MYXOMATOSIS is a type of pox virus which grows in the skin of rabbits.
Myxomatosis is included on the Rabbit Owner's CD - simply click for details.
The first indications of myxomatosis include:
 | puffy, fluid swellings around the head and face |
| sores around the mouth |
| swollen, 'sleepy' eyes |
| swollen lips |
| swellings inside the ears a |
| swellings around the genital area |
Within 1-2 days these swellings can increase and cause blindness.
above: French Lop suffering from myxomatosis
Every unvaccinated bunny is at risk of myxomatosis - regardless of whether they live indoors or outdoors or come into contact with other rabbits or not. It is a lethal illness with no known effective treatment for unvaccinated bunnies. Please always ensure your rabbit is vaccinated to prevent this fatal disease which causes much unnecessary suffering.
The disease is spread by the rabbit flea which is frequently found on wild rabbits and can be transmitted by cats which come into contact with infected wild rabbits. However, is less easily spread by simple contact from one rabbit to another. If an infected rabbit shares a hutch with a healthy rabbit and neither have fleas then the disease is virtually never transmitted by contact.
The myxomatosis virus can remain dormant in the blood of fleas for several months. If it should bite a rabbit then the virus is injected into the skin as the parasite sucks blood. The virus is then transmitted to a local lymph node and enters the bloodstream enabling it to move around and multiply in the skin around the eyes, nose, face, ears and genitals. This makes eating and drinking difficult and the swelling around the eyes causes blindness - contributing to a prolonged death in some cases.
above left, hot, tender, swollen ear, right: congested breathing and a very miserable bunny
(the infected rabbit was euthanased 2 hours after this photograph was taken)
The incubation period is 5-14 days. Some infected rabbits may survive for weeks while a more severely infected rabbit could succumb within 12 days. Very few wild rabbits will survive although pet rabbits with dedicated owners can recover if they are intensively nursed, fed and watered and given antibiotics to prevent pneumonia. Recovery can take weeks or months and scarring, scaling and scabbing can persist on the head and body.
Prevention is always better than cure and the spread of myxomatosis can be prevented or the risks minimised by:
| ensuring wild animals, and animals which might come into contact with wild animals/rabbits, do not come into contact with pet rabbits |
| controlling fleas - using sprays, dips, UV fly zappers and insect repellant strips |
| ensuring bedding is always kept dry to avoid attracting mosquitoes |
| vaccination with the Nobivac Myxo vaccination. Vaccination can give good immunity but no vaccination can offer a complete guarantee of protection. Some rabbits may be immunologically incompetent and fail to respond the vaccination. |
You are STRONGLY urged to vaccinate your rabbit against both MYXOMATOSIS and VHD. Whilst vaccination cannot guarantee 100% protection, it provides the best possible protection against the disease - which can be spread via rabbit fleas and biting insects.
Advanced 'atypical' myxomatosis:
Nasal Swelling of Atypical Myxomatosis
If a vaccinated bunny should contract myxomatosis, then they tend to develop an 'atypical' and milder form of the disease which is not usually fatal. Provided they receive appropriate nursing, symptomatic treatment and support then they will usually survive (possibly with scarring). Treatments could include antibiotics to prevent pneumonia, vitamins, pro/prebiotics to boost general condition, steam/eucalyptus inhalations to aid breathing (popping the patient into a pet carrier and covering it is a good way to provide these) along with any necessary topical treatments to the scars, lumps and bumps which may develop and other treatments for any other symptoms which may develop.
Lumps and bumps inside ear
An unvaccinated bunny will suffer and need to be euthanased within a few days.
We feel very strongly that this is not a risk worth taking and that, just as dog/cat vaccinations are considered routine and essential, the same principles should apply equally to rabbits.
Nobivac Myxo vaccination can be given to rabbits over 6 weeks of age. Immunity is then developed over the following 14 days. A booster is recommended annually for low-risk rabbits. However, for rabbits living in an area where myxomatosis is rife or with a heavy flea or flying insect population, 6-monthly boosters are strongly recommended. Most myxomatosis occurs in the the late summer and early winter months so a single vaccination is best given in May-June - in time for the higher-risk season.
PLEASE - Always ensure your bunny is vaccinated against myxomatosis.
Myxomatosis helpline: http://www.myxomatosishelpline.co.uk/
A myxomatosis information leaflet can be downloaded from: http://www.intervet.co.uk/binaries/92_56761.pdf
bravenet.com