Attention Rabbit Owners

There is a new strain of Rabbit Calicivirus spreading in Australia that has now been seen in the Adelaide Hills.

The virus is called Rabbit Haemorrhagic Viral Disease Type 2 (RHDV2). It can affect rabbits of all ages. This new virus strain is distinct from RHDV1, which was released in Australia in 1996 for the control of wild rabbits.

RHDV2 was first reported in France in 2010 and has been found in several other European countries. It is not known how it reached Australian shores after it was first discovered in Canberra in May 2015.

The current vaccine in Australia for rabbit calicivirus (Cylap) is not fully protective against RHDV2. An updated vaccine is being developed in Europe. In the meantime, keeping your pet rabbits’ vaccinations up to date is recommended to provide the maximum possible protection against this new strain.

All RHDV strains can spread easily by contact between infected rabbits (via faeces, urine, saliva, nasal and eye secretions and mating) and objects including hay, food, clothing, shoes, people, cages, equipment, dust, insects, wild birds and rodents.

Here is what we recommend rabbit owners do:

• Vaccinate your adult rabbit every 6 months with the vaccine currently available in Australia.
• Vaccinate kittens at 4 weeks, then at 8 weeks, and again at 12 weeks or later.
• Unvaccinated adults or overdue adults, vaccinate twice one month apart, then every 6 months.
• Prevent contact between domestic and wild rabbits.
• Avoid cutting grass and feeding it to rabbits if there is a risk of contamination from wild rabbits.
• Protect your rabbit's exposure to insects either by keeping them inside or using fly screens.

The new vaccination schedule is off label, meaning we are using the vaccination outside of the labelled recommendations. However, these new recommendations have been made by rabbit vets across Australia based on the best information we currently have.

If you have a pet rabbit and are concerned their vaccinations may not be up to date or you have any questions about this new virus please give the clinic a call.

We wish you and your pets a happy and safe Easter break!

Our Clinic will be open as follows:

Thursday 24th March - 8am-7pm
Good Friday 25th March - closed
Easter Saturday 26th March - closed
Easter Sunday 27th March - closed
Easter Monday 28th March - closed

For emergencies outside these times, contact the Animal Emergency Centre on 8362 1722, 102 Magill Road, Norwood.

What is sleeping respiratory rate?

SRR refers to your pet's Sleeping Respiratory Rate. The SRR is a very useful tool in recognising the onset of or monitoring left sided congestive heart failure (CHF) in both dogs and cats.

Many of the common heart diseases lead to left sided congestive heart failure.  When pressure in the top left heart chamber increases and blood backs up into vessels within the lung, it results in blood accumulating in the lungs. This fluid, referred to as pulmonary oedema, causes an increase in your pet's respiratory rate.

How to monitor Sleeping Respiratory Rate

The good news is you can easily perform this test at home!

The measurement should be done when your pet is asleep in a normal environment (not too cold, not too hot). Repeat the measurement over 2-3 days (to get a baseline variation), and then ongoing monitoring should happen once or twice a week.

Normal SRR in dogs and cats is less than 30 breaths per minute, often in the high teens or low 20s.

If your pet has an underlying heart disease and their SRR is consistently greater than 30 breaths per minute, your pet could be developing CHF. 

An elevated SRR can also be caused by high blood pressure, anaemia, pneumonia, heat stress or a fever - so if you are concerned about your pet it's best to arrange a check up with us as soon as possible.

Recognising the early signs of heart disease

Heart disease isn't easy to spot. It tends to creep up on our pets slowly over many months to many years.

Being able to recognise some of the early signs of this disease can make a big difference. It means you can seek medical intervention from us and help your pet live a happier and longer life.

Most of the signs are related to a decrease in the function of the heart. The heart has to work harder and harder over time and, without treatment, heart failure occurs.

Signs of heart disease to look out for:

•     Coughing, especially at night
•     Laboured or fast breathing
•     A reluctance to exercise and tiring more easily on walks
•     An enlarged abdomen
•     Weight loss or poor appetite
•     Weakness or fainting associated with exercise

Regular check ups with us allow us to detect any changes early. Sometimes we will hear a murmur (abnormal blood flow) or an arrhythmia (irregular rhythm). These may be reason for us to perform more tests such as x-rays, ultrasound and an ECG.

The good news is that there are some excellent medications available to help a pet suffering from heart disease. These can keep the heart condition under control and help your pet live a longer and near normal life.

If you think your pet might have a problem with their heart, call us to arrange a check up today.