Jenova
Wise Old Thumper
I don't know if anyone saw my thread about the wild rabbit I saw at my university with myxi.
http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?t=248889
Well I emailed a lovely professor and wild rabbit expert.
My email:
> Hi,
>
> I'm not really sure if you're the right person to contact but I have a bit
> of a weird question. I contacted you as I searched on Google
> and you were the first link that came up.
>
> I noticed I had seen hardly any rabbits on campus this semester, so I went
> to have a look at the warrens I know of. The first rabbit I spotted was
> near the music department and I'm fairly certain he had Myxomatosis. His
> eyes were swollen shut and pussy and although he was eating well he was
> snuffling and sneezing. I carried on with my search and I saw two rabbits
> by the lake who looked fine and then about thirty near Colman House who
> all looked fine too.
>
> I was just really curious to find out more about the rabbit population at
> the UEA. Obviously if you're not the right person to ask, would you know
> who is? I was wondering if anything can be done for the rabbits suffering
> with Myxomatosis. Can they be humanely put to sleep? I hate to think of
> the one I saw suffering. But I'd also be really interested in finding out
> how it affects the wild population at the UEA and I can't believe how many
> less there are since the spring.
>
> I have my own two rabbits at home and they're one of my favourite
> animals.
>
> Thanks for your time,
>
> Me
And I got a reply really quickly, I though you might be interested to read it.
All my knowledge is based on pet rabbits, but to find out that every adult rabbit on campus has had the disease is quite incredible. It just goes to show that they are building up an immunity. And my bunny friend might very well survive.
http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?t=248889
Well I emailed a lovely professor and wild rabbit expert.
My email:
> Hi,
>
> I'm not really sure if you're the right person to contact but I have a bit
> of a weird question. I contacted you as I searched on Google
> and you were the first link that came up.
>
> I noticed I had seen hardly any rabbits on campus this semester, so I went
> to have a look at the warrens I know of. The first rabbit I spotted was
> near the music department and I'm fairly certain he had Myxomatosis. His
> eyes were swollen shut and pussy and although he was eating well he was
> snuffling and sneezing. I carried on with my search and I saw two rabbits
> by the lake who looked fine and then about thirty near Colman House who
> all looked fine too.
>
> I was just really curious to find out more about the rabbit population at
> the UEA. Obviously if you're not the right person to ask, would you know
> who is? I was wondering if anything can be done for the rabbits suffering
> with Myxomatosis. Can they be humanely put to sleep? I hate to think of
> the one I saw suffering. But I'd also be really interested in finding out
> how it affects the wild population at the UEA and I can't believe how many
> less there are since the spring.
>
> I have my own two rabbits at home and they're one of my favourite
> animals.
>
> Thanks for your time,
>
> Me
And I got a reply really quickly, I though you might be interested to read it.
Dear Jennie
You came to the right person as we have a long term study population on the campus and have studied myxomatosis over long time periods.
I never kill a rabbit with myxy even in the stages you describe because they can recover and indeed every adult on the campus had the disease as a youngster and survived to be immune for the rest of their lives which can be 9 years.
Does that answer your question
All best
All my knowledge is based on pet rabbits, but to find out that every adult rabbit on campus has had the disease is quite incredible. It just goes to show that they are building up an immunity. And my bunny friend might very well survive.