Use of vaccines in rabbits kept as companion animals based on an analysis of clinical cases at the Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin in 2011-2020

Abstract

Vaccinations for pet rabbits using biological preparations registered in Poland provide protection against three clinical entities: myxomatosis, rabbit haemorrhagic disease types 1 and 2 (RHD1 and RHD2). This article presents an analysis of the number of vaccinations performed in rabbits in the years 2011-2020 at the Clinic of Infectious Diseases of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin. Among the total number of 3304 rabbits admitted to the clinic, 574 visits were for vaccinations, which indicates that the owners of these animals are interested in specific prevention of myxomatosis and RHD. Detailed analysis of the clinic’s records makes it possible to identify certain tendencies, e.g. those associated with the choice of biological preparations or the percentage of immunized animals in different years. Vaccination of rabbits is not difficult for the veterinarian from a technical point of view, it provides excellent protection against lethal infectious diseases, and it can be a source of income for veterinary clinics. For this reason it is worth disseminating knowledge on the vaccination programme for rabbits kept as companion animals among owners of these animals.