Central Texas Rabbit Herd Management

10/12/2023

Interesting new diagnostics to help with Chronic rhino-sinusitis (snuffles)! Swabs do need to be done in an aseptic manner from the sinuses, not just a swab of snot at the tip of the nose. At this time, this company is working with vets to bring new tests to rabbit owners to better understand and treat disease outbreaks.

Is the Nasal Microbiome the Secret to Treating Nasal Infections in Pet Bunnies?

09/22/2023

I’m very excited to be giving 4 hours of lectures to vets and vet techs at Southwest Veterinary Symposium today!

09/08/2023

I will be at Mid-Tex in Belton this weekend. If anyone wants to vaccinate for RHDV-2 before Convention, now is the time to start the first booster.

04/13/2023

RHDV2 has spread to the wild rabbits in east TX with the first case in Angelina County near Lufkin confirmed!

04/06/2023

Today, I had the pleasure of hosting a handling Wetlab for the vet team of East Lake Veterinary Hospital in Dallas! We covered exams, blood draws, tear duct flush, vaccinations, and more! I had a great time and loved talking rabbits with fellow colleagues!

04/03/2023

With new cases and pending cases of RHDV-2 continuing this spring in TX, it is important to consider vaccinating key brood and show stock in case biosecurity is unsuccessful or impossible (outdoor rabbitries). This past weekend we vaccinated 40 rabbits at the state TRBA show. We will be attending the LERBA show in West Texas in May and the Wichita Falls show in June. Vaccines are $15 and do need a booster for naive rabbits in 3 weeks.

04/03/2023

A new confirmed case of RHDV-2 in Mason county and several pending cases of wild rabbits with the first pending case in east TX! Please keep up the biosecurity!

03/13/2023

Another just confirmed case in wild rabbits in Bosque County in Central TX (near Waco). There is a pending wild case in Ector County (Odessa).

03/02/2023

While the notice is short, I will be at the Temple TX Buc-ee’s this Saturday. I can vaccinate rabbits if contacted in advance. Vaccines are $15 and need to be boostered in 2-4 weeks. I can do that at the TX state show or hold another Saturday vaccine clinic if enough interest.

03/02/2023

Due to the recent Mills County Case, let’s review RHDV-2 and ways to prevent the disease.

1) Who is at risk?

All rabbits in an endemic area. This is a sticky virus that is easily carried in on surface, such as cages, feed bags, hay, shoes, clothes, etc. Flies and other biting insects can also transmit the virus. Indoor only rabbits are at risk!

2) What is bio security?

This is a management system that can be put in place to reduce the risk of virus particles entering into a house or barn. Regular cleaning with disinfectants, foot baths, fly/pest control, and disinfecting all possible surfaces of equipment entering the barn. Do not feed local hay or cure it in a bio secure environment for a period of three months. Oxbow is a safe source of hay and is sold in 50lb boxes.

3) What about Vaccination?

We do have a vaccine to prevent disease that is very effective. It is still currently hard to find, but if you have a vet interested, I will gladly help them acquire the vaccines. At this time, only vets can give the vaccine. It requires an initial vaccine and a booster in 2-4 weeks to be fully effective. I charge $15 per vaccine, but costs will vary from vet to vet.

4) What are the symptoms?

Often the first sign is not eating or sudden death. Many rabbits do not show any signs of bleeding. If you have more than one rabbit dying from an unexplained cause, please reach out to a vet or the TX state vet for testing.

03/01/2023

Mills County confirmed RHDV-2 in wild rabbits.

02/22/2023

Updated 7/7/23

I’ll update this post as we go through the spring. TX counties with RHDV-2 confirmed in wild rabbits/hares in 2023:
El Paso
Brewster
Terrell
Reeves
Gillespie
Mills
Bosque
Ector
Pecos
Mason
Lipscomb
Midland
Martin
Terry
Lubbock
Angelina
Lamb
Randall
Trinity (New and East TX!!)

02/22/2023

For the first time RHDV-2 has been documented in Hill Country/Central TX in the WILD population with confirmed cases in Gillespie County.

