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Abscesses
Emergency Kit Have questions or comments? |
VHD (Viral Hemorrhagic Disease) VHD, also called RHD (Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease), was first reported in China and has since spread around the world. It is a devastating disease that targets the European Rabbit species and its descendants (our domesticated house rabbit). Thankfully, VHD cannot be transmitted to the wild cottontails in North America, which may help limit the spread of this disease in North America. The first reported case of VHD in the US occurred in April of 2000. At the time of this writing, none have been reported in Canada. The symptoms and rapid onset of this disease are very frightening. Symptoms range from sudden death, lethargy, loss of appetite, upper and lower respiratory congestion, fever, spasms, or bleeding from the nose, mouth or rectum. Death is caused by massive internal hemorrhaging of one or more organs and occurs within 18-48 hours. This virus can remain viable on dry clothing for 105 days at temperatures of 68 degrees and 2 days at 140 degrees. Therefore, it can be transmitted long after contact with an infected animal. Vaccines are available in China, Europe and Australia, but none have been approved for use in the US. Although this is a disease that has yet to surface in Canada, everyone should be aware of it and the significance that such a disease would have on our domestic house rabbits. For more detailed
information see the web site: Read information regarding bringing rabbits
into Canada. Rabbits coming into Canada from other countries need a certificate
showing they are VHD free. Rabbits coming in from the US do not! |
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