• Forum/Server Upgrade If you are reading this you have made it to the upgraded forum. Posts made on the old forum after 26th October 2023 have not been transfered. Everything else should be here. If you find any issues please let us know.

  • Please Note - Medical Advice

    Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.

    You should always consult your vet before following any suggestions for medication or treatment you have read about. The wrong treatment could make your rabbit worse or mean your vet is unable to give the correct treatment because of drug interactions. Even non prescription drugs can do harm if given inappropriately.

    We are very grateful to members who take time to answer other members questions, but please do be clear in your replies that you are sharing personal experience and not giving instructions on what must be done.

    Urgent Medical Advice: If you need, or think you might need, urgent medical advice you should contact a vet. If it is out of working hours phone your vet's normal number and there should be an answer phone message with instructions on what to do.

Vaccination boosters

Scrappy's Little Helper

Scrappy's Little Helper

Mama Doe
Hi all :wave:

Scrappy is due her myxi and VHD vaccination boosters at the end of September. I was wondering if it is better to have them done within a few day of the date they're due (in this case 26th September) or a few weeks in advance to ensure she is completely covered?

I am particularly concerned about getting my timings right. She has ongoing issues with blocked tear ducts and teeth spurs so I've been advised by my vet that she should have check ups for these at least every three months. Her next check up is scheduled for the beginning of September. There may be a possibility that she will need a dental and I understand the anaesthetic can affect the efficacy of the vaccines.

So, working on the presumption that she may need a dental, how much time should I give it between that and the boosters? Should I bring the check up forward to mid-August and bring the vaccinations forward to early/ mid September? Or keep the check up for the beginning of September and the vaccinations for the end of that month? In both scenarios there would be about a month between the two.

Hope that makes sense!
 
Scrappy's Little Helper said:
Hi all :wave:

Scrappy is due her myxi and VHD vaccination boosters at the end of September. I was wondering if it is better to have them done within a few day of the date they're due (in this case 26th September) or a few weeks in advance to ensure she is completely covered?

I am particularly concerned about getting my timings right. She has ongoing issues with blocked tear ducts and teeth spurs so I've been advised by my vet that she should have check ups for these at least every three months. Her next check up is scheduled for the beginning of September. There may be a possibility that she will need a dental and I understand the anaesthetic can affect the efficacy of the vaccines.

So, working on the presumption that she may need a dental, how much time should I give it between that and the boosters? Should I bring the check up forward to mid-August and bring the vaccinations forward to early/ mid September? Or keep the check up for the beginning of September and the vaccinations for the end of that month? In both scenarios there would be about a month between the two.

Hope that makes sense!
Click to expand...

There are varying viewpoints on vaccinations etc. CPayne and Mark at Trinity vets have been advocating an earlier vaccination due to reported cases of myxi before the year is up. I am sure she will contribute more to this thread in due course :D

The manufacturers have tested the vaccine and say it's effective to 13 months, but of course they have no interest in any further testing as they would like to sell their vaccines yearly.

If a bunny is having a dental around the same time, depending on the age and prior health of the bunny, I would leave a month between GA and vaccination. Not so much because the efficacy of the vaccine may be compromised, but it's a strain on a rabbit's immune system. Be guided by your good bunny vet as to time intervals, and use your own instinct as a guide. I think your instinct is about right :D
 
our vet recommended that a few days sooner, or in your case weeks, is usually safe enough. Fluffy was vaccinated by the rescue three weeks before Bunbuns was due, so our vet recommended that next year we do both of them three weeks earlier, based on when he was done, so it "should" be ok having Scrappy done before. But may be worth giving them a ring in the morning anyway and asking what they suggest, since they will know what treatments will effect the booster etc. But based on what he told me last time, I'd say you should be ok having it done a few weeks before.
 
My own personal view is that over-vaccination, in any species, does more harm than good. Therefore, I would not vaccinate early. I strongly believe that yearly vaccination of pet rabbits is contributing to other health issues and the high incidences of GI stasis etc. Every time you vaccinate, the immune system is depressed and with the new combi-vaccine for VHD and Myxi, the immune system has to respond to 2 'intruders' at the same time, further depressing the system.

I would, therefore, vaccinate later rather than sooner. Immunity isn't going to disappear the day the jabs are due. It will very gradually subside and as long as there is one memory cell left in the body, it will create an immune response should the rabbit come into contact with the disease.
 
Thanks very much for your advice everyone :wave: Having mulled it over, I've decided I'll book Scrappy in for her check up next Monday and during the consultation I'll discuss with my vet the best time to do the vacs. I don't think it would do any harm to have the check-up a couple of weeks earlier than planned and if she does require any treatment, she'll have more time to recover before having the vaccinations.
 
Scrappy's Little Helper said:
Thanks very much for your advice everyone :wave: Having mulled it over, I've decided I'll book Scrappy in for her check up next Monday and during the consultation I'll discuss with my vet the best time to do the vacs. I don't think it would do any harm to have the check-up a couple of weeks earlier than planned and if she does require any treatment, she'll have more time to recover before having the vaccinations.
Click to expand...

Good plan.

I do agree with Mackers (though I don't think it's a popular point of view), that over vaccination can cause problems. If I had cash to spare, I would do an antibody test after the first year's vax was up to see if there was still any immunity.

I also don't like the combined vaccine any more than I like MMR :evil:
 
I' m surprised because my savvy vet here in Paris did always vaccinate my bun during her dental control under gas anesthesia, the safest as he rabbit wakes up 10 minutes later ..
 
I got Doughnut's a month early as advised by my specialist. He said this year he had seen a lot of cases and some of the bunnies on here have gone to him with myxi. They had been vaccinated and it was in the last month of when the vaccine was due to be given again. He called the manufacturers up to question it saying it should be every 11 months as rabbits were coming in with it. He did lose a few rabbits to it this year and recommended all rabbits are vaccinated at 11 months. He's a brillant specialist and lots of vets from different areas call him up for advice.

Maybe you can see what has happened in your vets practice and ask if they have seen an increase in myxi in rabbits who have been vaccinated?
 
cpayne said:
I got Doughnut's a month early as advised by my specialist. He said this year he had seen a lot of cases and some of the bunnies on here have gone to him with myxi. They had been vaccinated and it was in the last month of when the vaccine was due to be given again. He called the manufacturers up to question it saying it should be every 11 months as rabbits were coming in with it. He did lose a few rabbits to it this year and recommended all rabbits are vaccinated at 11 months. He's a brillant specialist and lots of vets from different areas call him up for advice.

Maybe you can see what has happened in your vets practice and ask if they have seen an increase in myxi in rabbits who have been vaccinated?
Click to expand...

Thanks very much cpayne, I'll definitely ask them about that when I take her in. I'm glad I made this thread now rather than waiting a few weeks as it gives me time to get her done earlier if needs be.
 
If I had the spare money I too would have them teste d to see if they are covered. After losing a much loved English lop. Being told some don't take with the vaccine. Would be lovely to know if they are actually covered. Heartbreaking when you think your rabbit is covered and then they get the full blown type.
 
Last edited:
My bunny has been poorly and was due her vaccinations in July. She is booked it to have them done in September to ensure she is fully over her infection. The vet doesn't think this is risky. Of course it is best not to vaccinate a poorly bun so my circumstances are a bit different but the vet said she will still be covered
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

rosaleen
Feeding bunny with sticky poops
Replies
14
Views
482
rosaleen
rosaleen
a reader of books
Could Sophie get some vibes? Another dental
6 7 8
Replies
140
Views
2K
a reader of books
a reader of books
C
Keeping molars in check
Replies
2
Views
65
Caza66
C
Back
Top