Until recently, a viral hemorrhagic disease could deprive a farmer of his livestock in an instant. Thanks to the efforts of scientists, people have learned to fight infection. The VGBV vaccine for any breed of rabbit protects the fluffy beauties and increases resistance in case of infection with a fatal disease. Today, a large number of live and inactivated drugs are commercially available.
Why is the VGBV vaccine given?
Viral hemorrhagic disease of rabbits – an extremely dangerous and insidious disease.For rabbits that reach a weight of 3-3.5 kg, the disease is almost always fatal. But this is the most productive group of animals. The source of infection for a pet can be sick relatives, common feeders, drinking bowls or bedding. There are cases where the infection was brought by the wind from a neighboring farmstead.
VGBV does not pose a danger to owners and other domestic animals. The development of the disease occurs instantly and is practically asymptomatic. The clinical picture of the disease can be seen closer to the final stage. In the morning the animal was cheerfully choosing tasty tidbits from the feeder, and in the evening a lifeless body lay on the bedding.
Before reaching the age of 2, rabbits cannot boast of strong immunity, so the first serious infection leads to the death of the pet. Mass mortality of long-eared pets causes colossal damage to the farm. Even treated skins of sick animals remain a source of infection for rabbits for a long time.
Regular rabbit vaccination – the only way to protect pets from a terrible scourge. Of course, no product provides a 100% guarantee of safety, but still the likelihood of your pet becoming infected will be significantly reduced. The vaccine will create immunity in the animal to the causative agent of the insidious disease. In case of infection, the vaccinated animal will easily and without negative consequences survive the disease.
At what age is it done?
Rabbits receive their first vaccination at the age of 5-6 weeks, immediately after the offspring are separated from their mother. Until this point, the rabbits were reliably protected by the antibodies they received during breastfeeding. At the time of the procedure, the baby rabbit must gain at least 0.5 kg - underweight animals are not vaccinated.
How often do they do it?
All subsequent vaccinations for pets are given 2 times a year, every 6 months. Rabbits are vaccinated at any time, excluding the feeding period. The drug may not have the best effect on the quality of milk. It is advisable to vaccinate breeding animals a couple of weeks before the planned mating. In this way, the offspring will receive an additional “margin of safety.”
After vaccination, immunity is not formed immediately, but within 2 weeks, so the rabbit is kept in quarantine for half a month, excluding contact with other animals.
Types of vaccines against hemorrhoids
Livestock farmers use different types of vaccines, guided by experience and their own ideas about the benefits. Manufacturers produce 3 types of drugs:
- Monovaccine. A simple remedy that includes a strain of one type of pathogen.
- Bivalent drug. (Vaccination reliably protects against two diseases called VGBK and myxomatosis).
- Polyvalent vaccine. The miraculous remedy simultaneously resists 3-5 ailments.
All drugs are well tolerated by animals. If the dosage and rules for vaccinating animals are followed, the procedure does not entail severe adverse reactions.
To date, mono-vaccines are not particularly popular among farmers. Due to the fact that the drug contains a strain of only one virus, the pet will have to be executed several times. The monovaccine is cheaper than other drugs, but upon closer examination the difference in price is not so obvious. Often the drug is sold without a diluent. The solution must be purchased separately.
Any vaccines are divided into 2 groups:
- Alive. The drug contains a small amount of live, active pathogens. Animals tolerate vaccination more difficult, but resistance to infection is developed quickly.
- Inactivated. The drug is completely safe; there are no living pathogens in it. The vaccine is surprisingly easy to tolerate, but immunity takes longer to develop. But the vaccination protects the pet for a long time.
Of the complex vaccines, bivalent agents are most often used, which can protect animals from myxomatosis and VGBV. For example, the Czech drug Pestorin Mormyx, which includes live and inactivated components, is widely used.
Some farmers prefer to use the inactivated Ukrainian vaccine Lapimun Hemix. Due to its good quality, a Dutch drug called Nobivak Muho-RHD is popular. It contains live pathogens.
Among the mono-vaccines, a popular drug was developed by the Research Institute of Veterinary Virology and Microbiology under the auspices of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Tissue inactivated vaccine is made in the form of a suspension. Thanks to the composition and quality of the drug, immunity in animals is formed on the 3rd day and remains for a year.
Instructions for use and dosage
The result of vaccination depends not only on the quality of the drug, but also on the readiness of the animals for the procedure. The responsible owner carries out the following activities:
- 2 weeks before vaccination, pets are given an anthelmintic. If this is not done, vaccination will be useless.
- 2-3 days before the appointed date, the rabbits are taken under observation, paying attention to the appearance and behavior of the pets.The reason for canceling the procedure should be discharge from the nose, eyes, depressed state of the animal or diarrhea.
- The baby rabbits are weighed. The pet's weight must be 500 g or more. Lagging babies will have to be vaccinated later.
- Before vaccination, the furry beauties have their temperature taken. In a healthy state, the animal’s temperature rises to 38.5-39 degrees.
It is advisable to entrust vaccination to an experienced veterinarian, but not all animal owners have this opportunity. As a rule, farmers prefer to vaccinate themselves. If the exact dosage of the drug is observed, the procedure is not difficult even for beginners.
When preparing for vaccination, you need to stock up on anti-allergy medication. It is unknown how the pet’s body will react to the active substances. The vaccine is purchased only from official representatives of pharmaceutical companies. The original drug is always accompanied by a certificate confirming the quality of the product. When purchasing, you must make sure that the packaging with the vaccine is intact.
After studying the instructions, begin preparing the finished mixture. To do this, the dry component is mixed with a solvent so that 0.5 ml of the active substance is obtained.
Using an insulin syringe, the required amount of diluted vaccine is collected. The needle and the injection site are wiped with alcohol. The injection is given in the thigh (intramuscular) or in the crease on the animal’s withers (subcutaneous). The medicine is smoothly injected into the pet’s body and the injection site is wiped with alcohol. After each injection, the used syringe is changed.
Opened packaging with the drug cannot be stored. The vaccine is suitable for use within 3 hours. With every minute the vaccine will lose its protective properties.After the procedure, the pet is isolated from its relatives. The vaccinated animal is protected from insect bites and temperature changes. At this time, the rabbit does not tolerate cold and heat well.
To increase immunity, vitamin supplements are introduced into the pet's diet. The fluffy pet is given sprouted grain, fish oil, rowan and pumpkin. For 3 weeks after the procedure, the rabbit cannot be taken to exhibitions or moved long distances. In addition, in the first days after vaccination, the animal is prohibited from bathing and treating for parasites.
Possible side effects and contraindications
As a rule, rabbits tolerate vaccination well. In rare cases, an animal may have an allergic reaction to the vaccine. Deterioration in health occurs 15-20 minutes after injection of the drug. Signs of an allergic reaction:
- The pet has difficulty reacting to external stimuli.
- The mucous membranes of the animal acquire a red tint.
- The rabbit is breathing with difficulty.
- The animal has increased salivation.
- A rash is clearly visible on the pet's skin.
When 1-2 symptoms appear, the rabbit is given an intramuscular injection of Diphenhydramine or Suprastin. A single dose is 0.3 ml. To restore normal heart function, a drug consisting of 0.3 ml of sulfocamphocaine and 20 ml of saline is injected subcutaneously.
If the rabbit reacts normally to the vaccine, no problems arise. In some cases, the pet’s lymph nodes become slightly enlarged, but literally after 48 hours everything returns to normal.
