Whether you have a house rabbit, or you keep your pet outdoors, rabbits can be prone to Sore Hocks, but the good news is that there are steps you can take to prevent this including simply reviewing your choice of rabbit litter and rabbit bedding.
Good nutrition and hygiene practice is at the heart of preventing most rabbit ailments and regular clean-outs of your rabbit’s hutch and supplying a fresh layer or rabbit litter and rabbit bedding is one of the easiest ways to ward off a whole range of illnesses, including Sore Hocks.
Here we shall take a look at what Sore Hocks is, how to prevent it and some of the things to think about when buying rabbit litter and rabbit bedding.
Rabbit Litter - click here to buy our universal bedding from our online shop.
What is Sore Hocks?
Sore Hocks mainly affects a rabbit’s back feet and it is very uncomfortable and painful for your pet. It is important that you see your veterinary surgeon at the first sign of Sore Hocks so it can be treated, as in extreme cases, if your rabbit is very badly infected, it may have to be put down.
What Does Sore Hocks Look Like?
Sore Hocks can be identified when a rabbit’s hocks (the joint in the hind leg similar to the ankle in humans) loses its fur and the feet become reddened, swollen and sometimes scabbed, making movement difficult. If left untreated, it can spread to the front feet and also become infected.
What Causes Sore Hocks?
The most common cause of Sore Hocks is damp or soiled hutches with dirty rabbit bedding or litter. However, certain breeds are more prone to this and elderly and overweight rabbits can get Sore Hocks. Other factors that can contribute to this are wire flooring, litter or bedding which is too hard or rough (or no bedding layer at all) and rabbits with toe nails that have grown too long.
How SmartBedz Can Prevent Sore Hocks
Prevention is always the best course of action and one of the best ways to stop your rabbit getting Sore Hocks is good hygiene practice.
To start with your rabbit’s hutch should have a soft, non abrasive surface to walk on. Definitely to be avoided are materials such as wood shavings or chips, or untreated straw or hemp which can contain sharp pieces. SmartBedz rabbit litter is made out of crushed straw which is pressed together into pellets and this breaks down to provide a soft layer for your pet. The sleeping quarters should also have a deep layer of hay on top of the SmartBedz rabbit bedding so it helps to reduce the pressure on the foot.
If your rabbit’s hutch has not been cleaned for a while, the bedding will become damp and soiled with droppings and this is not healthy for your pet. SmartBedz rabbit litter and rabbit bedding is extremely absorbent so it helps keep your rabbit clean and dry. As the soiled pellets swell on impact with urine, they are easily identifiable so you can spot clean the hutch daily in between thorough weekly clean outs. Highly absorbent rabbit litter is something to look out for when buying for your pet.
Other Ways to Prevent Sore Hocks
Giving your rabbit a daily run on a grassed area can also help prevent Sore Hocks as it helps ease the pressure off their hind feet. Also ensure that your rabbit's hutch and especially its sleeping area is large enough for your rabbit to lie down comfortably, so that it is not forced to keep its weight on its feet while sleeping or relaxing.
Another way to prevent Sore Hocks is to make sure your rabbit’s nails are kept short and clipped. If you find this hard to do yourself, take your rabbit to the vet who will charge a small fee for nail clipping.
Treating Sore Hocks
If your rabbit has Sore Hocks, in severe cases it may avoid eating as it is too painful to stand. This is why it is important to contact your local vet in the early stages so they can treat your pet and nurse it back to health.
There are a variety of ways your vet may treat Sore Hocks and this includes supplying antibiotics, anti-inflammatory or pain killing drugs, or providing topical treatments. Before you return your rabbit back to its hutch, take a good look at your pet’s living quarters and make sure your rabbit has enough room to exercise and the hutch is completely clean and dry with a fresh, deep layer of rabbit litter.
About SmartBedz
SmartBedz is a universal pet litter and bedding that is suitable for a wide range of animals including cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, mice, rabbits, gerbils and tortoises.
Rabbit Bedding - click here to buy our universal bedding from our online shop.
Monday 14 January 2013
Thursday 10 January 2013
Five Ways to House Your Rabbit: From the Ordinary to the More Unusual
As well as rabbit litter and rabbit bedding, a hutch is one of the first things people buy when they decide on a rabbit as a pet. However, don’t just settle the first one you see, as there are all sorts of things to take into account in order to give your rabbit the best possible home.
