The new rabbit VHD vaccine

RE: The new rabbit VHD vaccine

Bob Russell — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 15:46:03 GMT

Why worry? The Daily Mail states;

The deadly virus, which has almost no symptoms,

RE: The new rabbit VHD vaccine

Andrea Lynch — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 13:11:46 GMT

Increased enquiries from rabbit breeders/owners might have something to do with articles in The Telegraph and the Mail at the weekend, following hot on the heels of their pieces on lepto:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/16/mutated-virus-with-no-uk-vaccine-is-killing-hundreds-of-british/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3694326/Desperate-hunt-vaccine-highly-contagious-rabbit-virus-sweeps-UK-kills-400-pets-six-months.html?ITO=1490

And it's not exactly been a slow news month.

RE: The new rabbit VHD vaccine

Emily Rainbow — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 12:06:15 GMT

We've had a few cases we suspect had VHD2, not managed to persuade anyone to let us PM and confirm on liver biopsy yet though.

has anyone managed to source any? I have one client who is keen to use it.

RE: The new rabbit VHD vaccine

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 10:16:35 GMT

[quote user="KathW"]

If people are using the new vaccine that covers RHD 1 and RzhD 2 are you still giving the combined Myxo- RHD vaccine as well?

Does a separate myxomatosis vaccine still exist ?

[/quote]When I finally get my hands on a RHD2 vacccine I intend to continue to recommend vaccinating with MyxoRHD as well. AFAIA there is no separate Myxo vaccine presently available.

RE: The new rabbit VHD vaccine

KathW — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 23:35:25 GMT

If people are using the new vaccine that covers RHD 1 and RzhD 2 are you still giving the combined Myxo- RHD vaccine as well?

Does a separate myxomatosis vaccine still exist ?

RE: The new rabbit VHD vaccine

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 12:22:41 GMT

[quote user="Marie Kubiak"]Ah, so when financially lucrative you would support VHD vaccination?[/quote]I looked back through this thread and as I suspected I never said I didn't support VHD vaccination, in fact I advise all owners to have a Myxo/VHD vaccine, I just couldn't see the advantage of using the new variant vaccine. In fact I was, if anything, suggesting that I was forgoing the profit from promoting it as I could see no point. So that comment is a bit unfair.

However a new client rocked up and its turns out she's a breeder but like most breeders she thinks she knows everything. She came in 2 weeks early for rabbit awareness week with 9 rabbits on one consultation for a free health check so first impressions are not good. In fact I'm rather hoping I can't get the vaccine because she wants to buy it and vaccinate the rabbits herself so I won't make much from it. In any event I told her there is no way I can vaccinate 100 rabbits is one sitting. I hope she goes back to whence she came.

RE: The new rabbit VHD vaccine

nikki — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 12:22:33 GMT

Got this email a few weeks ago:

We are pleased to announce that after long discussions with Filavie, a vaccine manufacturer in France, and NVS, a Veterinary Wholesalers in the UK, we will very shortly have, for sale in the UK, a vaccine against RHD2. This also covers RHD1. The full order should be in stock from Mid June, with relatively small amounts available before then. Please contact NVS to discuss exact anticipated stock arrival dates and to assist them with some idea of expected demand.

Ros Lamb

Volunteer Coordinator and Fundraising Officer

Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund

RE: The new rabbit VHD vaccine

Marie Kubiak — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 12:05:32 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

Bump. I have now had a rabbit breeder with 100 rabbits to vaccinate approach me about this. i heard that the vaccine is or will very shortly be available in the UK. Anyone have anymore news on this?

[/quote]

Ah, so when financially lucrative you would support VHD vaccination?

The latest news I had was that Cunivak supplies were exhausted and other options from mainland Europe were being explored but were not currently available.

Marie

RE: The new rabbit VHD vaccine

Julie Innes — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 08:35:20 GMT

watching with interest, as I've had a rabbit owner ask me about it (the power of the internet!), and I had to say I'd never heard of it!

RE: The new rabbit VHD vaccine

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 16:28:57 GMT

[quote user="Allison Gleadhill"]

Did an SIC online, emailed manufacturer with SIC & VAT number, arrived by courier within 48 hours!

[/quote]Bump. I have now had a rabbit breeder with 100 rabbits to vaccinate approach me about this. i heard that the vaccine is or will very shortly be available in the UK. Anyone have anymore news on this?

RE: The new rabbit VHD vaccine

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 19:16:08 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]It is your duty to tell your clients how their bunnies are best protected. If you don't believe that vaccinating bunnies is worthwhile, why would your clients?[/quote]Don't misunderstand me, I do recommend that rabbits are vaccinated. This 'fact' about not seeing VHD because most rabbits die too quickly is often rolled out and I do tell my clients this but I wonder how true it is and how much it is urban myth which is useful fodder for vaccine companies. I think I would have seen at least the odd case of VHD in a rabbit which didn't keel over and die instantly and be buried at home in a career. I certainly see myxo but that doesn't seem so common at the moment.

RE: The new rabbit VHD vaccine

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 18:57:54 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]Being as I have never knowingly diagnosed a case of VHD and most people don't have their rabbits vaccinated, I don't think I'll be rushing to get the new vaccine![/quote]

Vets rarely see VHD as the rabbits die too quickly. Do you rely on seeing a disease yourself to make vaccination something you then recommend......????

The new strain does show a different pattern, with a different age affected and with approx 50% mortality. There is another thread discussing it so I won't duplicate the info I posted there.

It is your duty to tell your clients how their bunnies are best protected. If you don't believe that vaccinating bunnies is worthwhile, why would your clients?

RE: The new rabbit VHD vaccine

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 18:47:44 GMT

[quote user="Thomas Johnson"] it appears that there is new strain of VHD that has been increasing in frequency in the UK[/quote]Being as I have never knowingly diagnosed a case of VHD and most people don't have their rabbits vaccinated, I don't think I'll be rushing to get the new vaccine!

RE: The new rabbit VHD vaccine

Thomas Johnson — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 14:52:02 GMT

[quote user="Allison Gleadhill"]

Did an SIC online, emailed manufacturer with SIC & VAT number, arrived by courier within 48 hours!

[/quote]

That sounds great, I'm waiting to hear back from them as to how much it will cost before I go ahead with an order!

RE: The new rabbit VHD vaccine

Allison Gleadhill — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 14:32:37 GMT

Did an SIC online, emailed manufacturer with SIC & VAT number, arrived by courier within 48 hours!

RE: The new rabbit VHD vaccine

Thomas Johnson — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 14:27:26 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

Enlighten me, I'm not even aware of it.

[/quote]

I had a client ask me about it a couple of days ago, so having done some research it appears that there is new strain of VHD that has been increasing in frequency in the UK over the past couple of years, it is not covered by any of the licensed VHD vaccines in the UK. There is a vaccine available in Europe that we can import with a Special Import Certificate. I have just emailed the manufacturers in Germany to find out how to order it, but haven't heard back from them yet.

RE: The new rabbit VHD vaccine

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 10:59:51 GMT

Enlighten me, I'm not even aware of it.