Eek!! What is this?!

[mia]

OMG what is/was this?! It looks like a scab of some bug but part of it is still inside of him! Should I try to pick it out? I’m afraid I’ll tear his skin. Already have an appointment with the vet but it’s the coming Sat (for totally different reason). For a bigger pic, picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fjmJo…Jy0liipFm0

 

[jerseygirl]

Where abouts is it?

Could it be a healing bite wound?

Any chance you can get your appointment moved forward?

[mia]

Top of the body. It’s some kind of insect but it’s just a carcass left. The part that’s still stuck on is oval-ish shape with slight lines (shell of an insect). Maybe the partial remains of a tick? I have not seen ticks in this area though to know what size they are.

I’ve only seen tiny live ticks on a dog and they were easy to remove. This dead thing seems to be partly inside; I tried to pick at it but trying not to use much force, it’s stuck.

[LBJ10]

My first thought was it was just a scab from a bite. Wooly had some little scabs on his back from Leopold. I didn’t even know they were there until we were at the vet for something else and I saw them there.

If it is a bug and it is under the skin, then that is likely the head of a tick. The body probably got pulled off and the head was left stuck in the skin. That’s why they always tell people to grasp them down by the head with tweezers when removing them. Otherwise you will have a tick’s head stuck in your skin and it can get infected.

If that is what it is, I’m not sure if you will be able to hold your bun still enough to get it out. When it is on a person, they tell you to put alcohol on a cotton ball and rub it over the area. This loosens the mouth parts that are “glued” into place. Then you have to use a needle to work it out far enough to grab it with tweezers.

This may be something a vet needs to do.

[mia]

Are bunny scabs different from human scabs? It’s a very odd shape, about 2 to 3 mm high, and really hard. Only thing I can think of it resembling is fish spine LOL

[LittlePuffyTail]

If you think it is a tick head, I would recommend getting a vet to remove it since they can cause infections.

[RawrRabbitRawr]

I am pretty sure it is a tick head but take it to the vet as the Head can still keep digging but I am sure you rabbit will be fine afterwards

[mia]

Well, apparently he removed it himself. Checked on him after work yesterday and the thing was gone, just a red spot.

[LBJ10]

Is he by himself? If not, someone else might have gotten it for him too. Can you clean the area at all?

[mia]

Oh, I suppose his friends could have done it too.
Clean with what? Actually I was very surprised that I didn’t see any blood, just a small red spot. When I tried to pull it, it bled.

[LBJ10]

The bunny first aid thread says chlorhexidine is a safe antiseptic to use. Maybe others will chime in on what else is acceptable.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Yes, chorhexidine is safe for bunnies but it must be watered down first. You can get this from a vet and they can tell you how to dilute it. It’s good to have on hand. I’ve used it for wounds and sore hocks for my bunnies.

[jerseygirl]

Glad it came out! Was this on the boybun that had some weightloss?

How’d your vet appt go?

[mia]

The vet first said it looked like a bite from another rabbit; good thing I had a pic of the foreign object so the other buns didn’t get in trouble =). She then said it did look like it could be a tick or a plant but without the foreign piece still in him, it’s really hard to know. Nothing was prescribed for it.

Yes, it’s the one that had weight loss and recently drinking a lot. Ran blood test and said liver was high but still within normal. He’s on some meds now. Last year also had an occurrence but we just force fed and no meds for this issue. You’d think he’s making it all up; he loves the attention, being fed critical care, and almost all meds.

[jerseygirl]

Haha. Well at least it’s easier on you then. Trying to force critical care is a pain!

I hope you start to see an improvement in him.

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