Rabbit Vaccinations

Viral Haemorrhagic Disease is caused by Calicivirus. It is a fatal disease in rabbits. Vaccination can help prevent the disease, but this only works before a rabbit is infected. Annual vaccination is recommended. As you may have noticed, there are large numbers of wild rabbits around at the moment. This increases the risk that the disease will be present in these populations and therefore transmitted to pet rabbits. In addition a new strain of the virus is being released soon. Wild rabbits will be susceptible to the new strain so there is likely to be even more VHD risk. The vaccine we have, called Cylap, helps protect against the existing strain, and in Australia it appears to be protecting rabbits against the new strain as well.

Remember that VHD is not treatable once a rabbit is infected, but it can be prevented by vaccination. Please phone us at the Kerikeri Clinic on 094077354 for more information.