Cancer? **GRAPHIC PICS INCLUDED!!**

[fuzzy9]

We finally had a free day to do some much needed processing today, and I wanted to share something we found, to see if this is what I think it is. Could this be some form of cancer? A while back I posted about our new NZB buck who was losing weight, especially along his top line. What was odd was that he still weighed close to the same, with very little loss on the scale......now I know why. We've been trying some things with him for months, but nothing has worked. He seemed to be a very picky eater, and we attributed it to that, but after months of nothing working we decided it was time to just let him go. We processed him today with a bunch of others.

He wasn't a sneezer, and seemed active, he'd come to the dish eagerly anticipating his meal, but yet would eat limited amounts. I thought about processing him weeks ago, and wish I would have, because now I feel as though he was suffering, and I feel awful for not following through with it.

The tumor on the right was just a solid mass inside, and was located right next to the heart and lungs.

All sorts of hard lumps on the lungs.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I have no idea what that lump is. Do you still have it, and if so, could you cut it open?

Even without the lesions, the lungs don't look good.

 

[fuzzy9]

I do have it, it's in the freezer, cut in half. It just looked like a solid mass, though I didn't have much time to look at it. 10 billion things to do on our one day off.......you know how that goes.

 

[Miss M]

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Cancer/Rab ... ses_en.htm

This rabbit was diagnosed with lymphoma upon necropsy. Biopsies weren't done, but the diagnosis was based on experience. The lungs look just like your buck's!

 

[fuzzy9]

Thank you for the link, I think it's exactly what we found. We didn't keep the meat for eating, I didn't feel comfortable keeping it out of fear of the unknown. But now I'm really wondering, should we even keep any of his offspring for our breeding herd? Could this be hereditary, and effect the others? Then I'm also wondering what about the meat I feed my kitties from his offspring? Could it be harmful in any way to them? I don't feed the organs or bones.

 

[Tegan]

You SHOULD be ok. Technically it can be hereditary but it could also be from tainted feed, medications, etc. It could also be just a weird, random genetic mutation. Deff looks like cancer to me though.

 

[Miss M]

We didn't keep the meat for eating, I didn't feel comfortable keeping it out of fear of the unknown. But now I'm really wondering, should we even keep any of his offspring for our breeding herd? Could this be hereditary, and effect the others?

In humans, there does not appear to be much of a genetic link with most kinds of lymphoma. I would advise against taking the chance, though. We don't know what particular kind of lymphoma he had -- whether it was genetically linked or not. I would cull his whole line.

By the way, while lymphoma itself isn't exactly contagious, there seems to be more and more research suggesting that it is sometimes caused by viruses, which are contagious.

Then I'm also wondering what about the meat I feed my kitties from his offspring? Could it be harmful in any way to them? I don't feed the organs or bones.

Lymphoma is cancer in the lymphatic system, which is just like your blood circulatory system, except that it circulates lymph instead, and it is clear. The lymph, just like the blood, travels throughout your body, not just to the organs or bones.

Cooked, the meat might be okay. The cooking might destroy the virus, if that's what caused it, but I do not know if it makes the meat safe.

This is pretty freaky, but appears to be well-researched: http://www.nealhendrickson.com/mcdougal ... bovine.htm<br /><br />__________ Tue Dec 04, 2012 12:48 am __________<br /><br />Ah, Tegan beat me! She used to be a veterinary nurse I think, so if I said anything wrong, I do hope she will correct me.

 

[fuzzy9]

Well, this is all making me really nervous, because I feed strictly raw diet to my kitties, and I exclusively handle all this raw meat myself.<br /><br />__________ Tue Dec 04, 2012 1:02 am __________<br /><br />Also, I have another buck purchased from the same place this buck came from, they were her only two rabbits, but she did show them exclusively each summer. If this was caused by a virus, though we don't know, what are the chances we should not be keeping him either?

This all started a couple months after coming here also, he was rather fat when he came here initially. What time frame could this have taken to start forming?

 

[OneAcreFarm]

It could be a completely different type of cancer, not just lymphoma. Most cancers will eventually spread to the lungs and liver, since all the blood circulates thru those organs. I would not worry too much about it. Just dispose of him and watch the other buck carefully for any sign of illness. Weak immune systems can allow otherwise healthy animals (and people) to develop cancers too. Most cancers are just mutated cells that are multiplying out of control.

 

[Miss M]

It could be a completely different type of cancer, not just lymphoma. Most cancers will eventually spread to the lungs and liver, since all the blood circulates thru those organs.

Hadn't thought of that, that makes sense.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

It could be a completely different type of cancer, not just lymphoma. Most cancers will eventually spread to the lungs and liver, since all the blood circulates thru those organs.

Hadn't thought of that, that makes sense.

Unfortunately, working in surgery for so many years, you get to see a LOT of different types of cancers first hand....

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

fuzzy i like to thank you for taking the time to post this. tHERE is always something i am learning. I didnt know anything about this. So when i clean some rabbits i will look more closely .

 

[fuzzy9]

Thank you so much for the info! Would you still cull this whole line?

You are very welcome Mary Ann!

 

[Tegan]

I don't know if I would. If I saw it a few more times down the line I might, but with just ONE case...I might write it off as a freak occurrence and see what the future held.

 

[Miss M]

OneAcreFarm and Tegan are more knowledgeable and experienced than I am. If they would wait and see, and hold off culling his line, that's the way I'd go.

 

[ZRabbits]

Sorry to hear about your rabbit. Agree with Tegan, and would watch to see if it does pop up again.

Not just tainted feed, or medication, but also tainted water can cause cancers. I was surprised when I first got into rabbits, that the focus on what to feed them, but not what they are drinking. I have a full RO system here and know that all toxins are being removed from the water. Always got a jug of water from the breeder and slowly transitioned my rabbits to our water. Don't know what the water quality is in WI, but in New Jersey, lots of pharmecuticals (sp?) are showing up along with other toxins. Just food for thought.

Hoping this is a one time occurrence. So sorry to hear you and your rabbit had to go through this.

Karen

 

[OneAcreFarm]

I don't know if I would. If I saw it a few more times down the line I might, but with just ONE case...I might write it off as a freak occurrence and see what the future held.

Yep, I would just watch and see. It may not pass genetically, as Tegan said, and just be a freak occurrence...

 

[fuzzy9]

Thanks so much.....appreciate the help! Now, since you were all so helpful with that problem, can someone offer some help with getting the sticky tape gum residue off my restaurant door glass, and cooler glass? :lol: It's driving me insane! :lol:

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Now, since you were all so helpful with that problem, can someone offer some help with getting the sticky tape gum residue off my restaurant door glass, and cooler glass? :lol: It's driving me insane! :lol:

Hubs recommends denatured alcohol or rubbing alcohol. If that doesn't work, try acetone. If all else fails, try lacquer thinner.

A razor blade may be helpful too, but it may just create a big glob of goo.

You'll have to clean the glass again afterwards. I personally use hot water and a bit of dish soap, and sometimes vinegar- scrub the glass with a non-scratch sponge, and squeegee the water off, using a towel to dry the rubber blade between passes.

How's business? Are you enjoying it?

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

gas will do it