbit is showing signs of other health problems: bring the rabbit to a rabbit-savvy vet as soon as possible and keep a VERY close eye on her until then: be ready to bring the rabbit to an emergency 24/7 vet if necessary.

See the related questions below for more info and helpful links.