This week I was inundated with phone calls from concerned pet rabbit owners. One of the calls came from Cupcake’s owner. Cupcake is a five-year-old female lop rabbit.

I usually see Cupcake on a monthly basis when her incisors need trimming. Cupcake invariably delights the medical staff at the clinic, as she has this little trick of hopping out of her carrier-box when told to do so, and promptly hopping back into the box when her incisors have been trimmed.

But this time our discussion about Cupcake’s welfare was rather more serious. Her owner was concerned as he’d heard of a new rabbit virus in Malta.

The disease, which Cupcake’s owner had heard about is called RVHD, which stands for Rabbit Viral Haemorraghic Disease. This disease first appeared in China in the early 1980s, where it decimated rabbit populations. The virus quickly spread to South America, Australia and New Zealand, and within five years it emerged in Europe with the same devastating results.

The first recorded incidence of the disease in Malta happened in 1992. What recently changed was that the classical vaccine no longer provided sufficient protection against the disease. The virus had mutated. The presence of this new variant was felt in Malta in the last few months, and laboratory tests have confirmed that it is in fact the new variant of RVHD.

Both viruses of Viral Haemorraghic Disease, the classical and the new variant, cause, with minor differences, heavy losses with devastating effects – sudden death being the primary symptom.

RVHD is caused by a calicivirus, so named because of its goblet shape. What interests us is the fact that only been in recent times has it been possible to culture this type of virus and therefore produce large amounts of vaccine.

It is also interesting that this particular calicivirus is not only transmitted by rabbit to rabbit contact, but is also airborne and can therefore travel with the wind. This means that even if your rabbits are kept in complete isolation, it is still important that you discuss the recommended vaccination programme with your veterinary surgeon.

While you are at your veterinary surgeon’s clinic, you should also discuss the general management of keeping pet rabbits, including type of cage, bedding used and feeding. Your pet would also be checked for other ailments, such as skin problems caused by mange, fleas or fungal disease.

Preventative treatment may be advised to treat intestinal worms. And certainly a word or two about whether neutering is necessary. As regards vaccination, there is also another disease, called myxomatosis, from which it is important to protect your rabbit and which is usually included in the rabbit vaccination programme.

Cupcake was brought to the clinic, examined and duly vaccinated. We discussed how to avoid cross-contamination with between her, her owners, and the environment, and we hope to continue enjoying her little party-trick of hopping in and out of her carrier box for many years to come.

Dr Martin Debattista is a veterinary surgeon.

thisweekwiththevet@gmail.com

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