You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Viral Haemorrhagic Disease  (VHD)  is a very serious infectious disease of rabbits which can be prevented by vaccination

Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD) of rabbits is a serious disease caused by a calicivirus. The incubation period following infection is only 1-3 days and unfortunately the outcome is often fatal. Clinical signs include :

• Sudden death -with no other signs, within a few days of becoming infected, OR death after 2-3 weeks
• Inappetance
• Depression
• Collapse
• Difficulty breathing
• Fits (seizures, convulsions)
• A discharge down the nose - bubbles with/without blood
• High body temperature
• Jaundice - if the rabbit survives a few weeks

Vaccination against this disease can be given to rabbits from 10-12 weeks of age, and booster vaccines are recommended every 12 months.

Updated October 2013