http://www.leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=10&Number=177372&Searchpage=1&Main=17986&Words=&topic=0&Search=true#Post177372

This thread has info on trichinosis.
You also need to take the same precautions with deer liver because of encysted tapeworms.

And Steve is right, dogs won't eat ferrets.

I know some hunters that would give me some of there kill, but thay take most of the meat, so if I should not feed him deer liver what other parts would be best? And other things I should look out for.

If you can get them to give you the empty stomachs that would be wonderful. The neck will have lots of meat left on it after butchering, most people also leave a lot of meat on the ribs and pelvis. Lungs and heart and heads are good.
As long as you freeze the liver for the specified amount of time you can feed it, otherwise you will just have to deworm with praziquantel/droncit for the tapeworms.
Wild rabbits have tapeworms too.
Wild birds are good. Most bird hunters only use the breast, that leaves plenty for the dog.

I would stay away from wild rabbits. They almost always have tapeworms, and they can also carry Tularemia... also called Rabbit Fever. This is not something you want to mess with as it can kill your dog.

My dogs LOOOOOOOOOVE deer heart - they never "killed" their chicken leg quarters but the deer hearts always good a good shaking and tossing. Same with the stomachs (The one I got was full of corn and a real disgusting mess to clean out)

Wonder why someone does not raise domestic rabbits for RMB dog food? (or any food for that matter?) Maybe it is the "bunny" factor. They are as efficient as chickens as converting grain to meat.

I can't thank you all enough for all your help. This info has been wolnderful for me. I have learned so much.

I love wild game. What better to feed your dog than a wild animal that fed itself what it was meant to eat.

 Quote: kelly at leerburg

I would stay away from wild rabbits. They almost always have tapeworms, and they can also carry Tularemia... also called Rabbit Fever. This is not something you want to mess with as it can kill your dog.

I DO NOT want to say this warning is not to be heard. Like with any other thing we can feed our dogs there are risk. Nothing is 100%. Ever.

With that said, over 50% of my dogs diet is wild. Mainly deer, some squirrels, and if I harvest a rabbit, then rabbit.

Squirrels can carry it as well as some game birds.

This site kind of puts it in perspective. I'm only 27 so my hunting experience is more limited than others, but I have never seen any instances of this disease. Doesn't mean I won't, doesn't mean I will.

http://www.beaglesunlimited.net/rabbithunting_tularemia.htm

Quoted from above link: "I have been a rabbit hunter for more than 30 years and I have never seen a rabbit with a contaminated, spotted liver. I am also unaware of any friends that are hunters or outdoors persons that have ever contracted the disease. Remember, out of several million people that frequent the outdoors, work with laboratory rodents, and rabbit hunt only 150-300 cases are diagnosed throughout the entire US on a yearly basis. Also, remember this disease has been on a sharp decline for the past 50 years. The sole purpose of this article is to educate you on the disease tularemia, but in no way is this article intended to exaggerate its minimal risk factor. Just beware that the disease does exist, use the proper precautions, and enjoy rabbit hunting and eating rabbit meat."

Just to put another perspective on it:

My Lab recently had symptoms identical to Tularemia. I researched the hell out of it. It WAS relatively rare. It is spreading. Every state except for HI and AK have cases of it. My dog almost died... we never confirmed Tularemia, but when your dog is sick is NOT the time to study up on something. I opted for aggressive treatment rather than confirmation.

People need to be aware that this is out there. I did not know about it until Shyner got sick. My dogs would routinely kill rabbits. I call them off now and don't let them have contact. It is a personal choice that I have made for the welfare of my dogs. The one dog in a million to get it WILL NOT be mine.

--Kelly

this is a little off-topic, but what is the prevalence of tapeworm and tularemia in farmed rabbits? i bought a couple at the grocery store on sunday (that they were perfectly meal-sized beat out the 'will the dogs connect these to my pet rabbits' concern) and reading this thread is making me nervous. are they generally okay? i'm pretty sure most of the organs are gone from the rabbits i bought, just like w/a chicken.

My guess is that rabbits raised for food would be OK if they are from a reputable source. I would think that they would not have the rabbits exposed to parasites such as tapeworm or ticks (ticks are a main vector for Tularemia). I have not read of ANY cases of Tularemia in farmed rabbits.

My post was not meant to scare people and I am sorry if it did. Just be aware that these are issues with WILD rabbits... I did not learn of it until my dog got sick.

Though Shyner most likely did not have Tularemia, she was at risk for it because she had routine contact with wild rabbit. Learning about something as your dog is going through an abdominal ultrasound and suffering from a sustained 105 temp is not ideal. I like to think that I am aware of the risks that my dogs are exposed to and I did not know of this one til it bit me in the butt.

I would hate for someone to go through what I did for lack of education. That is why I brought it up.