When vaccinating, a bit of a weakened pathogen is injected into your pet. This ensures that your pet can build up immunity to this disease. If your pet later becomes infected with this disease, he will hardly get any symptoms. His immune system will recognize the disease and your pet is protected against this pathogen.
Thanks to the vaccinations, there are diseases that almost no longer occur in Belgium. Nevertheless, they remain extremely important, as stopping vaccination can ensure a very rapid return of these diseases and, in particular in rabbits, some diseases are very fatal.
Rodents
Rabbits
Spring is the best time to have your rabbit vaccinated, because from then on insects (which can spread the diseases) are more common. Rabbits can be vaccinated when they are 5-10 weeks old, depending on the vaccine being used. A vaccination schedule will then be drawn up with you. For some types of rabbits, different advice sometimes applies. For more information, contact your doctor.
Rabbit plague or Myxomatosis
Myxomatosis is caused by a virus (Myxomavirus). Myxomatosis is mainly spread by stinging insects such as fleas, mosquitoes and flies. Contamination through direct contact with infected animals or materials is also possible. The time between infection and the first symptoms is a few days to 2 weeks. The disease is characterized by swelling of the eyelids, mouth and anus. These swellings can become so severe in one day that the animals can no longer see. Eating and drinking becomes progressively more difficult and the animals usually die within 12 days.
Unfortunately, few rabbits survive myxomatosis, which is why it is important to have your rabbit vaccinated annually and to take measures to prevent the disease from spreading. You can further reduce the risk of infection by protecting your rabbit from biting insects. Treat your rabbit regularly with a flea medicine and, if necessary, cover the pen with a mosquito net.
VHS viral haemorrhagic syndrome
VHS is an extremely contagious disease that causes high mortality among rabbits. The disease is only contagious to rabbits and is harmless to humans and other animal species. VHS has two virus types. The symptoms can therefore be different. Some rabbits with VHS die without showing any symptoms, others develop a fever, difficulty in breathing or problems with the nervous system. The virus is spread directly through contact between rabbits, but also indirectly through infected stools, urine and blood and through food containers, shoes and clothing.
Rabbits that do not come outside or are in a place where they do not have direct contact with other rabbits can also become infected. It is a persistent virus and therefore it is important to have your rabbit vaccinated every year.
Ferrets
We can protect your ferret against diseases by means of a vaccination or vaccination. With the ferret we can vaccinate against the following diseases:
Dog disease or Carre disease.
Dog sickness is a fatal disease for the ferret. Due to the good protection that the vaccine provides, this disease is fortunately not common. The vaccination of young ferrets consists of 2 injections: the first vaccination takes place at 8 weeks of age and the second vaccination at 12 weeks of age. After that, a repeat vaccination (a booster) must be given annually.
Rabies or Rabies:
Rabies is a zoonosis, which means that the disease can be transmitted from animals to humans. The disease is worldwide. However, Belgium has been free of rabies for years. The cases that are known in Belgium over the last 20 years have contracted the infection elsewhere. The infection is transmitted through the saliva. It is almost always a bite from an infected animal. Infected bats, raccoons and foxes are usually the culprit. Rabies is a serious virus infection of the brain with an always fatal outcome once the symptoms become visible.
Rabies vaccination is only necessary if you take your ferret abroad. The vaccination can be administered from 3 months of age.
In addition to rabies vaccination, the ferret needs a chip and an official European animal passport for a visit abroad. One country imposes different obligations on a visit than another. Specific deworming is required for a number of countries. So contact us in time so that we can inform you and help you with the preparations.
For more information about vaccinations for exotic species, please contact us.