# RVHD in Rabbits UK — Quick answer

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/rabbit-rvhd-uk): RVHD in Rabbits UK — Quick answer. RVHD kills rabbits fast — often with no warning. Both RVHD-1 and RVHD-2 circulate in the UK. The virus survives on shoes, hay, and hutches for months. Vaccinate all pet rabbits annually (combined with myxomatosis). Sudden death in an unvaccinated rabbit may be RVHD — contact your vet.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/rabbit-rvhd-uk): RVHD in Rabbits UK — What is RVHD?. According to the RWAF and RSPCA, rabbit viral haemorrhagic disease (RVHD) — also called RHD or RHDV — is a highly contagious calicivirus causing acute liver failure and bleeding disorders in rabbits. Two strains matter in the UK: | Strain | Notes | |--------|-------| | RVHD-1 | Original strain; present in UK for decades | | RVHD-2 | Emerged in UK from 2014; often causes slower course but still fatal | Both strains kill unvaccinated rabbits. Vaccination must cover both RVHD-1 and RVHD-2 — older vaccines against RVHD-1 alone are insufficient.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/rabbit-rvhd-uk): RVHD in Rabbits UK — How RVHD spreads. According to the RWAF, the virus is extraordinarily persistent: - Direct contact between rabbits - Contaminated hutches, bowls, and bedding - Hay and forage from affected areas - Human clothing and shoes — owners can carry virus indoors - Insects — flies and fleas may spread virus mechanically - Wild rabbit populations — reservoirs in the British countryside The virus can survive months in the environment, including on surfaces and in dried droppings. This means indoor rabbits are at risk even without garden access.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/rabbit-rvhd-uk): RVHD in Rabbits UK — Symptoms of RVHD. According to PDSA, RVHD is notorious for sudden death — owners find a previously healthy rabbit dead with no obvious cause. When signs appear, they may include: - Sudden lethargy and loss of appetite - High fever, then collapse - Bleeding from nose, mouth, or rectum - Jaundice (yellow tinge to gums or eyes) - Difficulty breathing - Seizures or wobbliness - Death within hours to 48 hours RVHD-2 may cause a longer illness over days, with weight loss and jaundice — but outcomes are still often fatal without vaccination. There is no cure. Supportive care rarely succeeds in unvaccinated rabbits with established disease.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/rabbit-rvhd-uk): RVHD in Rabbits UK — Vaccination schedule. According to the BVA and RWAF, annual vaccination against myxomatosis and both RVHD strains is standard UK practice. Your vet will advise on: - Starting age — often from 5–7 weeks for combined vaccines - Primary course — one or two injections depending on product - Annual boosters — typically every 12 months - Vaccination during good health — not when ill or stressed Combined vaccines simplify protection. Keep a written record of vaccine dates and set reminders for boosters.

Source: https://pethealth.org.uk/health/rabbit-rvhd-uk