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Hunting Rabbit health/disease problems article By @hobson

Good read that mate learnt a lot only really shoot rats but got three ferrets for next season for the rabbits I can check over before feeding
 
Anyone help me identify this inside a rabbits leg meat? 32474A92-91B8-47C8-A565-A98C48582D4B.webp
 
I gutted a rabbit last night which had mass of totally clear, jelly like blobs in the chest cavity. Looked to be connected to the lungs (sorry but I didn't take a photo). Each blob was about the size of a kidney - anyone seen this before?
 
AGF17 said:
Original post by @hobson

Seeing as most weeks we get pictures up asking 'whats this?' and 'can i still eat it?!' i thought i'd start compiling a list of various rabbit afflictions with pictures to help people identify that special blob.
This is information from personal knowledge and from a trainee vet friend, i've tried to keep it simple and understandable but if anyone wants to add bits or correct anything then please do, though you'll have to PM mods and they should be able to edit the post.

Firstly,the main one Myxomatosis or mixy.

This is basically syphillis in rabbits, it was introduced in Australia to cull the rabbit population, and it did such a good job it nearly wiped them out, fortunately now rabbits do seem to be able to develop animmunity to it.It is carried and transferred by the fleas which live on rabbits, and is NOT transferable between species, it can only be caught and transferred by rabbits, whether domestic or wild.It is an awful disease for them to have and you really are doing them a favour by killing them.Mixi is noticeable by cloudy eyes in the early stages, to closed puffy eyelids and scabby puss-filled eyes in the later stages, it causes blindness so if you see rabbits stood still or running in circles when there's a danger, they most likely have mixi.

Can i eat it?

Yes, but i wouldn't in the later stages as it will affect the taste of the meat (according to my local butcher) but gutted and cooked properly it will be fine in the early stages.

What does it look like?
View attachment 14142


Liver fluke

Horrible little beasties, Liver fluke are a parasite and have a very long winded and complex life cycle, from eggs to larvae, and larvae to actual flukes, they live in the liver and left untreated cause liver disease. They look like little white spots on the liver, which grow into bigger white lumps and in the later stages the liver can have holes and look a bit like a brain, very unhealthy when it should be smooth.

Can I eat it?

Yes, but make sure you gut the animal and cook it properly. Liver fluke can live in humans and animals, including dogs and ferrets, so those of you who feed raw rabbits to your dogs or ferrets need to make sure you check the rabbits before feeding them, again, gutting the rabbit should make them safe, but a dose of Milbemax wormer every three months will make sure your hound is healthy.

What does it look like?
View attachment 14143

Tapeworm / cyst

Another horrible little beasty, again a parasite which causes the famous worm, like liver fluke they have a long and complex life cycle.Tapeworms can be acquired if rabbits eat vegetation contaminated with carnivore faeces, usually fox droppings, although domestic dogs and cats are a possible source of transmission too. Rabbits are an ‘intermediate host’ for tapeworm infection - the worms cannot complete their lifecycle in the rabbit, hence rabbits cannot pass on tapeworm infections except by being eaten. Tapeworm cysts look like milky white blobs and are full of little white eggs, they can be anywhere on the rabbit but are usually on the legs or stomach area as they're the lowest areas, the eggs are transferred from grass to the rabbit when they brush against them.

Can I eat it?

Assuming you’re only dealing with a cyst which normally comes before the tapeworm, then yes, PROVIDED you remove the affected area and cook the rabbit very well.Eating a rabbit with a tapeworm cyst should really be a lack of options rather than a choice.

What does it look like?View attachment 14147

Tulameria

This is a bacterial infection and is very similar to bubonic plague, but in rabbits.It is transferable to humans, mammals, birds and reptiles and is carried by fleas, mites, ticks, blackflies and lice.It is noticeable if the rabbits seem lazy or sluggish, run slowly, rub their noses on the ground and have muscle spasms.It can only be properly diagnosed with blood tests, but makes the liver lighter in colour and causes lots of little white spots.Thankfully Tulameria is not a common disease, but because it can be caught by humans it is a public health concern, so affected areas are normally signed.

Can I eat it?

