Snowflake-George
Alpha Buck
I considered put this in Health but thought it would probably get more replies here. Anyway I've just seen the following warning on the facebook page for the Pawz for Thought rescue up in Sunderland.
We have had reports that two of our ex Pasw bunnies have contracted myxi and subsequently died. Can I remind all rabbit owners that if you live in a high risk area it is strongly recommended that you vaccinate your rabbit every six month.
Now this got me a bit confused because I thought the new combined vaccine covered them for a year. So I questioned it and they said that a vet has advised them even with the new combined vaccine they should still be done every six month if in high risk areas of living in or near the countryside.
They then linked a fact sheet from RWAF with the defining the risks and how it is spread by biting insects.
Pet rabbits at greatest risk are those living outside, especially if they may have any contact with wild rabbits or hares. Pet rabbits affected by rabbit fleas are also at very high risk - rabbit owners who also have a dog or cat that hunts wild rabbits (or foxes that visit the garden and nose around rabbit hutches) must be particularly careful, in case rabbit fleas are brought back to the pet bunny.
Myxi is usually spread by biting insects (fleas, mosquitoes) carrying the Myxoma virus. However, direct rabbit-to-rabbit spread can occur. Previously, this was mainly seen in a French respiratory strain of the disease, but reports from the Autumn 2000 UK outbreak suggest that rabbit-to-rabbit transmission may now occur the UK.
Pet rabbits could contract myxomatosis in a variety of ways:
• Bites from mosquitoes carrying the Myxoma virus.
• Bites from fleas carrying the Myxoma virus (fleas can survive for many months in hay)
• Myxomatosis can also be spread by Cheyletiella fur mites
This has totally confused me now. How do we define "high risk" areas? I don't actually live in the country but I do live on the edge of town (about a 5 minute walk to fields) and whilst my dogs don't kill rabbits they are walked in fields where rabbits live and we do get the occasional fox passing by.
Also we all know Myxi is spread by biting insects anyways, so shouldn't be define it as being high risk if there is an outbreak in your area rather than living in the country, etc.
I suppose I was just wondering everyones opinion and if anyone else has heard this advise with the new vaccine.
Edited: Pasted some text over my initial post by accident
We have had reports that two of our ex Pasw bunnies have contracted myxi and subsequently died. Can I remind all rabbit owners that if you live in a high risk area it is strongly recommended that you vaccinate your rabbit every six month.
Now this got me a bit confused because I thought the new combined vaccine covered them for a year. So I questioned it and they said that a vet has advised them even with the new combined vaccine they should still be done every six month if in high risk areas of living in or near the countryside.
They then linked a fact sheet from RWAF with the defining the risks and how it is spread by biting insects.
Pet rabbits at greatest risk are those living outside, especially if they may have any contact with wild rabbits or hares. Pet rabbits affected by rabbit fleas are also at very high risk - rabbit owners who also have a dog or cat that hunts wild rabbits (or foxes that visit the garden and nose around rabbit hutches) must be particularly careful, in case rabbit fleas are brought back to the pet bunny.
Myxi is usually spread by biting insects (fleas, mosquitoes) carrying the Myxoma virus. However, direct rabbit-to-rabbit spread can occur. Previously, this was mainly seen in a French respiratory strain of the disease, but reports from the Autumn 2000 UK outbreak suggest that rabbit-to-rabbit transmission may now occur the UK.
Pet rabbits could contract myxomatosis in a variety of ways:
• Bites from mosquitoes carrying the Myxoma virus.
• Bites from fleas carrying the Myxoma virus (fleas can survive for many months in hay)
• Myxomatosis can also be spread by Cheyletiella fur mites
This has totally confused me now. How do we define "high risk" areas? I don't actually live in the country but I do live on the edge of town (about a 5 minute walk to fields) and whilst my dogs don't kill rabbits they are walked in fields where rabbits live and we do get the occasional fox passing by.
Also we all know Myxi is spread by biting insects anyways, so shouldn't be define it as being high risk if there is an outbreak in your area rather than living in the country, etc.
I suppose I was just wondering everyones opinion and if anyone else has heard this advise with the new vaccine.
Edited: Pasted some text over my initial post by accident
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