to vaccinate or not to vaccinate...

I know im probably going to be shot down by alot of people here but here goes.

I have 5 rabbits..4 live with me, one lives at my parents.

All my rabbits have, IMO, 5* care, huge living areas, quality pellet food, veggies, treats, huge amounts of hay etc etc etc. BUT I dont vaccinate them...

I remember a few years ago..gotta be about 8 years ago, I took my 2 rabbits to the vet to be vaccinated [ used to do it every 6 months] and the vet, told me that unless they are free roaming in an area where wild rabbits are, or eat anything that a wild rabbit could of touched, then there was no reason to vaccinate them.
So from that moment on non of my rabbits have ever been vaccinated again.

Iv had numerous rabbits since then and none have ever had any illnesses or anything.

Please dont get me wrong, I love my bunnies alot and do everything I can for them, they are spoilt! All nuetered and everything.

Iv seen vaccination month advertised at the vets and thats what got me thinking about it.
My buns will all be going for a health check this month sometime but I really dont think I will start vaccinating them again :S

Also I think its worth pointing out that its NOT because they are 'just rabbits' and I hate when people treat rabbits as a kind of second class pet against dogs and cats. When I was living at home we had a number of dogs throughout my childhood, non of which were vaccinated.
However now I am in my own home, I have 3 dogs, who ARE vaccinated, but only because of strict stipulations regarding kenneling if ever needed and they need to be up to date with vaccs if we do any events [agility or anything with them.]

Iv read numerous reports on dog vaccs saying that they have realised vaccs are NOT needed every year, which they had always previosly said they did need, so again, I think maybe same goes for rabbits.


Im sorry if this has caused any offence to anyone, but just really wanted to see people different opinions.

What the vet told you isnt true, and if you went to most vets now they would say the same, so i wouldnt rely on outdated advice to make your decison.

All I can really say is how would you feel is after all the love, and 5* care they recieve, they got Myxi or VHD?

My rabbit Jelly, I dont know if you know this, had babies in 2007. Only half of those babies are still alive four years later. the other half have died over the past four years due to VHD or Myxi. The half that are still with us are all vaccinated bar one. (all in new homes except Domino who stayed here)

So to me, it isnt worth it. Im not going to shoot you down or anything like that because in my opinion, you have made this post because you want to know if it is neccesary - so im just offering my opinion too.

my parents only ever vaccinated our dogs for half their lives, after that they get nothing, because my dad says they build up enough immunity after a while.

I dont know if thats right or wrong, im not experienced enough to comment.

As far as rabbits go, I see and hear of so many rabbits dying from both diseases that i know 100% it is worth it to vaccinate.

Do you have any idea if you live in a high risk area or anything? I know myxo is quite common around mine so I made sure they got that jab first...they are having VHD in the next couple of weeks. It's good you made a post as some people like SJ can tell you why they have such a strong view of it and it'll help to make your decision. Perhaps ring up your vets now and find out what they say about it? If it's vaccination month, and you'll get it cheaper/for free (not sure what exactly it is) then it would be worth doing it, just in case there's that small chance. I understand with 5 rabbits it will be expensive (even though I know that's not why you are not doing it), but then if one of them becomes ill...the treatment will be expensive too.

As far as I am aware you can titre test rabbits like you can cats & dogs but it is more stressful for them (as getting blood samples is tricky) and can be just as expensive as vaccinating. This is why many dog owners will annually vaccinate religiously despite it not being thought necessary.

However, with regards to Myxi, it is worth remembering the vaccine only produces a CROSS-immunisation, as it is actually derived from the shope fibroma virus and not myxomatosis. Due to this it is not considered effective enough to even be given as frequently as annually, hence bi-annual vaccination is now indicated. In this case I would say a titre would prove worthless because evidence already suggests immunity is not long-lasting and there for to stay protected a rabbit needs regular and repeated immunisation.

Two other things to bare in mind:

*The VHD vaccine is 100% effective, and VHD is 100% fatal in unvaccinated rabbits
*Rabbits who are vaccinated for Myxi can still contract a nodular, less severe, form of the disease but this is usually treatable. Rabbits who catch full Myxi usually die a nasty death from related secondary conditions....such as pneumonia....and it is often kinder to PTS from the outset in these cases.

