October 2026
Next time your rabbit is relaxed in your lap, gently turn them and look at the bottoms of the back feet, especially the long stretch between the toes and the heel. Healthy feet are fully furred. If you see thinning fur, pink skin, calluses or scabs, your rabbit may have sore hocks, which veterinarians call ulcerative pododermatitis. Sore hocks are very common in pet rabbits, and the good news is that early cases often improve with changes at home.
Rabbits don't have paw pads like cats and dogs. Their feet are protected by thick fur, and they're designed to move on surfaces their nails can dig into. When a rabbit's nails grip the ground, tendons in the foot shift weight forward onto the toes and nails and off the heel.
On hard, smooth or wire flooring, that system stops working. The rabbit can't grip, so more weight sits on the heels all day long. Constant pressure leads to fur loss, then thickened skin, then open sores. Wire floors are especially damaging because they concentrate pressure on small points.
Sore hocks are usually a sign that something else is going on. Flooring is the big one, but extra weight adds load to the heels, and obesity is very common in pet rabbits. Arthritis or back pain changes how a rabbit sits and moves. A small enclosure means less movement, more weight gain and more hours sitting in one spot. Wet or dirty bedding, including urine-soaked areas from bladder problems, softens and damages the skin. Any rabbit can develop sore hocks, so every rabbit deserves regular foot checks.
That's why I don't just treat the feet. I look for the reason they got sore.
At home, look for thinning or missing fur on the bottom of the back feet, red or thickened skin, calluses, scabs, open sores or swelling. Rabbits with sore feet may also be reluctant to move, shift their weight, sit oddly, hide more or eat less, because sore hocks hurt.
Sore hocks range from mild, with fur loss and redness, to severe, with deep infection reaching the tendons or bone. I'll examine the feet, check the joints and spine, and often recommend bloodwork and X-rays. When infection may involve the bone, a CT scan can show it more clearly.
Mild cases often improve with changes at home alone. The single most helpful step is soft, grippy flooring: soft mats covered with fleece blankets protect the heels while still letting the nails grip. Keep bedding clean and dry. If your rabbit is overweight, we'll work on gradual weight loss through more hay, fewer pellets and treats, and more exercise. More space and regular nail trims help the foot sit and move the way it should.
More advanced cases may need pain relief so your rabbit can move normally again, padded bandages or protective hock socks to take pressure off the sore, treatment for infection guided by a culture, and attention to underlying problems such as arthritis. Laser therapy has helped some of my patients heal.
Deep infections that reach the bone are difficult to treat and need intensive, long-term care. That's why catching sore hocks early matters so much.
Prevention is simple, and it's the same list that helps rabbits in so many other ways: soft, non-slip flooring everywhere your rabbit spends time, a large living area with daily exercise, a healthy weight, clean and dry litter areas, a quick foot check every month, and a yearly wellness exam. This isn't a minor detail. It's part of disease prevention.
Call promptly if you see open sores, bleeding, swelling or discharge, or if your rabbit is limping, reluctant to move or eating less.
Book a visit soon if you notice fur loss, redness or calluses on the feet.
Dr. Logan Kopp, Nashville's rabbit specialist and a Diplomate in Exotic Companion Mammal Practice, treats sore hocks and the problems behind them, including arthritis and weight issues, at Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Kopp is certified as a Gold-level rabbit-friendly veterinarian by the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund. Call (615) 361-4646.
This article is general information, not medical advice for your pet. Reading it doesn't create a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR). Please talk with your own veterinarian before making changes to your pet's care.