Weird outgrowth on neck might be papilloma virus

[NatalyNapaea]

when I first felt the outgrowth I thought it was a scab from her getting scratched on something, this was just a week or so ago. Now I actually saw a keratinized piece of outgrowth and it’s getting a big bigger.

we just moved into a house and we’ve been letting her out in the yard for around an hour everyday so she could’ve gotten bit by a mosquito or come in contact with areas where the wild buns might have been, so it makes sense.

I think it’s called cottontail rabbit papillomavirus or shope papillomavirus.

she is acting completely normal and happy, eating and pooping excellent lol

I read online that it goes away by itself sometimes,  has anyone had experience with this?

[LBJ10]

Papillomas can go away on their own. Do you have a photo so we can see what it looks like?

[NatalyNapaea]

you guys won’t believe it! it turned out to be the larvae of a cuterebra fly! they had to sedate her and took it out the same day! We are so grateful to have gone to this vet! It was such a gross bug, when they took it out it was the size of half a loonie! It was huge. they said it happened when she was digging a burrow in the soil, and the fly falls on the rabbit, burrowing under skin and laying the egg. It took her multiple hours to get back to herself after the anesthesia and maybe the stress of the car ride, but now in the evening she’s all better. We were sent home with antibiotics and a wound rinse. antibiotics have strawberry flavour, but I also put it in juice mixed w water and she licked it all so that was easy lol. And of course no more outside for now, but they said to weigh the risks and benefits….and there’s less bugs when its now getting colder outside.

[Bam]

Oh, wow 😳 So glad you went to a good vet who knew what it was a could remove it! I looked up  botflies and it seems that maintenance treatment with ivermectin or imidacloprid during fly-season could lower the risk of warbles. Keeping your bun inside will of course be the safest thing, but as your vet says, there’s risk and benefit to take into consideration. Some rabbits really, really love the outdoors.

[LBJ10]

Oh wow! Not what I was expecting. LOL

I’m glad you were able to find a vet to take care of this. Botflies are nasty little things and the larvae are difficult to remove. You have to make sure you get the whole thing. With animals, you pretty much have to sedate them because they have to be completely still for this.

[NatalyNapaea]

there is even a video of the doctor removing it, if anyone is interested. It is on their Facebook page Mariposa Veterinary (Orillia, Ontario)

[Bam]

Thank you! I will definitely go take a look.

I hope your bun is still doing well?

[NatalyNapaea]

Yes thank you, she is fully recovered and I don’t even feel the scab anymore

[Bam]

Wonderful news 😃

[Author]

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