Vaccination is the only way to keep them safe.

Maybe you should think about having it done now that you may be able to get it done for free at selected Vets.

I know that you love your animals very much, but its mozzies that carry these diseases, and you cant stop that.

Vaccinate deffo.

No shootings going on here, you've brought up something that is worth discussing from time to time.

As SJ said, the information you have is out of date, so personally I would disregard it. AFAIK, VHD is an airbourne disease, as well as being a contact spread one, so you are kinda playing a game of roulette by not having the vaccinated. If one gets it, then it could easily spread to the rest, and buns stand no chance against Myxo without the vacc.

I'm very uncomfortable with the fact that the VHD virus is a live virus, and a bunny must die so that mine (and about 4,000 others) can be protected from it. It pains the hell out of me each time I go for the vaccination, but when I took my two on, I made a promise that I would do the best I could for them, their health and their well-being - as all responsible owners do. In doing so I have to compromise myself a bit, as I try to cause no harm. The only alternative is that I have no buns, not that I wouldn't vaccinate.

Would it break your heart if they died of something that you could have prevented very easily and cheaply?

Like others have said, I do think that perhaps your information about vaccinating is out dated. Myxo is carried by flying insects and so the buns don't necessarily have to be anywhere near to wild buns and VHD can be carried on our clothing and on hay etc.

My three buns live in the house but I wouldn't consider not having them vaccinated. I think that you have obviously been very fortunate never to lose a bun to illness if they haven't been vaccinated.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do in the future.

Jay wrote:

Would it break your heart if they died of something that you could have prevented very easily and cheaply?

To me, that is THE question.
I couldnt imagine putting in the love, time, care, money in making their lives as good as I do, to lose them for something that cost £20. I just couldnt. and okay its £20 x 3 times a year, x however many bunnies you have. but like you say its a game of roulette, and I love my rabbits far too much to gamble on any aspect of their health, and i think any of us that are on here feel the same.

Thank you for being so honest and posting such an interesting opinion. No-one is going to flame you on here.

Personally, I prefer the comfort of knowing that my buns have been vaccinated. I have been admiring a baby rabbit in the garden all week and maybe would be much more twitchy if they hadn't been vaccinated.

I know that a vet told you this information, but often such advice needs to be up-dated regularly. I know that my vet recommends that the buns are vaccinated with both vaccines and send me out reminders. Better safe than sorry especially when it is so safe and easy to do - even safer if you use anivac instead of Cylap.

SarahJane wrote:

Jay wrote:

Would it break your heart if they died of something that you could have prevented very easily and cheaply?

To me, that is THE question.
I couldnt imagine putting in the love, time, care, money in making their lives as good as I do, to lose them for something that cost £20. I just couldnt. and okay its £20 x 3 times a year, x however many bunnies you have. but like you say its a game of roulette, and I love my rabbits far too much to gamble on any aspect of their health, and i think any of us that are on here feel the same.

Yep, that is what makes me have mine vaccinated, I couldn't live with the guilt of knowing I could have prevented it if I was unlucky enough for them to fall ill....

Also bear in mind you wouldnt ever be able to have them in boarding without them being vaccinated if you went away x

Hi everyone. Thanks for all your responses and for not shooting me down.
I do feel a little silly and although I am in no way a rabbit expert I do my absolute best for my bunnies and they mean the world to me, as do my 3 dogs.

I think because when I heard my vet give me this out-dated advice [I would of been about 13 I think] obviously, being young and nieve I believed that a VET would know best for animals.

But after all, things have moved on, like everything does and Im really glad Iv had some advice from you all regarding this.


I would like to mention that the reason I havent had my rabbits vaccinated is in NO WAY because of the cost, nothing is too much for them and Im not hard up for the money, I genuinly thought that vaccinating them all the time would somehow weaken their immunity and therefore be somewhat detrimental to them in some way? Feeling very silly now

I will be taking them all in for health checks this month, just becasue I havent for a little while and got a email from the vet yesterday about it [lol] I will also be getting them vaccinated!!

