Found a huge tick on my bunny

[Babygroot]

Hello,
So I've been letting my bunny run outside for a bit in an x-pen you could say and now since summer is coming along, the ticks are as well.

I have found some small ticks on my bunny, but somehow I missed this HUGE tick sitting on the side of my bunny's neck. I saw something there but when I checked a little later I didn't find anything so I thought it was nothing. Couple of days later (can tell exact how many days but maybe two or three) I saw something there again and after checking for a while I felt something big and then I saw that it was a huge tick.

I've removed it now and the spot where it was literally looks like a volcano.

Finally to the question, she seems fine but how worried should I be? And is there something I might be able use to defect the area? I usually just take some alcogel or water and sope whenever I get a tick, but I'm not so sure I can do the same on my rabbit...

 

[Kellyann]

Please dont use alcohol. Call your vet for advise. Did hou get the whole tick out?

 

[Babygroot]

Please dont use alcohol. Call your vet for advise. Did hou get the whole tick out?

Yeah, didn't think using alcohol would be good idea that's why I wanted to ask first... and yes I got the whole tick out. I'll try and see if I can get a hold of a vet, thought I'd check here first!

 

[Mariam+Theo]

There is a huge chance the tick's head is still in her because tick's heads detach when the body is pulled. There is no way to get the head out now. From now on, when pulling a tick off your rabbits (or you) get dawn dish soap and put it on your fingers. The tick will hate it and fall off. I get ticks in my hair all the time, they are such pest.
For now, you can put antibiotic ointment on the bite. You may need to see a vet because she might get Lyme disease.

 

[Babygroot]

There is a huge chance the tick's head is still in her because tick's heads detach when the body is pulled. There is no way to get the head out now. From now on, when pulling a tick off your rabbits (or you) get dawn dish soap and put it on your fingers. The tick will hate it and fall off. I get ticks in my hair all the time, they are such pest.
For now, you can put antibiotic ointment on the bite. You may need to see a vet because she might get Lyme disease.

Hi, sorry for the late response!
She's been perfectly fine after the tick got to her and her skin went back to "normal".
But just today I found another tick and I tried what you suggested with the dishsoap but it did not want to let go (maybe I didn't wait long enough or something) and so I decided to try and remove it and it did not want to let go at all. It was really stuck. But I tried to remove it again and when I finally pulled it off I saw that the head was still attached and I'm very worried! Maybe I should makes this into a new thread but I'll write it here first... I put ointment on there for now anyway but yeah, what do I do?

 

[Preitler]

Here, ticks are a real nuisance this year. Already pulled 7 or 8 off me this year, for my peace of mind I put a band aid with Betaisodona on the spot. Got lyme disease once, caught it in time.

Good tick pliers are worth their money, and just apply some force and keep that for some time, they come loose eventually, well, mostly.

Keep an eye on that spot for the next weeks, normally it shouldn't be much of a problem, but I guess there's the possibility for an abscess, since rabbit puss is quite thick.
I can't pull all ticks my rabbits collect, like on the eye lids, either they fall off, or get cleaned off by the other rabbits. Wasn't a problem so far.

 

[Babygroot]

Here, ticks are a real nuisance this year. Already pulled 7 or 8 off me this year, for my peace of mind I put a band aid with Betaisodona on the spot. Got lyme disease once, caught it in time.

Good tick pliers are worth their money, and just apply some force and keep that for some time, they come loose eventually, well, mostly.

Keep an eye on that spot for the next weeks, normally it shouldn't be much of a problem, but I guess there's the possibility for an abscess, since rabbit puss is quite thick.
I can't pull all ticks my rabbits collect, like on the eye lids, either they fall off, or get cleaned off by the other rabbits. Wasn't a problem so far.

Okay thank you for the response and the tips! I'll make sure to keep an eye on it and on her to make sure she's alright! But can I ask what signs may indicate that she's gotten lyme disease?

 

[Preitler]

No idea about rabbits getting lyme desease, On humans skin colour is a giveaway. And no idea how to prevent it, apart from removing ticks whenever possible. Actually, I dont even know if Lyme disease is a big problem for rabbits.

 

[Babygroot]

No idea about rabbits getting lyme desease, On humans skin colour is a giveaway. And no idea how to prevent it, apart from removing ticks whenever possible. Actually, I dont even know if Lyme disease is a big problem for rabbits.

No, me neither... Well I'll just keep an eye out and see if her behavior changes or if the area where I just removed the tick get worse or no better!