Rabbit Vaccinations: The Guide

While there is no law to enforce the vaccinations of our pet rabbits, it is strongly recommended that they get vaccinated to protect them against diseases. Without these important vaccinations, they can contract some nasty diseases.

Vets will always advise that owners get their rabbits vaccinated, regardless of the circumstances or how you keep them.

Rabbits can be vaccinated from seven weeks of age and older. They will need an initial course of vaccinations followed by a booster every year thereafter to keep their immunity topped up. If you take on an adult rabbit with no medical history, a vet may restart their vaccinations just to make sure they have everything they need to fight off diseases.

Depending on the vaccinations they use, some vets will provide a course of two vaccinations to cover for myxomatosis and both strains of haemorrhagic disease, but some vets cannot provide both in just one vaccine.

While it’s imperative that rabbits kept outdoors get vaccinated, indoor rabbits should be vaccinated as well. The chances of outdoor rabbits meeting disease may be higher but that doesn’t make it impossible for indoor rabbits to contract the same diseases.

Transmission of both diseases can be on the surface of items, your clothes and myxomatosis can be spread through mosquitos and fleas which as just as capable of finding their way inside your home as they are outside. It doesn’t matter where you house your bunny, even if you think they’re not likely to contract any diseases in the haven of your home, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

When it’s the choice between an annual booster or risking the health and potentially the life of a beloved pet, it’s well worth taking that precaution to keep them safe.

Rabbit vaccinations protect your furry friends from a disease called myxomatosis. Transmission is via fleas, mosquitos, and close exposure to another infected rabbit so if you keep multiple rabbits, it can spread quickly. Rabbits with myxomatosis tend to become lethargic and go downhill very quickly. The only treatment available is supportive fluids to try to give them the energy to fight it off themselves however it’s rare that an unvaccinated rabbit makes a full recovery.

They can also be vaccinated against rabbit haemorrhagic disease. There are two strains of the disease that rabbits need to be vaccinated against and both are severe and are usually fatal. The first strain will cause a fever and difficulty breathing, it can cause bloody discharge to come from the nose or mouth and quickly lead to collapse. The second strain causes internal bleeding. Transmission is through contact with an infected rabbit or items like food bowls. Humans can carry the virus on clothing and infect unvaccinated rabbits.

While any illness in a beloved pet is scary, the three that can be vaccinated against are often fatal unless vaccinated.

The cost of getting your rabbit vaccinated will vary quite drastically depending on where you live. It can cost as little as £50 to cover them for myxomatosis and both strains of haemorrhagic disease but vets will usually charge a consult fee on top of the vaccinations. Rabbits should get an annual vet check to make sure they’re nice and healthy anyway so tying in their vaccination and health check is a useful idea.

The cost of getting them fully vaccinated will range anywhere from £50 to £125 depending on the practice. Many vets offer bunny packages that give you vaccinations, a health check and parasite treatment altogether so you can save some money that way.

Disease prevention is an important part of keeping your rabbits healthy and happy. They will need their vaccinations along with boosters annually but there are also some housekeeping things you can put in place to keep them safe. These include:

For everything you need to keep your beloved pets safe and all of your rabbit essentials, check out our massive range online and in-store.