Like every responsible pet owner, you want your bunnies to live a happy, healthy life, so you must have them vaccinated against Myxomatosis and two strains of Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (RVHD).

 

You will need to give your rabbits one vaccination every year to protect them. 

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MYXOMATOSIS

 

Myxomatosis is a severe viral disease that can affect both outdoor and house rabbits. It is spread by biting insects such as fleas, mites and mosquitoes carrying the Myxoma virus, as well as rabbit to rabbit contact. It is a dreadful disease that causes immense suffering. Vaccinated rabbits with Myxomatosis usually survive, where as unvaccinated rabbits nearly always die.

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RABBIT VIRAL HAEMORRHAGIC DISEASE  (RVHD1 & 2)

There are two strains of RVHD, known as RVHD1 and RVHD2.  Both strains are lethal and you must vaccinate to protect your rabbits. Vaccination is very effective.

 

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WHAT IS RVHD

RVHD1 is a swift and efficient killer – almost all unvaccinated rabbits who catch RVHD1 die within a day or two. The virus causes massive internal bleeding. Some rabbits bleed from the nose and back passage before death, others die so quickly there may be no outward sign of disease at all. Owners often think their rabbit has died of “fright”, a heart attack” or (in summer) “heatstroke”. Most cases are never diagnosed: RVHD is often only suspected when several rabbits die in quick succession and post-mortem examination is needed to diagnose the illness.

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RVHD2 is often fatal, although some rabbits have recovered with veterinary care.  What makes it more dangerous in some ways is that it has a longer period in which the rabbit is infectious, this results in the disease spreading more widely.  The strain can also be less easy to recognise because there is often no visible bleeding, so rabbits can simply be found dead or ill with no obvious cause.  Due to the lack of obvious symptoms, owners often do not realise their rabbit has an infectious disease and this results in:

• The rabbit not being given treatment early enough.

• Precautions not being taken to contain the infection.

 

HOW CAN PET RABBITS CATCH RVHD

Both strains of RVHD are spread by direct contact with infected rabbits, or indirectly via their urine or faeces. The viruses can survive for months in the environment, and are terrifyingly easy to bring home to your pets.  They survive cold very well.

For example:

• Hay may have been in contact with infected wild rabbits as grass growing in the field.

• Birds or insects may transport the virus on their feet (or in their droppings) to your rabbit grazing on the lawn.

• The virus may be blown on the wind.

• You might bring the virus home on your feet, or your other pets’ feet (or car wheels) from infected wild rabbit droppings.

• You could bring the virus home on your hands or clothes.

 

Both strains of RVHD have been recorded all over the UK. All pet rabbits should be vaccinated against both strains. There is no way of predicting where the next outbreak will strike, and no practical way of shielding your pet rabbits from all the possible sources of infection.  Vaccination is the only way to be safe.

 

HOW TO HELP

One thing that would REALLY help is if vets and owners can report any cases of RVHD. If you know of any, please could you contact www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk with the following:

1. approximate geographical location

2. number of rabbits affected and their ages

3. how diagnosed: eg suspected, gross post mortem, histopathology, or specific viral test (in which case was this RVHD1 or RVHD2). 

 

There is Facebook pages that take reports of confirmed and unconfirmed cases and place on a map. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1744958082388756/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/MyxomatosismapfortheUK/