News Release, Feb. 21, 2023: Cases of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Expand in Texas

02/15/2023

RHDV-2 Update:

The TPWD has several PENDING rabbit mortality cases in West and CENTRAL Texas with mortalities ranging from 1-5 rabbits reported/submitted per county. Hopefully these tests will come back negative. In the mean time, please reevaluate biosecurity and fly control for the upcoming spring.

The big takeaway is TPWD is looking and testing rabbit mortalities. This may mean a more active RHDV-2 spring for Texas or that TPWD is screening more often, which will mean less cases are missed. Counties with pending test results are: Mills, Gillespie, Pecos, Reeves and Terrell. These are new from the two previous confirmed cases in West Texas. The cases are the red dots below, disregard the yellow.

If you have multiple unexplained deaths in your domestic rabbit herds, please contact your vet or the TX state vet to inquire if RHDV-2 testing is appropriate in your situation.

01/31/2023

Another case of RHDV-2, this time in Brewster County. West TX folks, it’s time to re-evaluate biosecurity and make sure there is no laxity. We might be in for a more active spring.

❗ Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHDV2) update ❗

A jackrabbit submitted recently for disease testing from Brewster County is positive for RHDV2. TPWD continues to monitor for Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease, especially in the Panhandle and Trans Pecos regions.

If you spot a dead rabbit, please contact your local county biologist or Game Warden so we can submit the carcass for disease testing. 🐇 If you have domestic rabbits, shower and change clothes before handling them if you have any contact with wild rabbit carcasses.

For more information on RHDV2: https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/diseases/rabbit-hemorrhagic/

01/26/2023

Spring time means national rabbit shows! Many states do require CVIs or health certificates to legally bring rabbits into their state. If you are traveling this spring and unsure if you need a CVI, please reach out and will check that state’s requirements for you.

Mini Lop folks! North Carolina does require a CVI with a permit number from the state vet within 7 days of travel! When I was on the phone, they said they have sent vets to shows before to check. Please plan ahead!

CVIs are $50 and have room for 15 rabbits per sheet.

01/10/2023

A new case in wild rabbits of RHDV-2 in far west Texas. We carry the Medgene RHDV-2 vaccine for folks that need it and will be at the Mid-Tex Killeen Show Friday night and the Fort Worth Youth Show. The cost is $15 per dose and naive rabbits need a booster in 2-4 weeks.

09/29/2022

I will host a vaccine/health certificate clinic on Oct 15 in the parking lot of the H-E-B plus in Bellmead (Waco) at 3:00 PM. Please PM with your needs so I can bring enough form.
CVI: $50 (15 rabbits per sheet)
Vaccines ($15 per vaccine, needs a booster in 3 weeks). These certificates will be good for 30 days to the destination state of your choice (Nevada, Oklahoma, Louisiana)

H-E-B Plus
801 N IH-35 Service Rd
Waco, TX 76705
United States

09/15/2022

ARBA convention goers! Nevada does require a CVI to travel into the state. The health certificate can be done up to 30 days before travel. We do offer CVIs for $50 per sheet and will hold a clinic prior to help facilitate those looking to get CVIs done. Please PM if you have any questions.

08/18/2022

We are expanding offered services!
Now offering:
GI Stasis Triage Kit
Skin and Eye Triage Kit
Cytology (ear, skin, and mass)
Gross Necropsy
E. Cuniculi serology screening
Tear duct flushing
Ringworm culture
Full Necropsy submitted to TVMDL

Kits can legally only be provided to clients that have received services with the past 12 months.

08/18/2022

The Longview show is next week! Please message me with anything you might need so I can be sure to have it on hand!

07/29/2022

We will be attending the following shows and can offer vaccines and veterinarian services there:

Longview, TX: Aug. 26-27
Belton, TX: Sept. 9-10
Fort Worth, TX: Sept 23-24

Please message with all requested services prior to the show so I can bring the appropriate items.

06/24/2022

Need a prescription medication? We can help!

We offer prescription approval for current clients for $5 per script approval. I will discuss your medications needs with you, approve the medication that will work best, and make sure that you are given a dose and dosing regiment based on your herd. Some requests may be denied based on individual situations (certain antibiotics are considered below standard of care by the veterinary board).

