Like every responsible pet owner, you want your bunnies to live a happy, healthy life - so you must have them vaccinated against Myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD). This chapter also includes information on preventing two other dangerous conditions, "Flystrike" (which is not an infectious disease so it cannot be immunised against) and the brain and kidney parasite Encephalitizoon cuniculi.
Myxomatosis
Often referred to as "myxi" or "myxo", myxomatosis decimated the wild rabbit population when it arrived in Britain in the 1950s and 60s. It is still deadly today. Myxomatosis starts with severe conjunctivitis. Next, affected rabbits develop swellings around the head and genital regions, become increasingly weak, go blind, and eventually die.
If an unvaccinated pet rabbit catches myxomatosis, it is probably doomed. Most vets advise euthanasia as soon as the diagnosis is made because the outlook is so bleak, even with intensive treatment.
How can pets catch myxomatosis?
The main route of infection is via insect "vectors" (e.g. fleas and mosquitoes) that have previously bitten an infected rabbit. Midges and mites have also been suspected of passing on the disease. Direct contact with infected rabbits can also spread the disease, particularly respiratory secretions and direct mucosal contact.
All pet rabbits - indoors or outdoors - are at risk. Rabbits living outside (especially if wild rabbits enter the garden) are at especially high risk.
How can I protect my rabbits from myxomatosis?
Vaccination is the keystone of a package of measures you should take to protect your rabbit. Rabbits can be vaccinated from 5 weeks of age. The first UK myxomatosis vaccine (there are different products elsewhere in Europe) was a single injection, part of which had to be given into - rather than under - the skin. Boosters were needed every 6 months. However, this was superceded by a combined Myxomatosis and Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease vaccine in early 2012.
Vaccination cannot guarantee absolute protection: vaccinated rabbits do occasionally catch myxomatosis. However, in vaccinated rabbits, the disease is usually milder, sometimes just a single skin lesion, or a transient illness. Vaccinated rabbits with myxi usually survive with proper care, whereas unvaccinated rabbits nearly always die.
Myxomatosis
Often referred to as "myxi" or "myxo", myxomatosis decimated the wild rabbit population when it arrived in Britain in the 1950s and 60s. It is still deadly today. Myxomatosis starts with severe conjunctivitis. Next, affected rabbits develop swellings around the head and genital regions, become increasingly weak, go blind, and eventually die.
If an unvaccinated pet rabbit catches myxomatosis, it is probably doomed. Most vets advise euthanasia as soon as the diagnosis is made because the outlook is so bleak, even with intensive treatment.
How can pets catch myxomatosis?
The main route of infection is via insect "vectors" (e.g. fleas and mosquitoes) that have previously bitten an infected rabbit. Midges and mites have also been suspected of passing on the disease. Direct contact with infected rabbits can also spread the disease, particularly respiratory secretions and direct mucosal contact.
All pet rabbits - indoors or outdoors - are at risk. Rabbits living outside (especially if wild rabbits enter the garden) are at especially high risk.
How can I protect my rabbits from myxomatosis?
Vaccination is the keystone of a package of measures you should take to protect your rabbit. Rabbits can be vaccinated from 5 weeks of age. The first UK myxomatosis vaccine (there are different products elsewhere in Europe) was a single injection, part of which had to be given into - rather than under - the skin. Boosters were needed every 6 months. However, this was superceded by a combined Myxomatosis and Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease vaccine in early 2012.
Vaccination cannot guarantee absolute protection: vaccinated rabbits do occasionally catch myxomatosis. However, in vaccinated rabbits, the disease is usually milder, sometimes just a single skin lesion, or a transient illness. Vaccinated rabbits with myxi usually survive with proper care, whereas unvaccinated rabbits nearly always die.