Yes, if it is thoroughly cooked, but to be honest i wouldn’t risk it unless I was starving.When handling rabbits with Tulameria gloves are advisable.

What does it look like?
View attachment 14148


Pasteurellosis

A rather nasty bacterial infection, It is most often transmitted among chronically infected does and their litters or between breeding males and females. The bacteria most often reside in the nose, lungs and eye membranes, but can spread to other areas of the body. Pasteurellosis of rabbits may take many different forms. Respiratory disease, including pneumonia and infection of the nasal passages and sinuses, is very common. Infections of the eye membranes, middle ear, jawbone and uterus are most often the result of the Pasteurella organism. Abscesses are also common and occur when the Pasteurella organism settles in a specific location. The rabbit's body responds to this invasion with an influx of tremendous numbers of white blood cells to fight the infection. Pus results from the accumulation of dead and dying white blood cells and tissue cells in the area of the infection.You’ll know a rabbit has pasteurellosis if they look like they have a hardcore cold, runny nose/eyes and pus around either, they also scratch more around these areas due to the irritation.

Can I eat it?

Pasteurellosis can be caught by domestic livestock and poultry, and although it is not ‘caught’ by humans it is a bacteria nonetheless, so could make you or your pet ill.As with most things, cooking it well will kill any bacteria but like other things, it’s probably best left unless you’re starving.

What does it look like?View attachment 14149

Abscesses

Abscesses are localized collections of pus or other nastiness in a capsule like lump under the skin.Causes are numerous but are usually caused by an underlying condition, so it could be anything from pasteurella (above) to dental disease, Abscesses can also be caused by a bite or foreign object entering the skin (a thorn sticking in and breaking off)

Can I eat it?

As long as you can identify that it isn’t caused by something else (which you’ve already checked for haven’t you?!) then removing the affected area and cooking it well, it should be fine.Depending in the cause though, taste can be affected, so if you’re a rabbit meat connoisseur, then best leave it alone.

What does it look like?
View attachment 14157View attachment 14158

Ringworm

Ringworm is a fungus which causes dry, scabby bald patches, it is caused by an imbalance of various bacteria in the skin and left untreated can make a real mess.It is not as the name suggests anything to do with actual worms though, it is in fact more similar to dermatitis or eczema.Ringworm can be carried and passed on by most mammals, so yes, you can catch it from a rabbit, and it from you! It can also be caught by domestic pets.Luckily it is only caught by direct contact, and being a fungus this is easily avoided by simply washing your hands well.Ringworm thrives in wet, damp areas so you’re more at risk if you’re sweaty and damp a lot, and handling infected bunnies won’t help.

Can I eat it?

Yes, though it may be unsightly it is only a skin condition, it does not mean there are ring–shaped worms inside, so gut it, skin it and cook it.But make sure you wash your hands properly after handling.

What does it look like?
View attachment 14161

Calcivirus / Rabbit Haemorrhagic disease

Similar to Mixi in that it is used as population control in some places, but is now occurring due to outbreaks from carriers of the disease.Specific only to rabbits and has the highest mortality rate of anything else they can get (over 90%) if you have an outbreak of this, don’t expect to see any rabbits for a long time.Signs of infection are swollen/bleeding eyes, bloody discharge from the nose and paralysis, but in some cases the rabbit can look perfectly healthy from the outside, but internally, blackening of the spleen, a swollen liver which looks like it’s falling to bits and dark brown kidneys.

Can I eat it?

Yes, there is no danger to humans (though i don't want to speculate on the flavour) but as the disease is so destructive, it’s better to play it safe and incinerate any infected rabbits, that includes dead and live ones (shot first obviously) as the live ones will be carriers and will infect others.

What does it look like?

