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Post by Juliet on Sept 19, 2007 22:20:41 GMT
Just read in our local paper that vets are seeing a lot of cases of myxomatosis and expecting a country-wide epidemic. It said to make sure you get your pet rabbits vaccinated against it - even house rabbits can catch it if you have a cat or dog or something which could bring in the fleas which carry it. I googled and there's more info. on the Blue Cross site here: www.bluecross.org.uk/web/site/News/2007/Myxomatosis_warning.aspPaper also said (in case anyone doesn't know) that there's no risk to humans or other animals. |
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Post by Plocket on Sept 23, 2007 16:37:14 GMT
thanks for that Juliet - how scary!
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Post by MamIDdau on Nov 6, 2007 21:02:36 GMT
Unfortunately, the above posting is very correct.
We forgot that our boys hadn't been done. They were due to be done just as the trouble with the ex housemates started and then we moved house and again and again and it just never got done.
It really isn't very pleasant to see them suffering and heartbreaking to have to have one of your pets put to sleep because there is nothing that can be done for them.
The "epidemic" is partly due to the increase in mosquitoes because of the recent floods this summer. It only takes one insect bite for the rabbit to become infected. There is no cure.
Please make sure you get your bunnies vaccinated, I would hate for any of you to go through what we're going through at the moment.
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Post by Juliet on Nov 6, 2007 21:06:13 GMT
Oh April  - so sorry to hear that  |
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Post by Plocket on Nov 7, 2007 8:22:55 GMT
Oh Aprilaydee  I should point out that the epidemic is so bad that my vet has recommended immunisation every 6 months for the time being, just to be on the safe side. |
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Post by Chuckles on Nov 7, 2007 9:09:57 GMT
So sorry to hear about your poor rabbit April Being born and bred in the country I know only to well what a horrid horrid thing myxomatosis is and how unpleasant it is to see  Please please anyone that has rabbits do get your pets vacinated. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2007 12:05:21 GMT
So sorry April |
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Post by MamIDdau on Nov 7, 2007 20:15:21 GMT
We've just got to keep an eye on Arfer at the moment. Obviously it was too late for Percy.
Poor Arfer sat there all alone in his hutch now. Although he might be quite pleased with that with not having Percy trying to hump him...
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Post by MamIDdau on Nov 16, 2007 19:03:21 GMT
Arfer had to be put to sleep today with the same thing. He wasn't as far gone as Percy but he didn't look well.
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Post by Shrubrose on Nov 16, 2007 19:53:12 GMT
Sorry April. |
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Post by Missredhead on Nov 16, 2007 20:58:17 GMT
so sorry April
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Post by skarloey on Nov 16, 2007 22:35:17 GMT
My daughter had two rabbits who both succumbed to Myxie. It was bloody awful, as soon as I realised what it was, I took them both to an out of hours vet  who said it was too late for one but the other may stand a chance of survival. He then pointed out that this was slim and she probably wouldn't want to try to fight without her best friend anyway. We had them both put down. I have to say though that to put a rabbit down is (other than the initial injection) not such an unpleasant experiance.... for the rabbit... they have a MASSIVE dose of barbiturates (like heroin) and they get so dopey, they forget to breath and just slip away. I felt particularly bad as I hadn't had them vaccinated but my SIL, who used to breed rabbits, reckons that the vaccine is just a waste of money anyway. She gave up breeding them due to this evil man-made virus. So sorry to hear about your bunnies April , I have been advised that Guinea-pigs are a far easier pet to keep. |
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Post by MamIDdau on Nov 17, 2007 19:35:57 GMT
Thank everyone.
I felt guilty too Skarloey but it just slipped our minds with all the house moves and other dramas. They've only been up here with us a few weeks and that were obviously bitten within a few days of being here.
They said that Arfer might already have it but it was worth a shot (literally).
Someone else we know said their rabbit is poorly and another person we know used to breed rabbits and said the vaccine was useless.
The thing that annoys me is that it's illegal to release the virus into the wild but farmers still do it and get away with it. I know they have to control numbers and it isn't easy being a farmer but if they weren't so busy killing the foxes they might realise that the foxes will kill some of the rabbits lol
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Post by Plocket on Nov 18, 2007 13:05:56 GMT
Oh April-lovey you poor thing. |
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- so sorry to hear that 
who said it was too late for one but the other may stand a chance of survival. He then pointed out that this was slim and she probably wouldn't want to try to fight without her best friend anyway.