What's on this rabbit????

[Duke of York]

Hi folks

While investigating the peak alum works near Ravenscar (the town that never was) on the North Yorkshire coast north of Scarborough, we came across what we orginally thought was a dead rabbit as when we got near it he/she didn't run away. However on closer inspection we could see it was actually alive so in order not to scare it we left it alone but took a quick picture.



It wasn't until we had a good look at the photo that we noticed this



Anybody have any idea what this is as it doesn't look pleasant

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by Duke of York

Hi folks

While investigating the peak alum works near Ravenscar (the town that never was) on the North Yorkshire coast north of Scarborough, we came across what we orginally thought was a dead rabbit as when we got near it he/she didn't run away. However on closer inspection we could see it was actually alive so in order not to scare it we left it alone but took a quick pictur

Anybody have any idea what this is as it doesn't look pleasant

That looks like a tick to me, busy taken a blood meal from the poor rabbit. Yukky! I have seen hedgehogs with loads on them before.

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

That looks like a tick to me, busy taken a blood meal from the poor rabbit. Yukky! I have seen hedgehogs with loads on them before.

Correct Jules, its a very large Sheep Tick, I'd say its about ready to let go of the Rabbit given its size, once they are full of blood they detach themselves, nasty little devils!

Looking at the Rabbit itself it looks like its behaviour is due to the fact that it is suffering from the later stages of Myxomatosis, it clearly has badly swollen eyes, unfortunately the poor thing was probably very close to death.

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

Correct Jules, its a very large Sheep Tick, I'd say its about ready to let go of the Rabbit given its size, once they are full of blood they detach themselves, nasty little devils!

Looking at the Rabbit itself it looks like its behaviour is due to the fact that it is suffering from the later stages of Myxomatosis, it clearly has badly swollen eyes, unfortunately the poor thing was probably very close to death.

Yes. A horrible painful disease. I've lost pet rabbits to it, even after vaccination. Question Steve. Do you know if ticks pass on myxi? I know fleas and gnats can. I was just thinking as it is another blood-sucking unit.?

Jules

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Yes. A horrible painful disease. I've lost pet rabbits to it, even after vaccination. Question Steve. Do you know if ticks pass on myxi? I know fleas and gnats can. I was just thinking as it is another blood-sucking unit.?

Jules

I've just looked that up in Blacks Veterinary Dictionary and there is no mention of Ticks transporting/carrying Myxamotosis, just fleas.
Having said that Jules it would seem very likely that they could given the fact that they are a parasite plus the very nature of how they latch on and feed.

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

I've just looked that up in Blacks Veterinary Dictionary and there is no mention of Ticks transporting/carrying Myxamotosis, just fleas.
Having said that Jules it would seem very likely that they could given the fact that they are a parasite plus the very nature of how they latch on and feed.

I'd agree with that, Fourwings. Do they mention mosquitoes? They can certainly transmit myxomatosis.

I'm not completly convinced that there is a tick there - it may just be a skin lesion and there is another mark to the right. Another symptom of myxomatosis.

henrya

[eeyore]

yep i'm with you thunder / henrya - ticks normally stand out from the fur more than that so I too suspect it is a lession - looking at the eyes i would say that the myxy is very advanced and death will be iminent in the next 24 hours or so

question : as bunnys with myx are very vulnerable why do they not get eaten ? is it possible that foxes etc are put off eating them by the symptoms in the same way that we are ?

[thunder]

Originally Posted by eeyore

question : as bunnys with myx are very vulnerable why do they not get eaten ? is it possible that foxes etc are put off eating them by the symptoms in the same way that we are ?

I think that they probably do get eaten, but where there is one bunny with myxy, there are undoubtedly more, and there is a limit to the number of bunnies a fox can eat.

henrya

[eeyore]

good point

That said is there any health risks for other species eating a myxy rabbit - Its not something i would fancy myself but I'm curious to know if there have been any cases of it crossing the species barrier or causing complications in other species

[thunder]

Originally Posted by eeyore

good point

That said is there any health risks for other species eating a myxy rabbit - Its not something i would fancy myself but I'm curious to know if there have been any cases of it crossing the species barrier or causing complications in other species

I think there have been one or two reports of Brown Hares with myxy, but these have never been confirmed, and were probably something else.

I think the only risks to predators would be from the associated bacterial infections from a very sick Rabbit, but given the state of some meat that carnivores eat, I suspect the worst that would happen is an upset stomach.

henrya