A few tips on RCD vaccine (courtesy of rabbit club experience).

Its very important that site of RCD vaccination injection be massaged after vaccination. (This helps to stop a lump forming as sometimes such a lump may lead to the formation of an abscess)

Keep the rabbit who is to be vaccinated and the vaccine cool - If the vet comes to your premises to vaccinate your rabbit, your vet should carry the RCD vaccine in a polystyrene box with a cool pack.

If your rabbit's temperature escalates, either as a reaction to the vaccine or because the RCD vaccine accidentally went into the shoulder muscle of the rabbit (which can be very dangerous) add 1/4 soluble Aspro clear tablet to 1 litre of water (bunny's drinking water). You may also like to add a drop of rasberry cordial to make the drink more palatable. A rabbit who has been accidentally injected with RCD vaccine into its muscle (which can happen if the rabbit pushes backwards in fright against the needle) may suffer a rise in temperature and possibly fitting/seizures and perhaps death if not treated promptly. The reaction to accidental injection of the RCD vaccine into the muscle of a rabbit can occur over several days

When a rabbit's temperature is very high, its ears and body will feel hot and its eyes may close a little and it may look sleepy. A temperature of this magnitude can lead to fits and possibly death if not treated.

(ONLY SOLUBLE ASPRO CLEAR IS RECOMMENDED - PANADOL ETC IS NOT SAFE FOR RABBITS)

If your rabbit won't drink and has high temperature, try and feed the rabbit the aspro and water mixture a few drops at a time ( 1/4 Aspro clear mixed with 1 litre of water) in a clean syringe (without needle of course). The feeding of a little of the Asprin/water mixture by syringe is best given into the side of mouth a little at a time. Watch for the rabbit to swallow before giving any more. This procedure should only be followed in an emergency. I gave approx 5mls of this mix to a cashmere lop doe and then the rabbit started drinking from her water bottle by herself soon afterwards when her temperature had dropped.
If your rabbit looks very ill, seek veterinary attention urgently.

Aspro besides bringing down temperatures also thins the blood. So its best not to administer the Aspro water for more than a day or two . My cashmere doe had a really bad reaction to the vets accidental intra-muscular injection of the vaccine, so she had the asprin and water mixture in her drinking bottle for three days. Also, if your rabbit was due to have an operation, eg sterilisation or such, just after you had administered Asprin in the drinking water, you should tell the vet your bunny had been given Aspro clear and the vet would probably postpone the operation for a while (due to the thinning of the blood).

If your rabbit ceases to eat after vaccination, its very important to keep its stomach working. Try all kinds of treats, apple (cored and peeled), grated carrot, etc.

If RCD/RHD is not in your area, you can have a baby bunny vaccinated at 10 weeks of age

If RCD/RHD is in your area, you can have a baby bunny vaccinated at 6 weeks then again at 10 weeks.

Sometimes, For Netherland Dwarfs, 8 weeks is preferable to the 6 weeks if they are very small because they are so small at 6 weeks and its hard to administer the vaccine

Cashmeres, Angoras and Rex's have had the worst reactions to vaccination according to the rabbit club.

Hair loss (even on stomach) can occur weeks/months after vaccination


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