Advice on Myxomatosis PLEASE

lynnholgate · #1 (**permalink**) 07-09-2005, 04:16 PM

I am absolutely devastated. During the summer I have gained much pleasure from watching rabbits playing on our lawn nibbling grass (I don't have any vegetables so nothing to spoil). My friend even managed to raise 3 baby rabbits which had been abandoned by their mother (they really had - a dog had killed the mother and she watched crows take 3 babies away in quick succession before she could do anything). They were TINY and after advice from experts she raised them on orphan kitten formula and despite everyone saying they had no chance they had a happy ending. Anyway I digress. On returning from holiday yesterday I was informed by my friend that we had Myxomatosis in the valley. So far today I have seen 3 rabbits which are obviously not well as they let me get right up to them before very slowly moving away. My question is: Do they all die from this horrible thing? My friend seems to think that they get sicker and sicker and then just die slowly. I cannot bear anything to suffer. Even though I have a good rapport with my vet (I took an injured fox last year which unfortunately had to be put to sleep which they did free), I cannot keep taking rabbits. Is there any cure? Why was it invented? Sorry for this rather rambling message but I am very upset.

LYNN

Boddie · #2 (**permalink**) 07-09-2005, 07:25 PM

The first visible signs of Myxomatosis are lumps and puffyness around the head and genital area. It may then progress to acute conjunctivitis and possible blindness. The affected rabbit will become listless, losing its appetite, and developing a fever. Secondary bacterial infections occur in most cases which result in pneumonia and purulent inflammation of the lumps. In typical cases where the rabbit has no resistance, death takes an average of 13 days.

lynnholgate · #3 (**permalink**) 07-09-2005, 08:06 PM

Boddie

Thanks for the info (even though it was not what I liked to hear). I guess there is nothing I can do. It seems a horrible way to die.

LYNN

Boddie · #4 (**permalink**) 07-09-2005, 08:18 PM

Yeah not so good but there is nothing that can be done to help them. At 'best' their death can be within 4 days, depends whether they have much of an immune system but in every case it seems to be terminal unfortunately.

lynnholgate · #5 (**permalink**) 07-09-2005, 08:30 PM

BODDIE

Thanks for info. I hope mine can go quickly. I have just had another thought - I have two cats who are elderly and have 'retired' from hunting. However, I have the ghastly feeling that if there was a poorly rabbit not offering any resistance they might just go for it. Could they be harmed by this disease.

Thanks LYNN

Pat · #6 (**permalink**) 07-09-2005, 09:31 PM

I don't know about cats but I know of two dogs that have caught it but were cured by antibiotics, why don't you give your vet a ring and ask him whether cats can catch it and if so what symptons to look out for. I aggree with you it's a horrible thing and the people that introduced it want shooting!!!

lynnholgate · #7 (**permalink**) 08-09-2005, 05:55 AM

Pat

Thanks for replying. I will give my vet a ring this morning. I have been searching my memory and I do seem to recall that when it was introduced it was only intended to be meant to be effective for rabbits but even if my cats didn't catch the actual disease then they may become ill.

LYNN

henrya · #8 (**permalink**) 08-09-2005, 08:36 AM

There are several strains of myxomatosis, with mortality rates varying from 100% to about 20%. Animals that recover are thereafter immune.

It seems unlikely that dogs would become infected; I wonder if the diagnosis was fully confirmed? Infection of animals other than rabbits and hares was not reported in the 1950s, when myxomatosis arrived in this country, and that is when one would have expected cases to occur.

I don't think your cats are at risk, Lynn, but do check with your vet.

henrya

Pat · #9 (**permalink**) 08-09-2005, 09:13 AM

Both dogs definitely had it because blood tests were done when the vet couldn't find out what was wrong with them, they were brother and sister and were always chasing rabbits and there was a lot of myxomatosis about that year. The vet was as amazed as the owner when he found out what it was. Pat