Rabbit Diseases that can be vaccinated against

Rabbits can be vaccinated against these life threatening diseases.
Myxomatosis
Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD)

A baby rabbit can be vaccinated from 6 weeks of age against Myxomatosis.

: up until about 6 weeks of age a baby rabbit can be protected through drinking their mothers’ milk, if she is immune.

A second vaccine at the age of 10 weeks can be given for VHD.

An adult rabbit can be vaccinated ar any age, but there should be 2 weeks separating the two vaccinations.

MYXOMATOSIS
Myxomatosis is a disease caused by a type of pox virus, originally imported into France, to control the growing population of rabbits.

It accidentally spread to England and then other countries.

It is contracted and spread by blood sucking insects such as rabbit fleas and mosquitoes.

The virus grows in the skin of the rabbit and has an incubation period from 5-14 days.

What you can see in a rabbit suffering from Myxomatosis: a high fever
: swelling around the eyes
: loss of appetite for food and water
: lethargy

The rabbit usually develops pneumonia and death in severely affected rabbits can occur in as little as 8-12 days.

What you can do to help prevent your pet rabbit from getting this disease.
vaccinate against
flea, tick, and other biting insect treatment
flywire the rabbits hutch so as to keep mosquitoes out
keep their living area clean so it is not a desirable place for insects to live

VIRAL HAEMORRHAGIC DISEASE (VHD)
This disease is cause by a virus which was first found in China in 1984.

This virus rapidly spread to Europe and other countries.
It is transmitted in saliva and nasal secretions on direct contact with other rabbits and hares and/or by viral transference from people, their clothes, other objects or animals.

It seriously effects rabbits over the age of 6 weeks.

The incubation period is 16 hours to 3 days.

What you can see in a rabbit that is infected with the VHD virus: convulsions
: nose bleeds
: death through suffocation
: lethargy
: loss of appetite for food and water
: discomfort

What you can do to help prevent your rabbit from getting this disease.
vaccinate against
quarantine a sick rabbit if you have more than one
clean out the hutch
provide clean new bowls for the rabbit that is not sick good personal hygiene when interacting with more than one rabbit eg. if you have a sick rabbit and handle it wash your hands well, use a hand sanitiser and be careful to change your clothes when handling the healthy rabbit.

Separate bowls, tools or any object including toys used for the hutches to help keep the healthy rabbit from being infected.