Due to regulations by the TX state veterinary board, this service is limited to TX residents that are current clients. A current client is a person that has had a live rabbit examined (vaccine, CVI, etc) within the past 12 months.

Common medications requested:
Revolution (Selamectin)
Meloxicam
Ponazuril (coccidia medication)
Antibiotics

I can also prepare correct dosing for Penicillin and Ivermectin (currently over the counter) for the same price above.

06/21/2022

Health Certificate Q&A:

What is a health certificate?
A Health Certificate or CVI is a document written by a USDA Certified vet that documents travel to another state.

How is it used?
It’s main purpose is to prevent clearly diseased animals from traveling across states. It also documents animal travel in case of a disease outbreak.

Do shows determine if health certificates are needed?
NO. A show cannot change the legal requirement for a health certificate required by their particular state. They may elect to not check them and verify exhibitors have done them, but this is a legal requirement not a show requirement.

When do I need one?
If you are traveling outside the state of TX with 1 or more rabbits, you will likely need one.

What states require them?
New Mexico, Louisiana, and Oklahoma all require health certificates as do most other states. TX is the rare exception that does not require a health certificate to enter.

Are all Health Certificates the same?
No. A interstate health Certificate provided by most companion animals vets will not meet the legal requirements from most states. It is recommended that a TAHC CVI is used.

What happens if I don’t get one and I get caught?
Several possibilities include: fines, delay in travel until a vet can write a health certificate, or confiscation of the animals. Fines are the most likely outcome, but not the only possibility.

05/31/2022

Let’s talk briefly about RHDV-2 and when one should be concerned about a possible case and how to report.

First, if you have more than 1 rabbit die within a period of two weeks without a reasonable explanation for the death, please consider RHDV-2 as a possibility. Reasonable causes are: heat stroke, young kits and weanlings, does close to birth. Rabbits going off feed then dying with no known cause is a possible way for RHDV-2 to present. Please don’t just assume it’s the feed. Most rabbits won’t have bloody noses!

Second, you can contact the Texas Animal Health Commison or a veterinarian. Please request your vet reaches out to the TAHC for the proper protocol. Contacting the state vet early will save you time, frustration, and money!

05/20/2022

I will be at Lufkin TX at 12-12:30 on Friday the 27th to perform health certificates needed for the LA Memorial Day show. They are $50 a sheet and 15 rabbits can fit per sheet. Please message for more information.

05/10/2022

Last call for veterinary services for Hereford, TX rabbit show May 13-14! If you need any services please message me by May 12th. I only bring medicine/vaccines/health certificates for services requested prior to the show.

04/30/2022

We will be at the Llano Estacado show in Hereford, TX on May 13 and 14. If you need any vet services, please message for more information.

We will also be attending the Alexandria, LA Memorial Show. We will be stopping in Lufkin early Friday afternoon and can perform vaccines and Health Certificates before crossing the state line. No veterinary services can be offered once in LA.

04/25/2022

An interesting article discussing uterine adenocarcinoma in intact female rabbits. Pathological changes can occur starting at 2-3 years of age before the cancer is easily palpable. Having a hard time getting an older doe bred? This may be a factor!

04/19/2022

Our final post is how to handle coccidia post outbreak. First, I know that they are currently several ways of managing coccidia long term. This is my preferred method as it reduces medications and can be effective. However, it may not be right for every herd situation. Once you are on the other side of a coccidia outbreak, I do not recommend simply treating periodically. If you treated your outbreak aggressively at the outset, you may have resolved the issue for your rabbitry. Continually treating when a problem is no longer active is a good way to breed resistant coccidia (from the ones that reside in low levels in adult rabbits) that won’t respond to medication next time you have an outbreak. Plus, constantly medicating is expensive! I, instead, prefer to do a group f***l in young weanling rabbits to see if we have active coccidia shedding in the stool. If we do, it’s time to treat! If we don’t, you get to save money on expensive medication that isn’t currently needed! I recommended doing the f***ls consistently several times a year until they are negative. At that point in time, you may switch to yearly f***ls in young rabbits or monitoring for problems. While it is okay to include f***l pellets from adults, the most accurate f***ls will be from rabbits aged 1-4 months as that is the most susceptible age.