View attachment 14163View attachment 14164

Thats all for now, but i'll add more as time allows, again, if anyone wants to add anything, please feel free. And if mods want to make this a sticky, please do as i hope it will help people.
:)
Click to expand...
That is awesome info, thank you, much appreciated 👏👏😊👍
 
Interesting couple of shoots I had on Isle of Wight have had VHD in the rabbits. Farmers have stated seen very few rabbits in last five years since it hit. Oddly enough the dead rabbit carcasses stay on the ground and are avoided by foxes etc ?? Wierd
 
AGF17 said:
Original post by @hobson

Seeing as most weeks we get pictures up asking 'whats this?' and 'can i still eat it?!' i thought i'd start compiling a list of various rabbit afflictions with pictures to help people identify that special blob.
This is information from personal knowledge and from a trainee vet friend, i've tried to keep it simple and understandable but if anyone wants to add bits or correct anything then please do, though you'll have to PM mods and they should be able to edit the post.

Firstly,the main one Myxomatosis or mixy.

This is basically syphillis in rabbits, it was introduced in Australia to cull the rabbit population, and it did such a good job it nearly wiped them out, fortunately now rabbits do seem to be able to develop animmunity to it.It is carried and transferred by the fleas which live on rabbits, and is NOT transferable between species, it can only be caught and transferred by rabbits, whether domestic or wild.It is an awful disease for them to have and you really are doing them a favour by killing them.Mixi is noticeable by cloudy eyes in the early stages, to closed puffy eyelids and scabby puss-filled eyes in the later stages, it causes blindness so if you see rabbits stood still or running in circles when there's a danger, they most likely have mixi.

Can i eat it?

Yes, but i wouldn't in the later stages as it will affect the taste of the meat (according to my local butcher) but gutted and cooked properly it will be fine in the early stages.

What does it look like?
View attachment 14142


Liver fluke

Horrible little beasties, Liver fluke are a parasite and have a very long winded and complex life cycle, from eggs to larvae, and larvae to actual flukes, they live in the liver and left untreated cause liver disease. They look like little white spots on the liver, which grow into bigger white lumps and in the later stages the liver can have holes and look a bit like a brain, very unhealthy when it should be smooth.

Can I eat it?

Yes, but make sure you gut the animal and cook it properly. Liver fluke can live in humans and animals, including dogs and ferrets, so those of you who feed raw rabbits to your dogs or ferrets need to make sure you check the rabbits before feeding them, again, gutting the rabbit should make them safe, but a dose of Milbemax wormer every three months will make sure your hound is healthy.

What does it look like?
View attachment 14143

Tapeworm / cyst

Another horrible little beasty, again a parasite which causes the famous worm, like liver fluke they have a long and complex life cycle.Tapeworms can be acquired if rabbits eat vegetation contaminated with carnivore faeces, usually fox droppings, although domestic dogs and cats are a possible source of transmission too. Rabbits are an ‘intermediate host’ for tapeworm infection - the worms cannot complete their lifecycle in the rabbit, hence rabbits cannot pass on tapeworm infections except by being eaten. Tapeworm cysts look like milky white blobs and are full of little white eggs, they can be anywhere on the rabbit but are usually on the legs or stomach area as they're the lowest areas, the eggs are transferred from grass to the rabbit when they brush against them.

Can I eat it?

Assuming you’re only dealing with a cyst which normally comes before the tapeworm, then yes, PROVIDED you remove the affected area and cook the rabbit very well.Eating a rabbit with a tapeworm cyst should really be a lack of options rather than a choice.

What does it look like?View attachment 14147

Tulameria

This is a bacterial infection and is very similar to bubonic plague, but in rabbits.It is transferable to humans, mammals, birds and reptiles and is carried by fleas, mites, ticks, blackflies and lice.It is noticeable if the rabbits seem lazy or sluggish, run slowly, rub their noses on the ground and have muscle spasms.It can only be properly diagnosed with blood tests, but makes the liver lighter in colour and causes lots of little white spots.Thankfully Tulameria is not a common disease, but because it can be caught by humans it is a public health concern, so affected areas are normally signed.

Can I eat it?

Yes, if it is thoroughly cooked, but to be honest i wouldn’t risk it unless I was starving.When handling rabbits with Tulameria gloves are advisable.

