Companion Animals

Rabbit Vaccinations: Essential Welfare Protection

Vaccinations against myxomatosis, RHD, and RHD-2 are essential preventive welfare measures for pet rabbits.

Key Facts

Myxomatosis kills over 95% of unvaccinated rabbits with a 2-week distressing illness
RHD-1 and RHD-2 cause rapid death in unvaccinated rabbits with no warning signs
A single annual injection covers myxomatosis, RHD-1, and RHD-2 in current UK vaccines
Wild rabbit populations carry both diseases within a few hundred metres of most UK gardens

Welfare Considerations

Myxomatosis in unvaccinated pet rabbits causes prolonged suffering through swelling, blindness, and neurological symptoms before death over 1-2 weeks. RHD can kill within 12-24 hours of infection with no symptoms. Both diseases are transmissible via insect vectors without direct contact with infected rabbits, making proximity to wild rabbits irrelevant to risk. Vaccination is the only reliable protection.

What You Can Do

Ensure all pet rabbits are vaccinated with the combined Nobivac Myxo-RHD Plus annually
Keep vaccination records and set reminders for annual boosters
Do not assume outdoor housing is safe without vaccination — insects carry myxomatosis over distances
Spread awareness among rabbit owners that vaccination is essential, not optional