Even if you spend lots of time cuddling and interacting with your rabbit, they do spend a fair amount of time in their hutches so it is important to provide them with a comfortable and healthy environment to live in.
While a wooden hutch with a felt roof is the most common form of rabbit accommodation, there are other ways to house your pet, from home made hutches to elaborate, multi-layered designs. We shall look at all the various options below.
Rabbit Bedding - click here to buy our universal bedding from our online shop.
DIY Rabbit Hutches
If you have DIY skills you may prefer to make your own rabbit hutch. This gives you flexibility in design as your imagination’s the limit!
The most basic DIY hutches are made out of wood and wire and are rectangular in design. They have separate sleeping and living quarters - with a wire front for the living quarters - and are secure enough to keep your rabbit safe from predators. An outdoor hutch should be raised from the ground, to prevent the hutch getting damp and it is important to build a sloping roof to stop rain collecting at the top.
Obviously the more rabbits you have, the larger the hutch should be. However as a guide the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF) recommend a rabbit’s hutch to be 6ft x 2ft x 2ft minimum, so your rabbit has enough room to move about and to stand on its hind legs comfortably - without touching the roof. Your rabbit would also need access to a secure run for exercise.
Whatever the design of your rabbit hutch, it must allow for easy access so you can provide regular cleanouts and replenish your rabbit’s hutch with a fresh layer of rabbit litter and rabbit bedding.
Standard Rabbit Hutches
Again, the most common form of rabbit hutch you can buy are the wooden ones with felt roofing and you can either buy new or search the internet for a good quality second hand one.
When you are looking for accommodation for your rabbit, do bear in mind that rabbits live for a long time - as much as 12 years - so they need somewhere to live where they will be happy and comfortable. With this in mind, bigger is better, so look for the largest one that you can afford.
Some of the things to look out for in a good quality rabbit hutch are:
Multi-Tiered Rabbit Hutches
Some rabbit owners feel a one-floor rabbit hutch is too limiting and their rabbit would be more comfortable in a multi-tiered hutch.
With this in mind do allow for the fact that the larger the hutch, the more rabbit litter and rabbit bedding you should provide to keep your rabbit clean, dry and healthy.
Certainly multi-tiered hutches are a great option for your rabbit, if you have the space, and these vary from multi-storey hutches with integrated runs, to two, three or even four tier hutches. You can either buy these ready-made or there are companies that will custom make a hutch for you.
Unusual Rabbit Hutches
Rabbit hutches can range in price from a few pounds for a second hand one to several hundred pounds for an intricate custom made design.
If you want to choose a hutch based on aesthetics or comfort, there are all sorts of options available to you, from one floor designs to hutches that are built to look like log cabins. Other examples of alternative rabbit accommodation are: sheds, coloured wooden pet houses, aviaries and children’s play houses. The type of hutch you buy depends on how much you are prepared to spend and the space you have available to site it but again, go for the biggest you can afford.
Whichever design you choose, do make sure the hutch is solid and sturdy as it should last the lifetime of your pet. Make sure it is accessible too, so you can provide a regular supply of fresh rabbit litter and rabbit bedding to keep your pet healthy.
Accommodation for House Bunnies
Some pet owners choose to keep their pet indoors either permanently or during the winter months.
A house rabbit requires a sheltered area to hide in and feel safe, and a spacious living area. Although some house bunnies have the run of the house, not all homes are bunny proof, so if yours isn’t it is a good idea to provide a rabbit playpen for unsupervised runs.
Indoor rabbit shelters need to be well ventilated and sited away from areas of extreme temperature (such as a radiator for instance). It is also a good idea to provide your pet with sufficient items of interest, such as tunnels or boxes to explore, ramps to hop up, or rabbit toys to keep them entertained.
Rabbits can be litter trained, so a tray lined with an absorbent rabbit litter and rabbit bedding with a natural odour suppressant such as SmartBedz will keep your home environment free of smells.
Rabbit Litter - click here to buy our universal bedding from our online shop.
