Since rabbits are now the third most kept pet
in the US, more research is being done on the
causes and prevention of common diseases which
threaten them. However, it is still the case that
not many vaccinations are available to them,
although still more than for other small mammals.
Please note: Not all of these vaccinations
are available in the US at the time of writing.
There are three common diseases which may
affect your rabbit, only two of which can be
vaccinated against. There is no vaccination for
Pasteurella. This bacteria can cause a range
of ailments from colds to abscesses. Healthy
rabbits are unlikely to be infected.
Diseases Your Rabbit Should be Vaccinated
Against:
Myxomatosis
This disease was originally used to control the
rabbit population in France, but from there spread
across the European continent, even to Britain,
and over the Atlantic ocean to the Americas. Some
irresponsible farmers have used the disease more
recently for controlling the population on their
land. The virus grows in the skin of rabbits and
is transmitted by blood-sucking insects (often the
mosquito). Sometimes two weeks can pass from the
introduction of the virus to symptoms being
displayed. Initial symptoms are inflamed eyes with
a discharge, and later a swollen face and
breathing difficulties. In general, a severe
infection will result in death.
Viral Hemorrhagic Diseases (VHD)
Several thousand rabbits have died from this in
UK. It can be transmitted on the clothes of people
for up to three months, and also by using
contaminated food and bedding. Symptoms include
nose-bleeds, internal bleeding (lungs, gut and
urinary tract). Death will usually occur in half
of infected animals, sometimes occurring so
quickly that no illness was apparent to the owner.
|
