Lump on side??

[countrymomma1991]

My older meat rabbit has a lump on his left side by his arm. It is a fairly large lump and I am not sure what it is. Can someone please help?! :thankyou:

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Can you post a picture? It sounds like an abscess, which would not be good. They are usually from Pastuerella unless you know of an injury.

I had to cull my original buck for an abscess. This is the post I made when I did the necropsy.

floyd-is-finished-graphic-necropsy-photos-t5919.html

It has graphic photos, so if you are squeamish you may not wish to view it.

 

[countrymomma1991]

Here are some pictures.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Is he a pet or part of a meat rabbit breeding program?

That looks like an abscess to me, and I would suspect Pasteurella. If you have other rabbits, it would be best to cull (as in kill) him, since it can spread to your other rabbits.

If he is a pet and you have no other rabbits, you can attempt to treat it.

It will need to be lanced on the downward side and the pus expressed. The incision will need to be about 1/2" long to make it a little easier to squeeze the pus out. It will be very thick and pasty, not runny as in other animals. It is also very sticky, so once most of it is out, irrigate the wound with hydrogen peroxide to loosen the remainder and get it as clean as possible.<br /><br />__________ Tue Feb 05, 2013 10:59 am __________<br /><br />You may want to follow that up with injectable penicillin. I will look for the appropriate dosage if you decide on that route.

 

[MaggieJ]

We successfully treated a doe for an abscess, but we were confident it resulted from her habit of lying against a rough brick holding the water crock in place. It was hot weather and the brick was cool... and she had bare patches from pulling fur for her nest. Normally we cull rabbits with health problems like this, but Alice is kind of special.

post40647.html?hilit=Alice#p40647

 

[countrymomma1991]

He is a pet meat rabbit.. I didnt want to have to cull him but if it is something contagious i do have other rabbits and a daughter who isnt old enough to know she cant play with him

Thanks guys for your replies!!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

You're welcome.

Sorry your introduction to RabbitTalk started with such a sad situation. I'm sorry you need to do this.

Pastuerella is a zoonotic disease, and you and your other pets can get it.

Be sure to wear gloves- you don't want any of his blood to get into your system through a cut.

 

[countrymomma1991]

Thanks for all of the imput. We did cull him for the safty of the other rabbits and for him to.. He seemed like he was suffering.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Thanks for all of the imput. We did cull him for the safty of the other rabbits and for him to.. He seemed like he was suffering.

So sorry! Hard to do but best for the animal not to suffer. We had to dispatch one of our Cal bucks the other night... ...went out to feed and he was dragging his hindquarters. Poor guy...