Even if you spend lots of time cuddling and interacting with your rabbit, they do spend a fair amount of time in their hutches so it is important to provide them with a comfortable and healthy environment to live in.
While a wooden hutch with a felt roof is the most common form of rabbit accommodation, there are other ways to house your pet, from home made hutches to elaborate, multi-layered designs. We shall look at all the various options below.
Rabbit Bedding - click here to buy our universal bedding from our online shop.
DIY Rabbit Hutches
If you have DIY skills you may prefer to make your own rabbit hutch. This gives you flexibility in design as your imagination’s the limit!
The most basic DIY hutches are made out of wood and wire and are rectangular in design. They have separate sleeping and living quarters - with a wire front for the living quarters - and are secure enough to keep your rabbit safe from predators. An outdoor hutch should be raised from the ground, to prevent the hutch getting damp and it is important to build a sloping roof to stop rain collecting at the top.
Obviously the more rabbits you have, the larger the hutch should be. However as a guide the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF) recommend a rabbit’s hutch to be 6ft x 2ft x 2ft minimum, so your rabbit has enough room to move about and to stand on its hind legs comfortably - without touching the roof. Your rabbit would also need access to a secure run for exercise.
Whatever the design of your rabbit hutch, it must allow for easy access so you can provide regular cleanouts and replenish your rabbit’s hutch with a fresh layer of rabbit litter and rabbit bedding.
Standard Rabbit Hutches
Again, the most common form of rabbit hutch you can buy are the wooden ones with felt roofing and you can either buy new or search the internet for a good quality second hand one.
When you are looking for accommodation for your rabbit, do bear in mind that rabbits live for a long time - as much as 12 years - so they need somewhere to live where they will be happy and comfortable. With this in mind, bigger is better, so look for the largest one that you can afford.
Some of the things to look out for in a good quality rabbit hutch are:
- Adequate protection from the weather to keep your rabbit warm and dry
- A secure fastening mechanism to ward off predators and to prevent your rabbit escaping.
- A solid floor to protect your rabbit’s feet.
- A sturdy hutch that will withstand your rabbit gnawing at it.
- Strong wiring
- High quality workmanship
Multi-Tiered Rabbit Hutches
Some rabbit owners feel a one-floor rabbit hutch is too limiting and their rabbit would be more comfortable in a multi-tiered hutch.
With this in mind do allow for the fact that the larger the hutch, the more rabbit litter and rabbit bedding you should provide to keep your rabbit clean, dry and healthy.
Certainly multi-tiered hutches are a great option for your rabbit, if you have the space, and these vary from multi-storey hutches with integrated runs, to two, three or even four tier hutches. You can either buy these ready-made or there are companies that will custom make a hutch for you.
Unusual Rabbit Hutches
Rabbit hutches can range in price from a few pounds for a second hand one to several hundred pounds for an intricate custom made design.
If you want to choose a hutch based on aesthetics or comfort, there are all sorts of options available to you, from one floor designs to hutches that are built to look like log cabins. Other examples of alternative rabbit accommodation are: sheds, coloured wooden pet houses, aviaries and children’s play houses. The type of hutch you buy depends on how much you are prepared to spend and the space you have available to site it but again, go for the biggest you can afford.
Whichever design you choose, do make sure the hutch is solid and sturdy as it should last the lifetime of your pet. Make sure it is accessible too, so you can provide a regular supply of fresh rabbit litter and rabbit bedding to keep your pet healthy.
Accommodation for House Bunnies
Some pet owners choose to keep their pet indoors either permanently or during the winter months.
A house rabbit requires a sheltered area to hide in and feel safe, and a spacious living area. Although some house bunnies have the run of the house, not all homes are bunny proof, so if yours isn’t it is a good idea to provide a rabbit playpen for unsupervised runs.
Indoor rabbit shelters need to be well ventilated and sited away from areas of extreme temperature (such as a radiator for instance). It is also a good idea to provide your pet with sufficient items of interest, such as tunnels or boxes to explore, ramps to hop up, or rabbit toys to keep them entertained.
Rabbits can be litter trained, so a tray lined with an absorbent rabbit litter and rabbit bedding with a natural odour suppressant such as SmartBedz will keep your home environment free of smells.
Rabbit Litter - click here to buy our universal bedding from our online shop.
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