← Health section Call a vet now Contagious Critical risk Affects kits
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease
RHD
A highly contagious viral disease: rabbits often die suddenly within a day or two with no warning signs, and an unvaccinated farm can lose most of its animals. There are two strains: classic RHDV1 mainly kills older rabbits, while the newer RHDV2 also kills kits only a few weeks old. There is no cure — only vaccination and strict hygiene protect the herd.
When to call a vet
Call a vet now
This can’t wait: call a vet immediately.
Treat any sudden death or nosebleed as RHD: call a vet or the district veterinary station immediately
Symptoms
- Sudden death, often overnight, with no earlier signs
- Bloody discharge from the nose, mouth or genitals
- High fever, dullness and complete refusal of food
- Fast, laboured breathing
- Convulsions, falling onto the side or screaming shortly before death
- Several deaths in a row within a few days
What to do
- Treat any sudden death or nosebleed as RHD: call a vet or the district veterinary station immediately
- 2 Isolate the surviving rabbits and stop all selling, buying, moving of animals and visits
- 3 Clean and disinfect cages, drinkers and tools with a product the vet recommends
What not to do
- Do not slaughter sick rabbits for meat or sell it; do not open carcasses — seal them in a bag and keep them cool until a vet sees them
- Never dump carcasses in a canal, field or rubbish tip — dispose of them as the vet instructs
When it strikes
Possible in any month, but outbreaks are most likely from spring into summer, when insects help spread the virus; the classic strain mostly kills rabbits older than about 6 weeks, while RHDV2 also kills younger kits.
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Prevention
- Vaccinate every rabbit with a vaccine that covers both strains (RHDV1 and RHDV2); a vet sets the timing and boosters
- Keep newly bought rabbits in separate quarantine for at least 3 weeks
- Keep visitors out of the rabbitry; change shoes and wash hands at the entrance
- Fit fly and mosquito netting and control rodents
- During outbreaks do not buy rabbits at the bazaar or cut grass in unfamiliar places
Causes
- The virus spreads from sick and recovered rabbits and through their droppings, urine and carcasses
- It is carried on hands, clothes and shoes, and on cages, equipment and vehicles
- Flies, mosquitoes, birds and rodents carry it
- Grass and hay cut where wild hares or sick rabbits have been
- The virus survives for months outside the body and resists cold