Rabbit owners warned about deadly disease

Animal experts in Guernsey are warning rabbit owners about a disease that has a "huge risk to unvaccinated rabbits and especially to those in outside enclosures".

The GSPCA said it had seen a surge of rabbits with Rabbit Haemorraghic Viral Disease (RHVD2) and wanted to reinforce their message for rabbit owners to "take great care". It also warned owners of Myxomatosis.

Steve Byrne, GSPCA Manager, said Myxomatosis was spread easily between rabbits by blood-sucking insects, such as fleas, ticks, mites and mosquitoes.

He said: "We have escalated and heightened all of our isolation and quarantine procedures to ensure we are doing all we can for every rabbit that comes into our care."

Byrne added: "Since the summer of 2017 the team at the GSPCA have been extremely worried for all rabbits in Guernsey as a very serious virus had killed three rabbits that had come into the shelter and tests confirmed RHVD2.

"Normally there are symptoms leading up to this disease, but the ones that we saw at the GSPCA were well and feeding normally in the morning, and then later in the day were rushed to the vet where nothing could be done."

He added the disease was extremely dangerous for pet bunnies and for rabbits living outside and pet owners needed to contact their vet for advice.

The RVHD was believed to be passed on by vectors such as fleas and other parasites although only having been discovered in France in 2010 a lot still was unknown, he said.

GSPCA said RVHD 2 had some differences from the original.

These included affecting rabbits of any age, as opposed to RVHD1, which is rarely if ever seen in rabbits under 8-10 weeks of age.

It added the variant gave rise to lower mortalities than classical RVHD.

Byrne added it was impossible to tell how it had entered Guernsey as it could have many causes from "rabbits imported to the island to parasites carried on migrating birds and myxi has been in Guernsey for many years."

"If your rabbit is unwell or showing any signs or symptoms of illness we would urge you to immediately seek vet advice," Byrne said.

He added he advised people to check the Rabbit Welfare Association fund.

Symptoms of RVHD-2:

• Not eating.
• Bleeding under the skin.
• Clotting disorders.
• Signs of liver disease including: weight loss/ jaundice.
• Bleeding from orifices.

Symptoms of myxomatosis:

• Swelling, redness and/or ulcers
• Nasal and eye discharge
• Blindness caused by inflammation of the eyes
• Respiratory problems
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy

GSPCA said: "Regular vaccinations against both myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease should be given to all pet rabbits.

"Making sure there are no areas of stagnant water in your garden, which attract disease vectors will also help, as will mosquito-proof guards on hutches."

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