What does it look like?
View attachment 14148


Pasteurellosis

A rather nasty bacterial infection, It is most often transmitted among chronically infected does and their litters or between breeding males and females. The bacteria most often reside in the nose, lungs and eye membranes, but can spread to other areas of the body. Pasteurellosis of rabbits may take many different forms. Respiratory disease, including pneumonia and infection of the nasal passages and sinuses, is very common. Infections of the eye membranes, middle ear, jawbone and uterus are most often the result of the Pasteurella organism. Abscesses are also common and occur when the Pasteurella organism settles in a specific location. The rabbit's body responds to this invasion with an influx of tremendous numbers of white blood cells to fight the infection. Pus results from the accumulation of dead and dying white blood cells and tissue cells in the area of the infection.You’ll know a rabbit has pasteurellosis if they look like they have a hardcore cold, runny nose/eyes and pus around either, they also scratch more around these areas due to the irritation.

Can I eat it?

Pasteurellosis can be caught by domestic livestock and poultry, and although it is not ‘caught’ by humans it is a bacteria nonetheless, so could make you or your pet ill.As with most things, cooking it well will kill any bacteria but like other things, it’s probably best left unless you’re starving.

What does it look like?View attachment 14149

Abscesses

Abscesses are localized collections of pus or other nastiness in a capsule like lump under the skin.Causes are numerous but are usually caused by an underlying condition, so it could be anything from pasteurella (above) to dental disease, Abscesses can also be caused by a bite or foreign object entering the skin (a thorn sticking in and breaking off)

Can I eat it?

As long as you can identify that it isn’t caused by something else (which you’ve already checked for haven’t you?!) then removing the affected area and cooking it well, it should be fine.Depending in the cause though, taste can be affected, so if you’re a rabbit meat connoisseur, then best leave it alone.

What does it look like?
View attachment 14157View attachment 14158

Ringworm

Ringworm is a fungus which causes dry, scabby bald patches, it is caused by an imbalance of various bacteria in the skin and left untreated can make a real mess.It is not as the name suggests anything to do with actual worms though, it is in fact more similar to dermatitis or eczema.Ringworm can be carried and passed on by most mammals, so yes, you can catch it from a rabbit, and it from you! It can also be caught by domestic pets.Luckily it is only caught by direct contact, and being a fungus this is easily avoided by simply washing your hands well.Ringworm thrives in wet, damp areas so you’re more at risk if you’re sweaty and damp a lot, and handling infected bunnies won’t help.

Can I eat it?

Yes, though it may be unsightly it is only a skin condition, it does not mean there are ring–shaped worms inside, so gut it, skin it and cook it.But make sure you wash your hands properly after handling.

What does it look like?
View attachment 14161

Calcivirus / Rabbit Haemorrhagic disease

Similar to Mixi in that it is used as population control in some places, but is now occurring due to outbreaks from carriers of the disease.Specific only to rabbits and has the highest mortality rate of anything else they can get (over 90%) if you have an outbreak of this, don’t expect to see any rabbits for a long time.Signs of infection are swollen/bleeding eyes, bloody discharge from the nose and paralysis, but in some cases the rabbit can look perfectly healthy from the outside, but internally, blackening of the spleen, a swollen liver which looks like it’s falling to bits and dark brown kidneys.

Can I eat it?

Yes, there is no danger to humans (though i don't want to speculate on the flavour) but as the disease is so destructive, it’s better to play it safe and incinerate any infected rabbits, that includes dead and live ones (shot first obviously) as the live ones will be carriers and will infect others.

What does it look like?

View attachment 14163View attachment 14164

Thats all for now, but i'll add more as time allows, again, if anyone wants to add anything, please feel free. And if mods want to make this a sticky, please do as i hope it will help people.
:)
Click to expand...
This was very informative thanks. Are any of them going to be bad for raw feeding big dogs?
 
Thanks for the info, there’s a few new ones there I hadn’t seen before and well worth knowing about 👍🏻.
 
Myxomatosis is still around, many a time have found the poor buggers by the side of the road in a daze, head swollen, just imagine the human version of that?.
 
VHD has been the downfall of bunnies here in the SE. We keep getting little pockets starting up,see the boaters grow to about ½ size then they're all gone. It's reportable so I did years ago and Defra said yes we know, its everywhere. Some do gooders in the SW released infected bunnies from a lab!
 
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