Thank-you all very much for your replys again. and Im sorry for my ignorance.
I hope you dont see me from now on as someone who doesnt give a toss about their rabbits welfare, because I really do.

Dont be silly, you asked, and we advised, you clearly adore them and werent sure on the advice you were given years ago so you asked us about it, no shame there at all.

Im just glad you asked because I know you really love them, so much - and you have been very lucky, and im glad that now you have found out how important it is and it will prevent any heartache in the future.

Please dont apolegise, none of us are experts, we just help each other

xxxxx

No one would think badly of you hun. We are not like that here as you know.

We know how much you love your buns. x x x

Please don't feel silly, I hope the replies (including mine) haven't made you feel like that. I'm glad you asked, and glad that you've got more updated info to make a decision on, and that your buns will be better protected, it's what we're here for

I think it's really good you've changed your mind VHD and myxo can even come in on your hay, bedding or food, or on an insect.

It's clear you love your bunnies and it's great that you've taken people's advice so well

I respect you very much for posting this at all. We know how much you love your buns and you were simply acting on incorrect information. I know it was NOTHING to do with cost as anyone who has ever seen photos of your set up know how well loved and accommodated your bunnies are.

SarahJane wrote:Also bear in mind you wouldnt ever be able to have them in boarding without them being vaccinated if you went away x

That is very true, we only will take rabbits that are vaccinated against VHD and Myxomatosis and the owners have to bring their bunnies vaccination cards so that we have proof. Boarding bunnies that are not vaccinated is putting not only other rabbits that are boarding with us at risk but our own bunnies as well.

Glad you have changed your mind

Oops sorry I hope you didn't think that I was suggesting you wouldn't do it because of the cost...I just meant in general it's worth it- I was just trying to point out the pros of getting them vaccinated...think I'm just digging a hole now. But it's not what I meant at all I can see how well loved your buns are!! Sorry again. Glad you have come to an informed decision

As others have said, I admire you for asking such a controversial question.

I have to say I have only been coming onto this forum for a short while, but it's a breath of fresh air to be able to post questions that maybe are controversial and not get shot down in flames.

As others have said it's good to be able to help each other with experience.

I definitely think you have made a good decision.

Thats why I like it here x

Kate7590 wrote:But after all, things have moved on, like everything does and Im really glad Iv had some advice from you all regarding this.
They do, it was only 4 years ago I was told not to bother vaccinating against Myxo, because we don't live in a high risk area. After more research, I changed vets And it;s only within the last 2 years that myxo vaccinations are now recommended as 6 monthly rather than annually, and even now that hasn't filtered through to every vet, so theree are still bunny owners who think they are doing their best and are being given incorrect advice..

I hope you dont see me from now on as someone who doesnt give a toss about their rabbits welfare, because I really do.
I don't think anyone would see it like that, ever

wizbit wrote:I have to say I have only been coming onto this forum for a short while, but it's a breath of fresh air to be able to post questions that maybe are controversial and not get shot down in flames.

I think it's important to cover these things and talk about them in an informative way that educates. Many people view this forum as guests, and it's important to remember that they may need this information too, but may not nec. need to join up.

I'm glad you find it this way

Thanks everyone for beign so supportive. I hadnt been on HH for a while and now realise what iv been missing!

I was going to take them in yesterday but OH was wallpapering and I didnt fancy carrying 4 fatties into the vets on my own lol, so we are off on monday evening!

Is it the myxi and VHD x 2 or the other way round? Do they have both injections the same day?

It is Myxi once every 6 months, VHD yearly.

They should get them 2 weeks apart

Some rabbits have had reactions to the Cylap VHD vaccine, so it might be best to check if your vet uses Lapinject.

There's also a new VHD vaccine called Anivac, my vet uses it and we have had no reactions to it

Kate7590 wrote:Thanks everyone for beign so supportive. I hadnt been on HH for a while and now realise what iv been missing!

I was going to take them in yesterday but OH was wallpapering and I didnt fancy carrying 4 fatties into the vets on my own lol, so we are off on monday evening!

Is it the myxi and VHD x 2 or the other way round? Do they have both injections the same day?