There are 2 deadly infectious diseases affecting Rabbits.
Luckily, we are able to protect our patients with vaccinations. This is achieved by an annual health check and 2 pain-free injections. The current vaccination covers Myxomatosis and both variants (I and II) of Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD). The VHD virus is, however, adept at creating new variants, much like Covid in Humans, and so far the mutations had all been covered by the vaccine – until now.
A new “Highly Virulent” strain has been identified in Europe and further afield, against which the vaccine does not offer immunity. Consequently, intense research has been undertaken to produce a new vaccine that does protect against the HV variant – Yurvac.
Stocks of Yurvac are now available in the UK and we are able to offer our patients the protection
that this provides. Vaccination involves a single annual injection that can be given 2 weeks after the Myxo-RHD Plus annual booster or at any time throughout the year.
As a RWAF-approved Practice, it is our duty to provide the best care to Rabbit patients that we can and giving the new vaccine is part of that commitment. Although there is no reporting of the new variant’s arrival in the UK, we believe it may be imminent or even already present undetected. We are using the vaccine to protect all rabbits currently at the Animals in Distress Rescue Centre in Ipplepen, and we strongly encourage you to contact us and book a Vaccine Appointment without delay.
