Do I need to get my small VIP vaccinated?

Currently guinea pigs in the United Kingdom require no vaccines however rabbits do! I have been increasingly shocked at meeting some bunny owners who think they know better (age old story) and will not get their bunny vaccinated despite all the research to support it as being the responsible thing to do.

 I’ll start by saying that it’s really important as a RESPONSIBLE bunny parent to keep up to date with your exotic vet specialist. All clinics are different but a lot of them will happily add you to an email list so that if any new vaccines are developed and recommended by them, then you would be notified and added to a waiting list for the first patch to come in. So while I will tell you in a moment about the current vaccines, what they are for and why your buns need them, it’s important to bear in mind that this information may change with time, with new vaccines coming and going.

Bunnies can be vaccinated from five weeks old onwards. The main and most commonly known about vaccine is the once a year vaccine for Myxomatosis, Rabbit (Viral) Haemorrhagic Disease 1 (RHD) and Rabbit (Viral) Haemorrhagic Disease 2 (RHD2). These are covered in a once a year combined vaccine. You will be given a jab certificate to keep by your vet which you will take once a year to be stamped and signed every time they have a booster. It’s always worth taking them for their booster a few days before it actually runs out on the date on certificate to make sure they are still protected from these nasty viruses.

Why does your bun need protecting from these viruses? Myxomatosis is spread through the bite of insects like fleas, mosquitoes, and ticks, as well as through direct contact with infected rabbits or contaminated objects. Symptoms can include swelling around the eyes, nose, and genitals, sticky discharges, lethargy, fever, and skin lesions. Myxomatosis is generally a fatal disease in rabbits, with a high mortality rate, sometimes killing rabbits within 24 hours. Not vaccinating your buns puts them at huge risk of catching it and if they do, it may occur so quickly that you lose them before you can do anything about it. Remember that they are at risk no matter if they live outside in your garden or inside your house. Although the risk factor is reduced if they live inside, it is not excluded and it is recommended that house bunnies are also vaccinated. All it takes is one insect in the house that is carrying it so don’t develop a false sense of security. Vaccines are the best protection!

The combined yearly vaccine also protects against RHD 1 AND RHD2: which is caused by the Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV), a calicivirus. It is highly contagious and can spread through direct contact with infected rabbits, their bodily fluids (saliva, urine, feces), or contaminated materials. It can also be spread indirectly through insects, birds, rodents, and even humans through clothing and shoes. Symptoms: including lethargy, fever, respiratory issues, and blood in the nose, mouth, or anus. However, in many cases, sudden death may occur with no prior symptoms. RHD is often fatal, particularly in domestic rabbits. It can cause severe liver damage and internal bleeding, leading to rapid decline and death. RHDV2: There are different strains of the virus, with RHDV2 being a more recent variant that has a wider host range and can affect various rabbit and hare species. 

Currently besides the once a year combo vaccine I just explained about, there is one other vaccine available for your rabbits: this is a very new vaccine (as of may 2025) which is designed to protect the rabbit against the latest new strain of RVHD 2 known as ‘highly virulent’ which has started spreading from mainland Europe over to the UK. At the moment, this new vaccine is to be done every 6 months with a four month gap needed between the bunnies normal yearly vaccine and this new one. However it is very likely that this new strain vaccine will be combined with the once a year vaccine soon which means it will revert back to just one vaccine booster each year. However for now, if your bunnies haven’t had this new 6 monthly vaccine then you need to be looking to get them booked in at your vets to have it. The sooner it’s done, the sooner they will be safe.

Some rabbits may experience a brief period of lethargy (low energy), reduced appetite, or a small swelling at the injection site. These are typically mild and short-lived. While very rare, serious reactions can occur but I stress that these are very very rare and the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the small risk of side effects.

And that’s the current state of affairs in the UK with vaccines for bunnies but remember to stay posted to your vets for any new vaccine updates.

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