Viral Haemorrhagic Disease is highly contagious and most often fatal. The disease can be transmited by direct contact with infected animals, contaminated food, water, bedding, cages, hutches, etc as well as by insects such as fleas and flies.

Symptoms of Viral Haemorrhagic Disease can include lethargy, collapsing, convulsions, lack of co-ordination, paralysis, breathing difficulties, bloody discharge from the nose, jaundice, weight loss, fever and groaning. Rabbits usually die within a 12-36 of showing symptoms and there is no cure. However, in some cases infected rabbits may show no symptoms at all and may simply appear to drop dead.

However, pet rabbits can be, and should be, vaccinated against Viral Haemorrhagic Disease. Rabbits can be vaccinated as young as 10 weeks of age, and can be vaccinated whilst pregnant. Rabbits should be vaccinated against Viral Haemorrhagic Disease annually. Vaccination against Myxomatosis must not be done within 2 weeks of vaccination against VHD.