RHDV2 in rabbits - how are you protecting your rabbits?

[LizzzyJo]

This is a rabbit virus that wipes out entire rabbitries in a day. It’s prevalent in the US southwest, but reports are everywhere.

I have a Rabbitry and just bit the bullet and fenced in the entire outdoor hutch area to protect it from wild rabbits and the virus. Priced out - the vaccine would be $120 per rabbit the first year and $80 each year after for the booster. If I didn’t have 4-20 rabbits at any given time I might do the vaccine. But, I am choosing to enclose their area and do intense biosecurity instead. The virus also isn’t too common up here in NW Ohio (knock on wood).

What are you all doing? Has it come to your area yet?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

It came to the city next to us and then was gone again within a month. Didn't do anything besides decide that there wouldn't be rabbits allowed at the 4H fair that year.

 

[LizzzyJo]

It came to the city next to us and then was gone again within a month. Didn't do anything besides decide that there wouldn't be rabbits allowed at the 4H fair that year.

Does it normally just leave areas? I wonder if it’s been here and gone…

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Does it normally just leave areas? I wonder if it’s been here and gone…

I think it left because every rabbit that had it died too fast for the virus to be picked up by breeders.

 

[SeaCity]

This is a rabbit virus that wipes out entire rabbitries in a day. It’s prevalent in the US southwest, but reports are everywhere.

I have a Rabbitry and just bit the bullet and fenced in the entire outdoor hutch area to protect it from wild rabbits and the virus. Priced out - the vaccine would be $120 per rabbit the first year and $80 each year after for the booster. If I didn’t have 4-20 rabbits at any given time I might do the vaccine. But, I am choosing to enclose their area and do intense biosecurity instead. The virus also isn’t too common up here in NW Ohio (knock on wood).

What are you all doing? Has it come to your area yet?

Mine are either in hanging cages or in hutches in an enclosed area.

 

[Sussex19]

Is this the same as Calicivirus?

 

[LizzzyJo]

I think it left because every rabbit that had it died too fast for the virus to be picked up by breeders.

Wow. Did it put like a huge dent in the cottontail population? Maybe only the crazy and big ones survived so all of our rabbits are going to be massive killer mutant rabbits.

 

[LizzzyJo]

Is this the same as Calicivirus?

I don’t think so. Is that in cats? I’m not sure though.

 

[Sussex19]

I don’t think so. Is that in cats? I’m not sure though.

It is a rabbit virus. Hang on, I'll see what google says.

 

[Sussex19]

https://www.agriculture.gov.au/agriculture-land/animal/health/rabbit-haemorrhagic-disease-virus
I think it is the same.
I lost my very first pet rabbit to it years ago, I still haven't quite got over that loss. Since then, I have kept them in the house.
Although, now our cats have pretty much got rid of the wild rabbits, I am thinking of trying again with meat rabbits outside