coccidosis? pics

[Kristi]

Hi all, I am fairly new to BYH and have been posting in the Goats section, but have a question about rabbits I was hoping I could run by you.

My neighbor's meat rabbit buck died last night and she didn't have time to process him or anything, so she offered him to me. She didn't know why he'd died. Apparently his face/jaw was deformed, tho I didn't notice anything obvious today. His behind was covered in poop, and it smelled really bad. His mouth looked like he'd been eating dirt, although I suppose that could've been from falling over when he died? He had a couple scratches inside one ear, maybe from the chickens he lived with.

I skinned him and opened him up. His liver had a couple white spots, and his stomach looked weird - black spots all over it. Inside the stomach was a ton of half digested green feed (pellets I assume), and his intestines seemed very full.

I did some googling, and am thinking the spots indicate coccidosis. I couldn't find anything about the black spots on the stomach. We've raised a few litters of meat rabbits ourselves (different breeds than this guy), but I've never seen anything like this before.

I didn't keep the meat, just in case. I did, however, keep the pelt, and I want to try tanning it.

Am I right about the coccidosis? Pics online didn't exactly match what I saw. If so, does that mean her others (two does, siblings of this guy) are likely infected too? She keeps them in the chicken coop. The rabbits were given to her, and she doesn't really know what to do with them.

Any ideas about the black spots on the stomach?

Thanks!

 

[P.O. in MO]

No experience with this disease but do have 3 rabbit books. One lists Tyzzer's disease as also causing white spots on liver. Could find nothing on those spots on the stomach but they don't look good. Sorry couldn't be of more help.

 

[alsea1]

The rabbits should def. not be kept in the chicken coop. Rabbits can be rather delicate as far as picking up parasites and other disease.
Could be tularemia. Def. good you did not eat or feed the rabbit to anything. Here is a good link about this
http://www.outdoorhub.com/how-to/rabbit-hunters-take-note-steps-to-avoid-tularemia/

This disease can be transmitted to people so be very careful.
Hopefully it was just cocidea.

 

[mysunwolf]

Tularemia mostly affects the liver, and the color and spots on your rabbit don't look as bad as the photos I've seen. To me, the liver's condition much more resembles coccidiosis (there are fewer spots when dealing with cocci).

As for the stomach spots, I couldn't find much... the only thing I've seen had much fewer spots, and it had to do with overeating. I agree with P.O. and alsea, it definitely doesn't look good, and I would not keep the rabbits in with the chickens. Sounds like they could be getting into chicken feed or parasites. The others may be infected, but hard to say without knowing what it is.

Good luck, I hope you figure out what it is.

 

[GD91]

I would inform her of your findings just so that she is aware. Don't eat the meat.

Rabbits really don't do good in chicken coops.....
It could be many things, apart from informing her so she can keep an eye on her rabbits, there isn't much you can do. If she chooses to ignore you, at least you tried. Sorry couldn't be of more help.