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For Anyone Anxious About Their Rabbits Having a RHD2 Vaccine

Jack's-Jane

Wise Old Thumper
Firstly this thread is NOT to try to discourage anyone from having their Rabbits vaccinated with the RHD2 Vaccine when it becomes available.

But a few RUers have PM'd me expressing some concerns about it, especially relating to the fact that it may also be 'doubling up' the RHD1 dose covered by the current Nobivac Myxo-RHD combi vaccine. Some folk have said they dont feel able to express concerns on here incase they are accused of trying to put people off having the vaccine done.

A decision to vaccinate or not is one that can only be made by the individual Rabbit owner after advice from a Vet they trust. I am putting my head above the parapet and saying that I do have some real concerns about having my Rabbits vaccinated with the RHD2 vaccine. My Vet (whom I trust 100%) is trying to find out a lot more about the specific vaccine from the French Company who manufacture it as she feels she needs to know a lot more facts about it.

So I thought that I would start this thread to enable all of us to discuss any concerns we have about the RHD2 vaccine and to feel able to do so without any assumption that we are being 'irresponsible' and discouraging others from vaccinating their own Rabbits.

One of mine who will not receive the Vaccine is Lord H, he had his combi vac 2 weeks ago and he had a severe reaction to it. He was very poorly for 3 days. Strange as the previous two years vaccinations have not been a problem.

How is everyone else feeling about the addition of the RHD2 vaccine and has your Vet given you much information about it ?
 
Thank you for making this thread Jane. I too am quite wary about it and haven't dared say anything. I don't like how 'new' it is. However when I said this on Facebook I was told it's not new as its been in other countries for years. However I'm just not sure what to think at the moment. The only time I will consider it is if it's in my area but at the moment thankfully it's not.
 
I'm not intending to vaccinate Scarlet. I believe she is low risk and am of the opinion that whilst stocks are limited usage should be reserved for "high traffic areas" e.g. The personal rabbits of people who run rescues or provide boarding.
I don't really have an issue with respect to the double vaccination aspect as it's a routine part of veterinary drug testing and rarely elicits a serious adverse response but agree this should be confirmed and would be cautious in rabbits that are not in full health as their immune system already has stuff to deal with.
*puts head back below parapet*
 
I believe she is low risk and am of the opinion that whilst stocks are limited usage should be reserved for "high traffic areas" e.g. The personal rabbits of people who run rescues or provide boarding.

I think there is something to be said for this approach. It's obviously an absolutely huge concern for rescues and boarders, along with areas where there are known outbreaks.
 
Phew, thought I'd come back on here to find I'd been lynched !!

I am still undecided as to what to do about my other 4 Rabbits. I will await my Vet to find out some more detailed information.
 
I am undecided. I hate when my rabbits are unvaccinated, letting Lola's lapse and then she caught fleas gave me the biggest panic ever & I would never let that happen again. However the regular vaccine does make my rabbits off, their eyelids go red and a little swollen so I am a bit nervous of adding another, especially if it is doubling up a bit of having the original vaccine again. I would like the peace of mind of them having been done, but I am just not sure.
 
I'm glad that you started this thread. I don't think there's any harm in having a discussion about the vaccine.

I haven't spoke to the vet yet about the vaccine, and am still undecided. They are all fully up to date with their other injections and had no issues. But I think I'd like to investigate this some more x
 
I won't use the oil based one as Scamp had such a bad reaction to the old VHD1 oiled based ones.
 
Has anyone ever looked at natural prevention ? I am looking into natural flea and tick products for the dogs . They offer a rabbit product but I'm scared to try , done of some of mine are now due jabs xx not sure how to do links but it's allnaturalpets.com x
 
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Has anyone ever looked at natural prevention ? I am looking into natural flea and tick products for the dogs . They offer a rabbit product but I'm scared to try , done of some of mine are now due jabs xx not sure how to do links but it's allnaturalpets.com x

I haven't. I do know of a situation a few years ago where-by someone used 'Homeopathic' treatment instead of conventional vaccination for RHD1. The person used Nosodes

The person subsequently had an outbreak of RHD1 and some of her Rabbits died :cry: The person was not a negligent owner or trying to avoid paying for a lot of conventional vaccines. She had genuine concerns about the conventional vaccine available at the time and she did a lot of research. She took the advice of a so called 'Homeopath'. Sadly she came to regret it :cry:
 
Funny you should mention this Jane. Yes I have been feeling the same, not so much anxious, more apprehensive. Not sure why, just a gut feeling... I would like to know a lot more about it before I decide what to do for my little lot, particularly since they are older bunnies, and two of them have ongoing veterinary treatment.
 
I will be having all mine done.

We live in the countryside amongst hay meadows with rabbit and hare populations; and our work takes us to lots of 'heritage landscapes' all over the country -

so I feel ours are high risk. The vaccine has, as I understand, been used in Europe for some time, so is not 'new' as such.



UPDATE Today (Saturday) saw healthy baby bunnies and young bunnies in the village - which is very re-assuring!!
 
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I will be having mine done. Hubby goes out wandering in the countryside regularly and has to go through wild areas to get to his bees, so I feel the risk of him or me, when I go with him, bringing in the virus is high. Everyone has to make their own decision based on their own circumstances though.
 
All ours will be done except for a couple who aren't vaccinated at all for health reasons. Ive already given my vet numbers for when they can get hold of it later in the month.
 
I think everyone's situation is different however the 'The Rabbit Vet's' webinar talk suggested that the fact that RHD2 has a mortality rate of 7-50% would probably mean that it will spread quickly and overtake VHD1 as a virus which is really worrying.

We volunteer at a large rabbit rescue so we will be vaccinating our tribe asap. The rescue hasn't been visited by VHD2 thank goodness but our volunteering there is bound to heighten the risk for our bunnies.

I really hope 'they' get their act together and provide one vaccine which covers all eventualities but as different manufacturers are involved I am not holding my breath.
 
I'll be getting mine done even though they are house rabbits. Mainly because they go into boarding at least once a year and the place they go into has a lot of wild rabbits around.

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I really can't decide what to do with my two, they only had their combi vaccine a couple of weeks ago so will want to wait at least 4 weeks for peace of mind that I'm not giving their immune system too much to cope with. I'm in Leeds centre so no wild bunnies round here and they are indoors, although will soon be allowed outdoors when we move but it's an enclosed garden so hopefully they aren't at high risk.
 
I'm going to Ashleigh vets, I have asked my vets who are looking into the vaccine, but as of yet no news, so booked with Ashleigh vets, as they are exotic specialist and the vet has many years experience with rabbits and very well recommended, so what he advices I take on board, mabel has seen him twice in past after being referred by my vet who used to work for him, however she is on maternity leave now so, if it comes to my vets not having stick before date I have her booked in she will go to Ashleigh vets
 
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