Creating better tomorrows for all pet rabbits
It’s key for owners to vaccinate pet rabbits
It’s important your bunnies live a happy, healthy life. So vaccinate them every year against Myxomatosis and two strains of Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (RVHD). Do this and you’re doing your bit to keep your rabbits at their best.
Vaccinating your rabbits is the most important measure you can take to protect them. They can be injected from five weeks old and they’ll need boosters every year with the new triple combination vaccine.
It doesn’t guarantee absolute protection from Myxomatosis. But the disease will be milder in vaccinated rabbits, appearing as a single skin lesion, or a short, fairly minor illness. If you think your rabbit has Myxomatosis take it to a rabbit friendly vet who’ll report the infection to the vaccine manufacturers. Vaccinated rabbits with Myxomatosis usually survive, unfortunately unvaccinated rabbits tend not to.
You’ll need to protect your rabbits against two strains of RVHD, known as RVHD1 and RVHD2.
Vaccination is very effective. Your rabbits can be injected from five weeks old. They’ll need a booster with the triple combination vaccine every 12 months. If your rabbit has never had a stand alone RVHD2 vaccine then it should be given as a one-off the first time you vaccinate. See above for more information.
What vaccines do my rabbits need?
It’s important your bunnies live a happy, healthy life. So vaccinate them every year against Myxomatosis and two strains of Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (RVHD). Do this and you’re doing your bit to keep your rabbits at their best.
Here at the RWA&F we’ve held meetings with the vaccine manufacturers and updated our advice. Detailed information, including drug names, which we are only legally allowed to give to veterinary professionals, is published in the Vets section. If your vet has any queries, please ask them to email us directly.
If you come across a new, young rabbit that’s never been vaccinated, make sure you protect it against all three diseases, RVHD1, RVHD2 and Myxomatosis, as early as possible. However, it may or may not have immunity handed down from the mother. This can interfere with the efficiency of a vaccine, so talk to your vet about the exact timing, and whether to give an additional stand-alone RVHD vaccine or repeat the triple vaccine again, later.
Vaccination FAQs
Yes. We’d still recommend vaccination:
- It’s impossible to predict when and where diseases will strike.
- If you wait for a local outbreak your rabbit might be the first to suffer.
- Many boarding places and insurance policies need rabbits to have up-to-date vaccinations.
Usually vaccines should only be given to healthy animals, whose immune system can respond properly. However, if your rabbit’s condition is stable, it may be ok to vaccinate. Talk this over with your vet.
Vaccinations are recommended as soon as possible after five weeks old. So don’t wait until the same time as neutering. It leaves a window of risk when the rabbit isn’t protected. Carrying out vaccinations at the same time as neutering also carries risks, to the rabbit’s health and to the effectiveness of the vaccine.
Like all drugs, vaccines can have side effects, although problems in rabbits are very unusual. Skin reactions are sometimes reported at the site of injection, especially with some brands of older RVHD vaccine. Some rabbits are quiet for a day or two afterwards. Although it’s not great, it’s better than losing your rabbit to a preventable disease.
If your rabbit’s had Myxomatosis in the year leading up to vaccination this can affect how vaccines work, so consult your vet to see what’s best.
You’ll find more up to date advice on vaccinating against both strains of RVHD on our RVHD page.
