Pet rabbits - WARNING!

My daughter brought home two pretty grey rabbits a couple of years ago, just before going to University. Needless to say, she couldn't take them with her, so it fell to Mr and Mrs muggins to look after them. They've been quite sweet, so it wasn't too much of a chore and our daughter idolized them when she was home.

At our old house, they spent the day in a run in our enclosed garden but since we've moved, we're surrounded by wild rabbits and they regularly come up on the front lawn.

Perhaps we were naive, but we thought it was sweet when the wild bunnies, looked in on the tame ones. How stupid we were. First one, then the other developed Mxyamatosis. Porr Patsy had to be put to sleep last Saturday, now Eddie, is so poorly we're going to have to do the same tomorrow.

We found out too late that we should have had them innoculated (although that's not guaranteed). So, be warned, if you have pet rabbits, make sure they have their regular jabs.

Apparently, the man who developed the myxi vaccine got an award. If he was able to see the suffering our poor buns have gone through, he might not feel so proud of his "achievement".

Chris

 

Thats terrible Chris, I do feel for you & the rabbits.

Willow sends her sympathies too.

 

I also had a couple of dwarf rabbits ages ago. I don't remember whether they had any injection, but they eventually developed a urinary infection which i think they do if they are fed too much fresh stuff.
Other than that and chewing everything they were lovely pets, and not noisy at all.

 

That's very sad Chris.....poor bunnies....:(

The Myxo vacc should be given every 6 months (12 at the longest) followed by the VHD (Viral Hemorrhagic Disease ) 2 weeks later.....for life. Not a lot of people think to vaccinate rabbits.

I agree with your comment on the bloke....Myxo is HORRENDOUS!!!

Kate

 

Thats so sad

 

I'm so sorry to hear about your daughers pets. We had nearly exactly the same thing a few years ago, my daughter had a rabbit and our house backed on to a golf course. We didn't know that Mxyamatosis was used as a "pest control" on the golf course. Our little rabbit had to be put to sleep as well. We didn't know rabbits needed innoculated either

 

That is so sad BH
Shows that you have to be so careful with your pets
BG

 

Mxyamatosis is one of the reasons why I tend to shy away from eating rabbit ... most butchers here sell them when it is season, and they sell for cheap

all the wild ones in my region always look a bit sick

 

When I was a kid my friends rabbits got that and her dad killed them both by smashing their heads in with rocks. Put me off rabbits forever....

 

God I never knew that the 'rabbit disease' was something placed by humans. That's awful. Sorry about your pets :-(

 

I must admit I was not aware of this issue at all. (nothing new there then)
Still a sad story Chris, so sorry to hear it.

 

Thanks Clare and Robert. Our daughter (aged 22) is still upset and can't go into Pets at Home without bursting into tears when she sees the bunnies.

However, on a brighter note, we've just got a delightful Jack Russell rescue puppy called Aggie. so it's probably just as well that we don't have chickens or rabbits at the moment!:WINK1:

 

So sorry about the bunnies
I'm sure little Aggie will bring you all a great deal of pleasure...