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#Post#: 3--------------------------------------------------
Important: Vaccinations
DIR By: Angel
Date: November 8, 2018, 10:23 am
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When getting a baby bunny or a older one, please make sure they
have or up to date with vaccinations. Its vital they are
vaccinated against Myxomatosis and rabbit Haemorrhagic disease.
What is Myxomatosis?
Myxomatosis is a severe, usually fatal, viral disease. In some
countries, it has been used as a way of reducing the number of
wild rabbits. It first reached the UK in the 1950s and decimated
the wild rabbit population at the time. The disease remains a
risk today, to both wild and pet rabbits.
The acute form can kill a rabbit within 10 days and the chronic
form within two weeks, although some rabbits do survive this.
How does Myxomatosis spread?
Myxomatosis is spread easily between rabbits by blood-sucking
insects, such as fleas, ticks, mites and mosquitoes. It spreads
rapidly among wild rabbit populations and can easily be passed
on to domestic rabbits in the vicinity by the parasites.
Myxomatosis is found throughout the UK and no area is safe from
the disease.
What are the symptoms of Myxomatosis?
Depending on the strain of the virus, it can take up to 14 days
for an infected rabbit to begin to show symptoms. During the
incubation period, a rabbit’s behaviour and eating habits may
change. When the virus takes hold, the eyes, nose and genitals
are usually the first parts of the body to be affected. Symptoms
include:
Swelling, redness and/or ulcers
Nasal and eye discharge
Blindness caused by inflammation of the eyes
Respiratory problems
Loss of appetite
Lethargy
What is RHD2 and why should I be worried?
There are two strains of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) – or
viral haemorrhagic disease (VHD) – and both of them are highly
contagious, have few to no symptoms and are fatal in most cases.
The second, and most recent, strain of the disease, RHD2, is
affecting more and more pet rabbits in the UK, and Blue Cross
recommends vaccination against it urgently.
The new strain was first recognised several years ago but over
the past year it has become increasingly prevalent. Some
1.3million pet rabbits are thought to be at risk in the UK and
many are likely to have already died. Protection against the
first strain of RHD, along with other diseases, is included in
the standard vaccinations which every pet rabbit should have
already had.
What are the symptoms of RHD2?
RHD2 presents even fewer symptoms than the initial strain of the
virus. It can result in sudden death, although there are many
other causes of this in rabbits. Consequently, the real
incidence of RHD2 is unknown, especially as most cases are
suspected rather than confirmed with tests. Little can be done
to save other companion rabbits from suffering the same fate
thereafter and the disease can spread even further without
careful decontamination.
If there are symptoms present, although rare, they can include
fever, lethargy, loss of appetite and spasms.
NOTE: Please be a responsible and pet owner and have your bunny
vaccinated as these are very important and can be serious if not
done. Your bunny will appreciate it!
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