ATTN: Rabbitats Fosters, Adopters and Volunteers:
As previously noted, Rabbitats is finalizing our order for the RHDV2 vaccine.
**** All of our outdoor fosters and adopters, our colony adopters and the volunteers around our rabbits who have rabbits of their own are welcome to join us at one of our vaccine sessions but please check in ASAP. We need your numbers and locations.****
– NOTE: Our vet, Dr. Martinez at Little Paws, is not recommending the vaccine to his house rabbit clients at this time because Dr. Martinez doesn’t feel the risk of infection outweighs the potential discomfort of the side effects (elevated body temperatures and long-lasting lumps at the injection site) when it comes to house rabbits. This is something all house rabbit people need to consider. THIS IS A DECISION BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR VET.
– This particular virus is also not acting exactly like the other strains of RHDV-2, eg: the mortality rate is higher, it duration may be shorter, etcetera, so the vaccine may also not work exactly as expected. (In Europe, some vaccinations have been less effective than others, etc).
– Rabbitats’ rabbits however are mostly ferals living in outdoor colonies, a high-risk group, so all our rabbits will be done courtesy of Dr. Martinez and Dr. Rana from Apex who have both kindly offered to work as a team to accomplish this. (We continue to have the most awesome vets on the planet).
– the 50 dose pack purchase is by far the most cost effective method but it means the vaccines are done on site (not at a clinic), and we need to do 50 injections within a two-hour time drug viability window.
– We will also have single doses which are a little more sterile and can be administered anytime, anywhere, but these are much more expensive, the costs haven’t been finalized but we’re likely paying between $25 and $30 each.
– While the above described Rabbitats associates are welcome to join us, it should be noted that we’re doing a ‘cattle call’ here, the vets won’t be thoroughly examining the rabbits, it will be up to the guardian to determine they’re healthy. (The vaccine should only be given to healthy rabbits).
– Also because this is the off-label use of a drug not approved for use in Canada, a waiver needs to be signed by every guardian.
– While I’m pretty confident in our plans to vaccinate all our own rabbits in this manner, some of volunteers and adopters may want to book an appointment at the vet clinic instead. (Little Paws is bringing in a small amount of the drug for clients requesting it).
– Please respond privately, thanks! Deanna Hamm is gathering names.