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Pet rabbits are the victims of a flare up of the killer virus myxomatosis. Myxomatosis, which affects both wild and domestic rabbits, was first
identified in the UK in the early 1950s when it almost wiped out the wild
rabbit population.
It is a naturally occurring virus that was first identified in South America
in 1896. It spread around the world, being deliberately introduced to
protect crops from rabbit populations. For example, when it was introduced
into Australia in 1950, rabbit numbers fell from 600 million to 100 million.
The PDSA, the veterinary charity, has reported a 300 per cent increase in
cases among domestically kept rabbits in a year. Disease hotspots include
Humberside, the West Midlands and the South East. Myxomatosis is inevitably fatal and in most cases the
rabbits have to be put down. Death is entirely preventable if owners ensure their pets are
vaccinated.
Diseased rabbits can suffer
a long drawn out death over 10 to 14 days.
The very first signs are puffy swellings around the head and
face. 'Sleepy eyes' are a classic sign along with swollen lips, tiny
swellings on the inside of the ear and puffy swelling around the anus
and genitalia. Within a day or so, these swellings can become so severe
as to cause blindness and the may be some distortion around the face,
mouth, ears and nose.
This health warning is important because rabbits are the country’s third most
popular pet after cats and dogs, with an estimated 1.6 million owners.
In low-risk areas an annual vaccine for a rabbit in
the spring is probably sufficient protection, but in new areas with high
incidence of disease and in rural areas where pets may come into contact
with wild rabbits owners are being urged to organise a second vaccine this
autumn.
The vaccine, which costs between £15 and £30, is not 100 per cent effective,
but it allows some of the symptoms to be treated.
The impact on the wild rabbit population is not clear. Some animals have built
up immunity to the disease and the strain varies in virulence from year to
year.
Myxomatosis is spread by biting insects such as fleas, mosquitoes and
horseflies. Infection may be spread from wild to pet rabbits, but domestic
animals can easily pick up the disease in an outdoor pen or, if kept
indoors, could be infected by a family dog that has picked up the virus.
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