Rabbit issue?

[alexjoneill]

Good afternoon folks,
Shot a rabbit yesterday - didn't observe it long but looked to be acting normally, eating, moving, alert etc...
When I inspected it I saw this on the outside of the torso area - any ideas what it is?
Everything else looked fine, eyes were fine but didn't open it up to check organs...

Another one from yesterday which I was skinning today also had what looked to be similar but on a much smaller scale (about a 5p in size) - it looked like whatever it is goes beyond the skin and into the muscle? The organs all looked healthy and again- acting normally before shot

Looks like a red flag to me so not going to be eaten but curious what it is? Any ideas?

Many thanks

 

[VSS]

Old wound perhaps?
I have found airgun pellets lodged under the skin of rabbits showing similar external signs to those in your photo.

 

[alexjoneill]

Thanks, I will have a look at the one I was skinning today to see if there is a pellet or something obvious causing irritation under the skin/in the muscle - just wanted to make sure it wasn't diseased as hadn't seen it before

 

[shakey jake]

that mark looks similar to the wound a ferret causes when it gets one in a dead end

 

[alexjoneill]

that mark looks similar to the wound a ferret causes when it gets one in a dead end

Thanks, that's interesting to know! Never thought about that before - rabbits who survive ferret encounters - would you say it's an old wound then? Few years or so potentially?

 

[Camdig]

Buck rabbit mounting a doe and biting her back, two bucks scrapping maybe.

 

[WW.]

Can't explain the muscle one. However skin lesions with hair loss and flaky skin can be Cheyletiella.

 

[Smellydog]

That's a rabbit tooth mark.
They are quite brutal with each other.
Internal injuries also happen. I've had them with swollen balls of fluid inside. Just discard it but don't be put off.

 

[alexjoneill]

Thanks for all the wisdom! Every day is a school day
I will investigate the second one I mentioned later when I get home , any oddities, I will take a few pictures

 

[shakey jake]

Also see tapeworm cysts in heavy rabbit areas quite often. Normally in a big muscle, clear fluid with white dots floating

 

[old keeper]

As Smelly said rabbits fight, especially at this time of year. The other night I shot a rabbit in the hedge close to the bury, shortly after another buck appeared and started kicking the crap out of the dead one. Big blisters on rabbits' backs are usually full of clear liquid and I've always thought they're caused by fighting.
I've not seen much tapeworm but both Myxi and VHD crop up every year.

 

[Smellydog]

Also see tapeworm cysts in heavy rabbit areas quite often. Normally in a big muscle, clear fluid with white dots floating

Had one of them burst in my face years ago!

 

[VSS]

Had one of them burst in my face years ago!

We've long suspected that you had been suspected to a traumatic experience at some point.

 

[VSS]

We've long suspected that you had been suspected to a traumatic experience at some point.

Typo alert.
"Subjected".
Sorry.

 

[Smellydog]

Typo alert.
"Subjected".
Sorry.

Dam it, I was just going to jump on that...

 

[NOTSHARP]

Also see tapeworm cysts in heavy rabbit areas quite often. Normally in a big muscle, clear fluid with white dots floating

Yes.









Steve.

 

[shakey jake]

Yes.









Steve.

I would normally like a comment like yours.
But not this time, good example