myxi diagnoses

Question
When I looked at our 2 rabbits this morning I knew something was wrong.
Our lop had semi closed eyes which looked swollen. I took him to the vet and
he diagnosed possible but unsure myxomotosis. A previous rabbit of our died
suddenly and as we live near a small dam I am now worried about mosquitos.
What should I do? Is it too late for him? he is eating and drinking etc and I
have isolated him for his mate. Is this the correct thing to do? can the other
rabbit catch this or should I keep him inside? the vet mentioned that you can't  
vaccinate against this - is this true?

Answer
Dear Louise,

Do not separate the rabbits. Myxomatosis is not spread between rabbits by contact, but by the bite of infected insects.  Separating a bonded pair will only increase the stress, and it's likely that if one rabbit was exposed, both were.

There is a possible treatment for this, but the prognosis is still *very* guarded if the rabbits are not vaccinated.  You don't say where you are, but in the UK, Europe and Australia, myxomatosis vaccine is not only readily available, but highly recommended for all rabbits, whether indoors or out.  If you *are* in any of those locations and your vet did not know this, then it's *definitely* time to seek a different vet!

www.rabbit.org/vets

If you are in the US or Canada, however, myxomatosis vaccine is not approved for use.  Myxi is rare here, but it does occur in some isolated localities (primarily in Northern California).

The treatment for myxomatosis involves using Equimune IV, which was designed for horses, but has been used to treat myxi-symptomatic rabbits with success.  The key is to administer *promptly* upon onset of signs of disease, and I believe both rabbits should be treated, if you're going to try this.

If you write to me directly at dana@miami.edu I will send you an email from an Australian vet who used Equimune IV and saved the life of symptomatic, unvaccinated rabbits with myxomatosis.

I hope this will help.  Please email me ASAP!

Dana