MYXOMATOSIS

Myxomatosis is widespread throughout the UK. The most likely route of transmission is via biting insects, such as mosquitoes, fleas and fur mites, carrying the Myxoma Virus and injecting it into the skin when they bite. Nothing is 100% effective but the myxi vaccine is the most effective measure you can take to help prevent or limit the effects of this disease. An unvaccinated rabbit with this disease will almost certainly die.

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Myxomatosis is a dreadful disease, in an unvaccinated rabbit it causes immense suffering and affected rabbits can take a fortnight to die whilst treatment is usually futile. Because of this a vet will usually recommend euthanasia. Symptoms can often start looking like early stages of conjunctivitis with runny eyes, however the rabbit genitalia are also swollen. This will quickly escalate to severe conjunctivitis, blindness and swellings on the head and body along with excessive pus discharge from the eyes and nose which are sealed shut. Death will eventually follow.

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An infected, vaccinated rabbit could have various responses to the disease from slight skin lesions to being quite poorly but the difference is that a vaccination turns a fatal disease into a treatable one

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RHD1

RHD1 (Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease) is easily spread between rabbits and their contaminated surroundings and it is possible to carry it on human clothing or shoes for up to three months. The best way to protect your rabbit against this disease, which can kill in the space of two days, is again to get them vaccinated.

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Other than vaccination there is no protection for your rabbit against this disease as it is incurable. RHD is caused by a calicivirus and has an incubation period of just one to three days. The virus itself is very stable in the environment and can survive for up to 105 days.

Signs of RHD include depression, collapse, difficulty in breathing, convulsions, high body temperature, lethargy and bleeding from the nose. Death usually occurs within 12-36 hours after the onset of fever and, because of the speed of death, often apparently healthy rabbits are simply found dead in their hutches with no obvious signs of the disease.

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RHD2

RHD2 (Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease) is very similar to the RHD1. RHD2 is very easily spread, not only animal to animal, but by clothes, hay insects and also by foot traffic having trodden in an infected rabbit's droppings. It can easily survive for long periods of time in the environment and again it is usually fatal, with pet owners reporting no obvious signs of illness just finding their rabbit passed away.

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Differing from RHD1 is the length of time the rabbit is infectious before death which can be up to nine days. This results in the disease being more wide spread. Due to the lack of symptoms, the rabbit is often untreated and containment measures are not carried out.

Again, other than vaccination, there is no protection for your rabbit against this disease and it is incurable

 

OUR VACCINATION AND REHOMING POLICY

We will not rehome our rabbits to a home that is not prepared to vaccinate their rabbits and keep them current, whether an indoor or outdoor home, and part of the adoption agreement is that these will be kept up to date. Don't risk the life of your bun for the sake of a simple trip to the vet. Most vets will give your bunny a full MOT at the same time and often the cost of a vaccination is not much different to that of a consult.