Small Pet Education Blog > Hay Report: Alfalfa Hay
When Are Rabbit Vaccinations a Must For Your Pet?
Written by The Rabbit Hole Hay Team
Are you unsure whether or not to vaccinate your rabbit? Do you wonder what kind of vaccinations they would even need?
As you've probably already figured out, rabbits aren't like dogs and cats, but that's part of what makes them so great. With that being said, there are only a few situations that you would need to vaccinate your rabbit. Read on to find out how to provide the best care when it comes to vaccinations.
Rabbits in the United States
Interestingly vaccinations are not widely available for rabbits in the United States for two reasons.
#1: The diseases that rabbits contract in the United States have no vaccinations or the vaccine hasn't deemed the safe to use in the U.S.
#2: The vaccinations that are available for rabbits in the United States don't actually effect U.S. rabbits.
At this point, if you are a United States rabbit owner there is no need to worry about vaccinating your rabbit.
Now, if you live outside of the United States there are a few vaccinations you'll need to get for your rabbit. Here are the two most common vaccines give to rabbits in other parts of the world and why it's important to give your rabbit the vaccine.
Rabbits in Other Parts of the World
The first common vaccine is given to rabbits mainly in Europe and Great Britain, called the Myxomatosis Vaccine. The disease that the vaccine helps to prevent is not a natural disease, it is a man made one.
Myxomatosis was created to reduce the wild rabbit population in France. Once it was introduced to the wild rabbit population it unfortunately began to spread to domesticated rabbits. It was spread by direct or indirect contact with a wild rabbit through fleas, mites, or other insect bites. Myxomatosis is a terrible and sadly, incurable disease for rabbits and is not something to be messed with so get your rabbit vaccinated.
The second common vaccine is for a disease called the Rabbit Viral Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD or VHD). The disease has been seen throughout Europe and Great Britain and has also been seen in Canada, which in turn effects rabbits in the United States.
RHD often strikes so quickly the owner simply finds their rabbit deceased. An unfortunate characteristic of this disease is it can pass through clothing or other non-living transmission. The vaccine is sadly only available in Europe and Great Britain as it has not been deemed safe to use in the U.S. yet.
Neither one of these diseases are fun for you or your rabbit to go through. If you live in the U.S., it's more than likely your vet does not have, or has even heard of, vaccines to give to your rabbit. If you live in Europe or Great Britain we recommend that you immediately get your rabbits vaccinated.
While there may not be any vaccines for U.S. rabbits, anytime that you think your rabbit is sick or something is seriously wrong, don’t wait. Call or go to your vet immediately.
Whether you are new to rabbit care, want a list of symptoms to watch out for, or an itemized list of what to put in your Rabbit First Aid Kit.
Download our Rabbit Starter Kit below!
