I was grooming my rabbit the other day and noticed his back paws were red, sore and the skin was dry and flaking off around the heel part of his paws. I had been brushing his paws with a wire guinea-pig/rabbit brush and I brushed a little too roughly and caught his skin and it did start bleeding so I took him upstairs, let him paddle about in the bath just to wash it clean and then checked again and they had stopped bleeding. But his paws are still red and the skin is still flaking.

I will say that I clean his hutch out every day where he goes to the toilet and I disinfect it all out with specialised spray. He gets wood-shavings and hay as bedding and a full clean out I do every week or so, depending on how badly his cage is. But I have only in the past few days noticed this as I groom him every day and health check him every day, like I do all my animals. Just before I get any remarks from people suggesting otherwise.

So, if anyone has any ideas what it could be causing this and what I could do to prevent it, it'll be greatly appreciated

you could try takin out the shavings and put only paper in the bottom,(and hay & straw), also you could try a litter tray with newspaper in the corner where bunny goes to the loo..

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You never own a cat unless the cat owns you!

I have tried newspaper in the past and then I read somewhere that its bad to use it because of the inks in it. I could buy a litter tray but it would be hard to keep it in the corners he goes to the loo in.

I know that some paper based cat bedding is ok for small animals, my gf uses it for most of hers like rats who aren't aloud things like wood-shavings, I could use something like that couldn't I?

But in the meantime, I'd like to know what to use on his paws, I don't know if its because he's warm, they feel warm but that could be just a burning sensation through them being sore from some other cause. I've been thinking that something like Sudocrem might help? Also, I'll try to get a clear photo of is paws to show, maybe from the way they look could help determine whats up with them.

Hiya

This is a common problem in buns, especially rex's.

Woodshavings are not a good rabbit bedding, alot are allergic to it so id change that to start with. I use megazorb which is a horse bedding but bunny safe and alot of bunny owners use it because it is so soft but very absorbant with soft hay or straw ontop.

I suggest taking him to a rabbit savvy vet for painkillers and possibly antibiotics, sore hocks often lead to serious infections.

You can use a salt water solution on feet to keep them clean.

Sudocream is great, after you've cleaned them pop some of that over its brilliant at healing sore skin. Aloe Vera and Tea bags are also good ( i know that sounds crazy) Hold them to the bare parts of the skin and gently dab for a few minutes. Then I would hold your bun until his feet are dry, you may find he wont lick and bite them afterwards as much as he may do with the cream. Tea bags help make the skin tougher and thicker. Tea is antiinflammatory so that and the aloe vera will make his feet comfortable enough for the hair to grow through again with out it being sore then once the patch was covered in fine hair you'll find its not long before the rest grows back.

After getting his feet wet always makesure they are dry, wet feet will make him more sore.

have you any pics?

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An old man walking on the beach at dawn noticed a boy picking up a starfish and throwing it into the sea. When asked why, the boy explained that the stranded starfish would die if left to lie in the morning sun. ‘But there are millions of starfish on this beach' said the old man. ‘How can your efforts make a difference?’The boy picked up another starfish and placed it in the waves. ‘It makes a difference to this one.' he said

I always used news paper my bunny lived a long and happy life...

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You never own a cat unless the cat owns you!

I took some pictures just now, they're not very clear but it shows the redness on his paws. Also, just asked my gf about it and her new rabbit has the same. She read online that it can be linked to arthritis, but here is his paws anyway.




And, I've used wood-shavings all the time I've had him and I've had him for over 6 years now and this is the first time I've noticed any problems. I've never had a problem with wood-shavings in all my 10+ years of using it with my pets. I think the prices of other bedding is ridiculous because of the little amount you get in packs which couldn't do two of the animal cages I have.

I'll try with the Sudocrem tomorrow, I've had enough of him tonight (he's like a toddler in a tantrum when he gets going...), thanks for the advice anyway. We'll see what happens.

I would not have him on woodshavings with sore paws though, megazorb is soooo cheap! You get a huge bag for £5 because its horse bedding. A bag lasts for ages, ive just changed onto it and bought my bag 3 weeks ago... just about half way through it! Its more absorbant too, no matter how often you change bedding bunnies will sometimes sit in the wet bits, woodshaving arent as absorbant. You may have not had problems but you do now and woodshavings will irritate sore hocks.

Mine go in litter trays, so much easier to clean and to dry after disinfecting them. Definetely take him to the vets, he'll need painkillers and possibly swabs incase its infected.

I have seen these sores get infected and go down to the bone, the bun had to be put down (not one of mine) its something that needs sorting asap.

Let us know how you get on.

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An old man walking on the beach at dawn noticed a boy picking up a starfish and throwing it into the sea. When asked why, the boy explained that the stranded starfish would die if left to lie in the morning sun. ‘But there are millions of starfish on this beach' said the old man. ‘How can your efforts make a difference?’The boy picked up another starfish and placed it in the waves. ‘It makes a difference to this one.' he said

We haven't got that kind of money to throw away, but £5 for a bag of bedding??? It had better be massive and last months otherwise that's money wasted in my opinion.

Edit: I've just googled Megazorb.. doesn't look as though you get that much in a bag and looked quite dusty (in my opinion). I think I'll stick to what I know, but thanks anyway.

He's going to the vet next week for his Myxomatosis jab, I'm going to ask while I'm in there.

How is caring for your rabbit wasting money???? I certainly dont have money to throw away either!

Its far from dusty i use it! Its a huge bag. I hope it improves for your bun.

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An old man walking on the beach at dawn noticed a boy picking up a starfish and throwing it into the sea. When asked why, the boy explained that the stranded starfish would die if left to lie in the morning sun. ‘But there are millions of starfish on this beach' said the old man. ‘How can your efforts make a difference?’The boy picked up another starfish and placed it in the waves. ‘It makes a difference to this one.' he said

cav...u ask for advice and help...and it seems that wen people try to help and advice u on wats best for ur pets u get all defensive and rant and i must agree...how the hell is a fiver wasted wen it concerns the wellbeing of ur pets???? a fiver is nixy compaired to the vet bill u will get if its the shavings affecting ur rabbits feet.
Dont botha advicing... u tryed but had it lobbed back in ya face.

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