Myxomatosis and Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease are devastating viral diseases affecting wild and domestic rabbit populations, with significant welfare implications for infected animals.
Myxomatosis and RHD cause significant suffering in both wild and domestic rabbits. Wild rabbits infected with myxomatosis suffer prolonged illness over weeks before death - the disease was deliberately introduced as a form of biological control with little welfare consideration. RHD causes rapid death but internal haemorrhage is a painful dying process. Domestic rabbits are protected by vaccination but annual boosters are essential. Finding a suffering wild rabbit with myxomatosis raises the question of euthanasia - a vet or wildlife rehabilitator can advise on the most humane course of action.