RVHD in Rabbits UK — Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease Guide

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:

Both strains kill unvaccinated rabbits. Vaccination must cover both RVHD-1 and RVHD-2 — older vaccines against RVHD-1 alone are insufficient.

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.

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.

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.

Vaccination is essential but not the only measure:

• Quarantine new rabbits for at least two weeks before introduction
• Disinfect hutches with rabbit-safe virucidal products after illness or new arrivals — ask your vet
• Change shoes or use dedicated footwear for the rabbit area if wild rabbits visit your garden
• Buy hay from reputable UK suppliers — avoid forage from unknown wild-rabbit areas
• Fly and flea control as recommended by your vet
• Avoid shows and gatherings during local outbreaks if advised

If an unvaccinated or overdue rabbit dies suddenly:

• Contact your vet — RVHD may be suspected
• Do not introduce new rabbits to the same hutch without disinfection and vaccination
• Companions should be checked and vaccinated immediately if overdue
• Handle the body with gloves; wash hands and disinfect surfaces

RVHD is a notifiable concern in practice — your vet may discuss reporting and biosecurity.