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growth on liver

J

JoeKan

New Kit
Hello everyone, I posted a question this past summer about a growth that was on a few of my bunnies. After much discussion and research, I concluded that it was Shope Fibroma that was passed on from mosquitoes. After a few weeks, the growth they had disappeared (it was on their noses). I'm thinking everything was fine, but one of my bunnies that had SF was nursing her kit at that time. Since then, I had butchered two of her babies (about 3-4 months old) and I noticed that each one had a gray,blackish growth on their liver. I didn't eat the meat because I wasn't sure what was the cause and I was concerned about it.
Do you think this growth is from SF? Do you think they got SF from nursing from their momma? What do you think would have cause this growth and would the rabbit still be safe to consume by humans?
BTW, I was soaking the butchered rabbit in salty water and step out for a minute and our German Shepherd stole them. (He got a scolding...he knows better) and the meat didn't make him sick.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Joe
 
JoeKan said:
Hello everyone, I posted a question this past summer about a growth that was on a few of my bunnies. After much discussion and research, I concluded that it was Shope Fibroma that was passed on from mosquitoes. After a few weeks, the growth they had disappeared (it was on their noses). I'm thinking everything was fine, but one of my bunnies that had SF was nursing her kit at that time. Since then, I had butchered two of her babies (about 3-4 months old) and I noticed that each one had a gray,blackish growth on their liver. I didn't eat the meat because I wasn't sure what was the cause and I was concerned about it.
Do you think this growth is from SF? Do you think they got SF from nursing from their momma? What do you think would have cause this growth and would the rabbit still be safe to consume by humans?
BTW, I was soaking the butchered rabbit in salty water and step out for a minute and our German Shepherd stole them. (He got a scolding...he knows better) and the meat didn't make him sick.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Joe
Click to expand...

The only way to obtain a definitive diagnosis of the liver lesions would be to have samples sent off to a Veterinary Laboratory for histopathology (the microscopic examination of tissue in order to study the manifestations of disease.) There are several possible causes of Liver abnormalities found at post mortem, for example hepatic coccidiosis or Tularemia, the latter being prevalent in wild Rabbits in the USA

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Parasitic/Hepatic_coccidiosis_rabbits.htm

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Bacterial/Tularemia_lagomorphs.htm

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/16/12/pdfs/10-1013.pdf

I would contact the US Department of Agriculture about the safety/legality of slaughter of your stock for meat to be consumed/sold to consume

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome
 
JoeKan said:
Hello everyone, I posted a question this past summer about a growth that was on a few of my bunnies. After much discussion and research, I concluded that it was Shope Fibroma that was passed on from mosquitoes. After a few weeks, the growth they had disappeared (it was on their noses). I'm thinking everything was fine, but one of my bunnies that had SF was nursing her kit at that time. Since then, I had butchered two of her babies (about 3-4 months old) and I noticed that each one had a gray,blackish growth on their liver. I didn't eat the meat because I wasn't sure what was the cause and I was concerned about it.
Do you think this growth is from SF? Do you think they got SF from nursing from their momma? What do you think would have cause this growth and would the rabbit still be safe to consume by humans?
BTW, I was soaking the butchered rabbit in salty water and step out for a minute and our German Shepherd stole them. (He got a scolding...he knows better) and the meat didn't make him sick.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Joe
Click to expand...

Yes I remember your question Joe and at the time I remarked it may have been Shope Fibroma.

The only definitive way to know what the growth on the liver was, and if it was safe for human consumption would be to have a Post Mortem done by a vet.

You may also be wise to post on a U.S. meat rabbit site. Here we have very little or no experience of butchering meat rabbits and whether they are safe to eat - we are a pet/rescue rabbit site.

I hope you find the answers to your questions. Good luck xx
 
Thanks everyone for the help!! I'm thinking about culling the other 3 siblings to see if they have liver problems and if they do, then I will have to do the same to the momma. Of course, the momma is one of our favorites. :(
 
JoeKan said:
Thanks everyone for the help!! I'm thinking about culling the other 3 siblings to see if they have liver problems and if they do, then I will have to do the same to the momma. Of course, the momma is one of our favorites. :(
Click to expand...

Given your large stock I would recommend getting a proper diagnosis from a qualified professional. So if you do cull the siblings and the Mother and you find the same liver lesions I'd get at least two bodies to an agricultural Vet/Vet Lab for full histopathogical examination. Obviously you'd need to arrange the consultations BEFORE culling the Rabbits, their bodies will need to be gotten to the lab straight away.

Yes, it may all cost money initially, but less money than either losing all your stock to disease or from a Lawsuit taken out by anyone buying meat from you that turned out not to be fit for human consumption.
 
JoeKan said:
Thanks everyone for the help!! I'm thinking about culling the other 3 siblings to see if they have liver problems and if they do, then I will have to do the same to the momma. Of course, the momma is one of our favorites. :(
Click to expand...

I wish you all the very best with whatever you decide to do :thumb:
 
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