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Vaccinations RabbitsIt is all too easy to forget the days of severe outbreaks of distemper or parvovirus in dogs, or feline enteritis in cats, outbreaks that caused the death of, and misery in, many many animals. Consequently, we can only recommend vaccinating cats and dogs against infectious diseases to protect individuals against these terrible diseases. Similarly, due to the common disease of myxomatosis in rabbits, we advise at least yearly vaccination of pet rabbits. We currently routinely vaccinate against the following diseases in rabbits: Myxomatosis: Rabbits are increasingly common as a pet nowadays, and many of the problems that we are asked to deal with are due to feeding and lifestyle, but despite that, this is one rabbit disease of which nearly everyone has heard. This is a very common and fatal viral disease, spread by the rabbit flea, and which leads to a slow unpleasant death in the vast majority of afflicted rabbits. Fortunately, there is a readily available vaccine to prevent the disease, and it is easily administered to rabbits over six weeks of age. The vaccine should be given at least once a year, or even six monthly if there is a particularly high risk of the disease occurring. Unfortunately, the vaccine does not always completely prevent the disease, but vaccinated rabbits almost invariably survive the mild form that they very occasionally develop. Viral Haemorrhagic disease (VHD): Signs include not eating, fever, convulsions and sudden death. Some animals survive the initial phase but die a few weeks later from liver disease. An annual vaccination is available.
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