Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a highly contagious and usually fatal, viral infection of lagomorphs, including domestic and feral rabbits and hares.

The virus causing RHD is easily transmitted by direct contact (between rabbits) or indirectly (for example, under shoes or via other material infected outdoors, contamination of the yard by wild rabbits, contaminated insects that come into contact with a rabbit).

In the past, the virus caused rabbits to start hemorrhaging as the main sign. Currently, a number of clinical signs can appear very suddenly, including fever, loss of appetite and weakness, lethargy, neurological and respiratory abnormalities, jaundice visible on ears, in the eyes and on the mucosal membranes, and sudden death.

In the past few years, only the RHD virus type 2, a new variant that appeared in 2010 in Europe, was confirmed in Canada. It was found in two Ontario domestic rabbits in 2022, as well as in a small number of feral and domestic rabbits in British-Columbia and Alberta.

In Québec, to date the disease was diagnosed only once, in June 2023, in 2 domestic rabbits living in the same household in the Montréal area. This was an isolated event and the origin of the virus in these two indoor rabbits remains undetermined.

There is currently no evidence of an outbreak in the province of Québec. However, we are expecting that the disease will slowly spread from the United States and the western provinces to our feral rabbit and hare populations. In Québec wild rabbits, no cases have been confirmed yet. The risk of infection for our domestic rabbits is therefore currently very low.

A vaccine is currently licensed in Canada for the prevention of infection with the two types of the RHD virus. Since spring 2023, we have been offering vaccination at our clinic when the vaccine was available.

When the virus will begin affecting our wild rabbit population (which is only a matter of time), it will be essential that our domestic rabbits are already protected. We are therefore recommending to vaccinate all domestic rabbits against RHD to reduce the risk of mortality of our pets. The vaccine is very safe and is given annually. It is the single best weapon we have against this disease.

Be assured that we are multiplying our efforts to offer the vaccine to the greatest possible number of rabbits, within reasonable delay and depending on the vaccine availability.

Please call us for any questions about the vaccination of your rabbit or to take an appointment.
Last but not least, whatever the signs of illness of your rabbit, it is important to consult a veterinarian rapidly when s